Political Insider

By Joe

October 25, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

It is gravely concerning that these two governors are against Georgia reducing the flow of water via the Chattahoochee, yet neither governor has asked their own states to implement strict watering bans/restrictions. The water flows freely in those states (at least in the areas which would use the water).

However, given the depth of concern for the populace of this country, our Commander and Chief, will undoubtedly determine that Georgia can fend for itself and exist off bottled water or buy water from other locations and truck it in. Such is his compassion for average citizens. (And I voted for the SOB).

By Budro

October 25, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

Are AL and FL doing anything to conserve water? Maybe if they used less and conserved as much as Georgians we wouldn’t be in as big of a mess.

By Me

October 25, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this

Give everyone a brick; tell them to put it in their toilet tank. It’s an easy way to conserve water without negative effects.

By Me

October 25, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Give everyone a brick; tell them to put it in their toilet tank. It’s an easy way to conserve water without negative effects.

By john

October 25, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Florida’s fresh water springs produce tens of millions of gallons of water everyday. Florida isn’t hurting for water in the region the Chattahoochee intervates. Alabama should dig more reseviors. Birmingham does not compare in population the the Atlanta metro area.

By john

October 25, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Florida’s fresh water springs produce tens of millions of gallons of water everyday. Florida isn’t hurting for water in the region the Chattahoochee intervates. Alabama should dig more reseviors. Birmingham does not compare in population the the Atlanta metro area.

By MS

October 25, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

Why should we have to supply water to two other states from our water sources. Can they not get their own. Last time I checked, Florida was surrounded by water. Maybe I failed geography or Im looking at the map wrong, but if I am not correct, isn’t Alabama on the coast as well?? Sure there are extra steps to take in the process of getting salt water to the consumable levels, but come on!! Give me a break!! This is getting rediculous. To think that we having to face a time when we can not bathe every day, or even have the necessary means in which to provide nurishment to our children for #1 an endangered species and #2 provide water to 2 other states. If Lake Lanier was part of the Great Lakes, I could understand, but come on, this is not a large body of water by any means. If the President does not stop the hand out, then we may as well just consider Georgia a dead state. The fact that it is becoming an argument is rediculous. They are no worse than the freeloaders in New Orleans who wrecked the surrounding states after Katrina who are just wanting a hand out and not working or finding their own means of taking care of their own people. In a months time there will be no water for anyone and they have no one to blame but themselves. Before too long bottled water will go the way of gasoline and we’ll be paying a premium price for it. It is time for other states to start taking care of themself. It’s like they have become the pain in the a$$ sibling always begging for money but not willing to make a change in their life to better their situation. Come on already!!

What really ticks me off is that when the Army Corps of Engineers argues the number of days we have left in the water supply. Ok..key phrase here…”Number of DAYS LEFT!!!” We are on a count down to running out! Who cares how many days there are…we are RUNNING OUT!!!! So where is the argument??

By rpm

October 25, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this

i read the remarks from the governor of alabama and it is a well presented argument about the needs of the nuclear plant. Since water is needed for cooling have they ever considered RECYCLING the water used by the plant instead of depending on an ‘open spigot’ approach from the river?

By Jeff

October 25, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

You poor fools in Metro Atlanta!!!! (And I used to be one of you!)

With Technology as it exists right now (and even moreso with Tech that is in the pipelines), there is almost ZERO real need for Metropoles such as ATL, NYC, LA, or any other to exist.

SPREAD OUT!!!! Get AWAY from everyone! Then you won’t have 5 million people trying to get their water from the same lake!

You see, down here in South GA, our BIGGEST cities MIGHT have 100K people, and I know some COUNTIES here that have less people than some SUBDIVISIONS I know in Bartow County!

Yet we don’t have water problems…

By S Black

October 25, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

What happened to STATES RIGHTS, especially in a drought situation? The Government controlling the natural resources of one State to supply others. Why hasn’t Alabama and Florida done anything to solved their own states problems with their own resources instead of relying on resources from another State. Is Georgia going to be sacrificed for votes in two other states?? We’ll see.

