Tri-State Water Wars (AL, GA, FL)
Advocating for the long-term health of two major river basins
Georgia, Alabama and Florida are in a protracted battle over the future allocation of water in two major river basins that cross their borders. In essence, Georgia wants to have enough water to allow metro Atlanta to continue growing, while Alabama and Florida - the downstream users - want to keep enough water flowing to ensure their own economic well-being.
©SELC
SELC serves on the steering committee of the Tri-State Conservation Coalition, which is keeping close tabs on this issue. We want to ensure that the final outcome protects water quality and quantity in the two basins, which provide habitat for countless species of fish and wildlife, as well as recreation, drinking water and irrigation for millions of Southerners. SELC is providing the legal expertise to help coalition members understand the complex litigation and legal questions involved in the allocation issues.
Negotiations among the three states broke down in 2003, after they had extended their federally mandated deadline numerous times. Now the focus of the "water wars" has shifted to litigation in three different federal courts in Alabama, Georgia and Washington DC.
In the fall of 2004, SELC filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit filed by Alabama against the Corps of Engineers, which had given permission to Georgia to release water from Lake Lanier for drinking water. In our brief, filed on behalf of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Apalachicola Bay and Riverkeeper, and the Alabama Rivers Alliance, we argued that the Corps had failed to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment of the impacts of its action. The federal appeals court has sent the case back to to Alabama for further review.
Our work remains focused on taking all possible opportunities to represent the environmental interest that would ensure adequate instream flows with natural fluctuations, species protection, and public participation in the allocation decisions.