By bill

October 25, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

I am amazed at the selfish reaction of most people. Closing or reducing the water flow through the Buford dam will drastically reduce the flow of the Chattahooche. To hell with Alabama and Florida. What is hear is “As long as I have mine, I don’t care about your trouble….” We are truly a nation in decline.

By Crystal

October 25, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I use my kids bath water to flush the toilets. Also the “if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down” is our house motto. The governors of Alabama and Florida as well as the citizens of the Atlanta region need to take a drive up to Lake Lanier. It will scare the hell outta ya. The pictures in the paper do not give the level justice. The water doesn’t go under the bridge anymore!!

It is a shame that the state didn’t consider water supply before it started all the new development. If impact fees were assigned for each new home built, they could have used that money to dig for additional water supplies.

By Borderline

October 25, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

It’s a little late for the truth to come out. Don’t ya think? It’s been our fault all this time all the way down to fining us for the states “generosity” or have they really been selling millions of gallons of water daily to Al and Fl? Maybe they are p** because we’ve decided that we don’t have it to sell anymore. Either way, we are in trouble.

By ?

October 25, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

To Me:

Ok, this is probably going to appear like a silly question, but why place a brick in your toilet tank? Displacement? Does it work? We are really trying to conserve water every way we can - we are on a well and want to preserve our resource as much as possible. If putting a brick in the toilet will help - hey explain to me the benefits and if it makes sense, heck I’ll do it.

Thanks

By Joe

October 25, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

Bill - Where the heck do you live? It’s not selfish for over 4 million people to expect drinking water from our municipal system. What is selfish is to expect Georgia’s lakes to provide water to states that have their own water supplies.

Use that lump sitting on your shoulders for something other than shoveling food into your body.

By cantonfroggy

October 25, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

In Gov. Bob Riley’s letter, he blames Georgia and Metro Atlanta for not having the foresight to build drinking water reservoirs in the past.

Yet, I believe that Riley has filed a federal lawsuit to block construction of the Cherry Creek Reservoir in Cherokee County.

Alabama does not have water restictions in the lower half of the state, but wants us to ration water in Metro Atlanta.

Riley is worried about the economic impact of jobs lost downstream in Alabama - but does not realize that the regions main economic engine is ATLANTA. You think this region might lose some jobs if water is unavailable in the 9th largest Metro area in the US?

It is typical political doubletalk.

By racer

October 25, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

One other endangered species that has been overlooked in this water controversy is our so called representatives in congress, if they set on their hands and watch this state and its voters run out of water

By yoni4u

October 25, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

To Jeff:

I agree with you. I reside in FL, and I would like the residents of Ga. to ask their governor why he allowed this problem to get to this point? Did he not have any environmental specialists to advise him of this drought years ago? If he did, whhat did he do to resolve it? It’s a bit late to want to place strict water restrictions on residents. Ten yrs ago, I lived in Charlotte County, FL., and there were always water restrictions and that county is surrounded by a river. I think Sonny Perdue has done the state of Ga. a disservice regarding their environmental issues.

By BCR

October 25, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

Jeff, where exactly are people supposed to move? Most of these peoples JOBS, are in the metropolitan area. I am sure most of the people here would love to move away if there were places in other less populated ares with the same job opportunities, but people want ice water in hell also. That’s why people move to metropolitan areas. Here’s an idea, tell these corporations to move to less populated areas. Maybe you have a skill that anywhere you move, you can find a job, but that is not the case for everyone. To Alabama and Florida, these are DESPERATE times that call for DESPERATE measures. You knew that this could be a possibilty at one point, you should have had a contigency plan in place. Yes, this is a nation in decline and has been that way for years.

By Jordan

October 25, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

What I want to know is what kind of water restrictions has Alabama and Florida put in place for its residents that need the water flow coming from Georgia? Last I heard they have no restrictions. When Alabama and Florida impose a complete watering ban for its residents and make the other tough decisions needed to conserve what remaining water is left then they will have a right to discuss their concerns.

By Jeff

October 25, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

yoni:

We’ve had this issue for near two decades now. That means that it isn’t just Perdue’s problem, though he hasn’t exactly helped matters. It is also a problem that Govs. Harris, Miller, and Barnes knew about and did nothing.

By Sabrina

October 25, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

Let’s get real! People are going to DIE if this state runs out of water. How fast do you think this antibiotic-resistant staph infection will spread if we don’t have any water to clean and sanitize with? And, please don’t think that if that were to happen that Alabama and Florida would be safe from it. This all very bad for everyone on many levels and if legislation doesn’t do something fast there won’t be any votes because there won’t be any voters.

Also, I would like to understand how Georgians can be considered selfish when Alabama has no water restrictions in place at all. That is what is truly selfish!

By Steve

October 25, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

“Reacting to the concerns of an upstream State to suspend environmental laws unilaterally at the expense of a downstream State’s ecology and economy cannot be justified in any circumstance.”

As if the ecological and economic well-being of the entire state of Florida are somehow controlled by the flow of the Chattahoochee. Get over yourself, Crist!

By Jeff

October 25, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

BCR:

The only jobs that truly need a central hub are transportation (including trucking and rail) and warehousing.

Everything else can be distributed to smaller locations and networked together. Not only do you enhance customer service, but you also enahnce your reach to your customers (many people in SW GA have to drive 60+ miles to the closest WALMART!) and negate the negative impacts of millions of people living close together. (Such as the water crises, oil shortages, too few landfills, sewer issues, and a host of other things.)

I agree that corporations need to play a role in this, but it will have to be a grass roots effort to see it happen.

That, or a nuclear war or some such that makes living in a metropolis utterly impossible.

By MAD MOMMY

October 25, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

In times like these we need to stop and look for solutions, not just point the finger around to place fault like we are doing now. There are a few key points that all contribute to our water issues, however there seem to be fewer answers or solutions.
Try focusing on what you are doing and encourge others to join the fight to save water as well. Pray for a solution and the guidence to make it through. The Lord doesn’t pick you up and out of things or make them easier, but he does give the strength to make it through. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!

By It is all Politics

October 25, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

If anybody thought that Bush was going to help the Atlanta area by calling on the Army Corps to cut back on the water released from Atlanta area lakes down stream to Alabama and Florida they are kidding themselves. Bush is very political even in the possibility of harm that could come to people’s lives. Bush, Tiley and Crist are Republicans. They don’t care about the lives of the mostly Democrat Atlanta area; just like during Katrina in the Democrat state and city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Nor do the mostly Republican people living in South Georgia care about the Atlanta area for the very same reason. It’s sad that in this country we have become so divided that people can possibally lose their lives based on politics.

By Brian

October 25, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

Long term, Georgia must build more storage capacity. Lake Lanier is simply too small to simultaneously provide power, drinking water, recreation, and down stream flow regulation. Unfortunately, it also is the only deepwater storage impoundment in the ACF basin, so this leads to what I think is a distorted perception of how much control Atlanta actually has over the river flow. Lake Lanier only intercepts about 9% of the ACF flow and about 5% of the watershed area. As such, even if Atlanta were to divert all of the water flowing into lake Lanier (an extremely unlikely event since municipal water use is rarely 100% consumptive – Atlanta returns about 60% of the diverted water flow and much of the “consumptive portion is actually lost to interbasin transfers to the Ocmulgee River Basin) it would only result in less than a 10% average annual drop in water volume in the ACF basin. Of course, Atlanta is not the only user of water in the ACF basin. Irrigation from ground water probably accounts for a similar total cumulative “loss” of water, but there is another aspect to this issue which deals with relative water rights.

I will not speak in legal terms, as I am hardly qualified, and it would take too long, but from a layman’s ethical perspective, my own opinion is that Alabama, but in particular, Florida wants to haves its cake and eat it too. Florida contributes almost nothing to the flow of the ACF rivers (in terms of flow from its portion of the watershed), yet it seeks to dictate Georgia’s use of the river to which it contributes the vast bulk of the Flow. In other words, the vast bulk of the water that flows in the ACF rivers is from water that originally fell on Georgia land. Georgia, on the other hand, does not have the luxury of dictating to Florida how it uses the water in its own rivers. Florida, being the ultimate downstream water user has the unique position of being able to take advantage of all the water that falls within its borders (in the form of springs and rivers) as well as the water that flows into the state from Georgia (which is quite a bit once you factor in the ACF rivers, the Sewanee River, and the massive contribution to the Floridian aquifer from the fall line south). Legally, however, upstream states do not have an absolute right to all of a stream’s flow (i.e. Georgia can never “cut off” Florida), but if this does go before the Supreme Court as an equitable apportionment case, it will be interesting to see if they take into consideration the huge difference in each state’s relative contribution to the flow. I don’t think there has been a case where one state has demanded such a large portion of a river’s flow while having such a tiny portion of it actually flow through the state.

By MAD MOMMY

October 25, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

In times like these we need to stop and look for solutions, not just point the finger around to place fault like we are doing now. There are a few key points that all contribute to our water issues, however there seem to be fewer answers or solutions.
Try focusing on what you are doing and encourge others to join the fight to save water as well. Pray for a solution and the guidence to make it through. The Lord doesn’t pick you up and out of things or make them easier, but he does give the strength to make it through. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!

By Harold

October 25, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Let Florida and Alabama have Lanier. So what. Just build another dam using state money in the Chattahoochee just south of Helen but north of Lanier.

Yes, flood Helen and make it a Georgia Only reservoir.

We are then rid of Helen AND have our own reservoir and the Corps can still run Lanier, having water at OUR whim instead of the Army holding Georgia hostage like terrorists.

By Harold

October 25, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Dear George W, could you put your brother Jeb’s state at a slight disadvantage so Georgians don’t all die of thirst? No? You can’t do that? Ok, well thanks anyway. Too bad Gore wasn’t [s]elected and didn’t get to pro-actively handle this environmental issue.

By Sabrina

October 25, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

The lack of prior planning is not an excuse to put millions of people in a potentially deadly situation. I fear for my children’s safety, and I commute into the city. This is not an issue that only affects the residents of Atlanta. All of the southeast are going to suffer from the actions of greedy politicians. Wagging fingers isn’t going to change that. The lack of water will eventually cause poor sanitation and the spread of disease. Hello? Atlanta has the 2nd largest international airport in the world! Global impact is highly likely.

Floridians and Alabamans: QUIT THINKING ABOUT YOURSELVES!!

By cjc

October 25, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

Democratic Atlanta? Well, the city is, and so are parts of DeKalb and south Cobb. But the rest of the metro? It’s as Red as they come.

By Will Jones

October 25, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Our “cup” shall “runneth over” when the People no longer permit the Anti-Christ to rule in Our Land. Who thinks Nature’s G-d, The Creator, doesn’t know Bush did 9-11 to take us to false war for heroin and oil and the Saudis? Or that his father and the Roman Catholic CIA killed John Kennedy? Or that Bush’s Knight of Malta-grandfather financed the rise of Hitler with money from Rome’s American Fifth Column? Or that his great-grandfather was with the Vatican-banker Rockefellers when they built Standard Oil on unredressed murder and arson?

You think G-d Almighty can’t give us enough water to drink from the Heavens? He expects better of Atlanta than for us to roll over for the ravening wolves destroying His Promised Land. If Atlanta doesn’t know it, the home of Dr. King - shot down by the same fascists for explaining, from Thomas Jefferson’s primer, why we should not be in Rome’s Vietnam, who would?

Purge Our Nation of this evil and the fisherman of Apalach’ won’t have to motor out. Hang these traitors and the nuke plant won’t have to shut down. But above all: Restore Righteousness to America and all Georgians will have enough clean water to drink. Amen.

It is we who must do it. G-d is not mocked. This drought is a gentle enough reminder as to Who is truly “in charge.”

By Tom

October 25, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

Jeff, cities are much more efficient then being spread out over large areas. It cost much more to run water pipes and other utilities not to mention the highway building cost to so few people. People use more water in rural areas then in the city. Most who live in the urban areas don’t have lawns to water and flower beds. Nor do they water gardens. Where do you get your fact from saying that it is better for people to be spread out.

By Mike

October 25, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

North Georgia’s – and in particular, Atlanta’s – water troubles are not the result Florida’s and Alabama’s reasonable expectations of shared watershed outflow. The water troubles are the product of Georgia’s shortsightedness with regard to adequate water supply infrastructure.

How Alabamians and Floridians plan to use their share of the water matters not a whit. If the upstream flow can be hijacked for hot tubs in Huntcliff or bidets in Buckhead, then all this braying about mussels seems disingenuous.

Atlanta’s greedy taps are no excuse to inflict problems downstream, regardless of whether they’re related to endangered species, reactor cooling or the continued navigability of the waterway.

Everybody should get their share of the water, but only their share, and when they hit their limit, that’s it!

By savannah chris

October 25, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

The fact Crist is trying to keep drinking water from my home state is reason enough for me to vacation anywhere else besides florida. And the Lanier water doesn’t directly affect me at all down here.

By tony

October 25, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

This isnt FL or AL’s fault this is our GA governments fault. They let anyone build anywhere they want with no thoughts to the overall effect to the community. Lake Lanier was not built by the feds for drinking water, so its not the army corp of engineers fault,its our own governments fault for ignoring this problem for years.

By JL

October 25, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Georgia’s shortsightedness is at work again. Georgia’s elected officials NEVER think beyond the immediate future, and the drought is no exception.

Atlanta ignored their sewer problems for decades, until it cost billions, instead of millions, to fix. Georgia never paid attention to the population explosion until the roads were so choked with traffic that commuting became impossible (remember; 285 was supposed to be a bypass, not a main artery).

Now, Georgia has ignored the drought until it became a calamity. And we expect people in Alabama and Florida to pay the price of our lack of leadership.

One last thing, Lanier and Allatoona were paid for by federal tax dollars, meaning Georgians don’t have an absolute right to them. The lakes were also not built for use as Atlanta’s water source. We just claimed that right, and now are draining the lakes dry.

By Boycott Alabama and Florida

October 25, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

BOYCOTT ALABAMA AND FLORIDA. SPEND YOUR TOURISM DOLLARS SOME PLACE ELSE. TRY MYRTLE BEACH OR HILTON HEAD.

By Dave

October 25, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Alabama governor Riley is the biggest hypocrite of all time. He says Georgia should build more reservoirs, yet he just filed suit (this week) to stop construction of a new reservoir here in Cherokee County.

From what I understand, there are no water restrictions in the lower half of Alabama - where he will be grandstanding today at that nuclear power plant.

Someone in the media should call him on these points!

By jwr

October 25, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

john, Georgia didn’t buy the land and dig the reserviors; the Corps of Engineers did, which means the FEDERAL government did…which means the FEDERAL government “owns” the water; not Georgia. We get a share, not all of it.

Florida, Alabama and Georgia all have coastine, they can all build nuclear plants to run desalination plant to suuport the major metro areas. Georgia’s problem is they never bothered to check if their share of the Chattahoochee reserviors, much less all of it, could support Atlanta’s unchecked growth.

Here’s a newsflash: even if Georgia kept 100% of the Chattahoochee watershed for the Atlanta metro area alone, Atlanta has got to put the brakes on development, fix their leaky waterlines and start conserving. Even so, they will face this problem again once another million people join the metro Atlanta party.

By BCR

October 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I might have to change my stance on this. I was under the impression that Georgia was selling Alabama and Florida water that came from Lake Lanier. Am I wrong in this thought? If so, can somebody explain to me what Georgia has to do with Florida and Alabama’s water supply?

By Matt M.

October 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Why is this only GA’s fault, but not FL’s or AL’s? That doesn’t make sense. We are blaming one state out of 3 for not being prepared. It doesn’t seem the other 2 states are prepared either. We obviously don’t know the whole story. Can’t believe anything any gov’t person says, EVER. Horrible planning, yes. Typical, thats all gov’t is, wait until the last second and then try to fix while blaming everybody. Will Jones, you need to take some medication. Holy crap! This isn’t and is everybody’s fault. We need to conserve and ask FL and AL to conserve also. We give them our water and they don’t give anybody any of theirs, it just runs into the ocean, so yes they lose some too. Stop whining and pointing fingers and come up with a solution. Crying isn’t going to help.

By Becky Barrett

October 25, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

No disrespect to Beecham’s on their lovely new estate (privat quarters)with it’s fountain & how many bath’s? Or to Tyler Perry on his new XXXXX sq. ft. mansion, and how many baths? All you metro Atlanta folks eat up a ton of wasted water with your extravagant baths & fountains. And that just touches on the residential portion (not to mention all the lawn watering systems that may still be turned on). Perhaps a portion of the problem could have been solved had there been restrictions set up through the building permits & what is realistic to allow. This water problem has been building for a pretty long time, but the Atlanta area has never been willing to make any sacrifices to prevent drastic situation that is currently at hand.

By Michael

October 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

I agree that Atlanta and Georgia should look at other sources for water. The Altamaha River and South Georgia and building desalination plants along the coast are certainly options to look at. I believe that Savannah is looking into desalination plants and where I live in Florida, plans are underway to build more. On the flip side however, the Atlanta area is the major metropolitan area of the Southeast and whether they want to admit it or not, the economies of Alabama and Florida are linked with Atlanta in some way. If the drought brings down Atlanta’s economy, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas will go down with Atlanta to some point.

By art

October 25, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

OMG, the decision is in Bush’s hands?!?!? The vote so far is 2 Rednecks against one Redneck in support of continued release of water from Lake Lanier.

Better start packing up the house and moving away from Atlanta. This is a mess.

By Tracy

October 25, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

A gallon in = 1 gallon out. That’s what FL and AL would be getting if Lake Lanier did not exist. Was this one lake built to provide everything we expect it to provide? If other states need a better flow of water during a drought, they should build there own lakes. GA should not be expected to store water for AL and FL benefit. I could understand their argument if we were releasing less water than was flowing into the lake.

By Amanda M

October 25, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Yes, we “share” the water with AL and FL, but no one else is on restrictions. They interviewed people on TV from AL and FL that are still watering grass and washing cars… MUST BE NICE… They need to realize that pople depend on this and let your dang car get dirty and your lawn die. GET OVER IT!

By the_greed_of_few

October 25, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

North Georgia is running out of water . So what planning is being done to control the growth around Atlanta ? Your greedy politicians & developers have put you in this mess . Yes , soon it will be our mess downstream as well.When I hear about all the newly built mcmansions & houses not getting new grass sod all around your city I’ll personally restrict my outdoor watering .

By BP

October 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

This is ridiculous. There are millions of lives at stake here in Atlanta and this idiot Florida Governor is arguing about a declining commercial fishing industry and claiming like a screaming juvenile that if anything happens to the people of Atlanta, well it was their own fault anyway. HUH??? Did you see the politicians telling the displaced people in New Orleans that it was their fault their politicians did not keep the levies up??? The people of Atlanta stand to suffer the most if the President does not grant Purdue the power over this water. The citizens of Atlanta did not create the growth and use issues (it was the failure of a few politicians). But to suggest that the millions of lives should suffer a catastrophe because their politicians were irresponsible is inane, and frankly evil. Florida’s Governor and Alabama’s Governor are stating screw the Atlanta residents in favor of minor economic issues in their state. Human life and human suffering come before commercial industries. It is evil for Florida and Alabama to suggest otherwise.

By jon

October 25, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

I think most of you folks are missing the point. Mother nature is deciding this not the states. AL & FL have no leg to stand on. If the drought persist then they will not have to worry about Lake Lanier, because there will be not water for anyone! What a bunch of tools!

By jon

October 25, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

I think most of you folks are missing the point. Mother nature is deciding this not the states. AL & FL have no leg to stand on. If the drought persist then they will not have to worry about Lake Lanier, because there will be not water for anyone! What a bunch of tools!

By Robert Ross

October 25, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

So what is Charlie going to do when the water runs out? We then have 5 million people with no water, and he is still screwed.

By watson

October 25, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

GET this through your thick skulls people. The ATL region is the the LARGEST region in the world without a major water supply. Just because Florida and Alabama have been getting rain does NOT mean that we can dry up their rivers. STOP the all the D#MN construction and stop all the crying. It makes you have to drink moew form the “dead pools”,

By fatz

October 25, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

i hope bush, after dealing with the katrina criticism, understands that if 5MM people have to evacuate the Atlanta metro area- by far the largest population base affected by the water crisis - because we have no RUNNING water ( i notice the corps of fools keeps referring to it as “drinking” water- are they coyly keeping something from us?), he will turn this state from Red to Blue for eternity. this is like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion..

By jwr

October 25, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

Amanda, AL and FL aren’t on restrictions because their metro areas don’t have a larger requirement than their water supply can provide. If there were 4 million people in Birmingham or Tallahassee, they would be on restrictions, too.

By jwr

October 25, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

jon, I think you and others are missing the point. Georgia didn’t build Lake Lanier, the Corps of Engineers did…meaning it’s not Georgia’s lake. If it was, then Sonny wouldn’t be asking the federal government for permission to shut the water off downstream.

By Bob H

October 25, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

Let’s see, the source of the water that feeds Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, are GEORGIA Rivers and Streams, The Chatahoochee river starts in GEORGIA (Just above Helen)and flows through GEORGIA.

Sounds to me like it’s GEORGIA’S Water, so Alabama and Florida need to just SHUT UP!

By BCR

October 25, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

Wow, it’s ironic that someone moving from Florida just came into my office and is complaining about how things are done here in Georgia. I have an idea, MOVE back to Florida. WE ARE TOO CROWDED.

By fatz

October 25, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

i have jokingly told friends for years that the sunbelt will self-destruct and we will all move back to NY or Cleveland or Des Moines. all the little local gov’ts outgrowing their effectiveness and a weak and partisan state gov’t have led GA, and i think probably the whole S/east to the precipice of the abyss. Infrastructure has lagged population for 50 years, and now we have decisions to make that are politically impossible. more taxes to be paid- or maybe just better allocation of tax dollars? the legal morass of condemning property for additional reservoir capacity. people mention desalination- you think a pipeline up I-16 and 85 will be a piece of cake. We have 2 choices- we make tough decisions immediately to get through the crisis and then follow up with a plan that actually makes an attempt to balance supply and demand, or we let the “market” take care of it for us…. which means plant and regional office cancellations (why would Kia build a plant down river?), no growth, a real estate recession that blows the doors off, etc., etc… that will be one way to police consumptions 10 yrs forward!

By BCR

October 25, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Can Georgia close it’s borders? Can we put a fence up so the population will stop growing. People keep moving here, and complaining might I add. We can’t handling anymore people. This person is still in my office complaining about Georgia. I am trying to be professional, but I want to tell where she can go.

By Sabrina

October 25, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Not very far from where I live three middle school children were diagnosed with MRSA. That is the antibiotic-resistent form of staph. This thing is that flesh-eating bacteria we’ve all been hearing about for so many years. If North Georgia runs out of water, how will they control the spread of this infection. When the lake is dry, and children are dying, then will Crist and Riley see the need to help out their fellow neighbors? Or do they honestly think that imaginary line called a state border is going to protect them? We are all Americans. When Florida and Alabama were in crisis from the devastation caused by hurricanes, Georgia was the first to aid them. Now that Georgia is facing a potential catastrophe, Floridians and Alabamans want to turn their self-righteous, sanctimonious backsides to us. I hope you all can live with the results of your refusal to offer your neighbors any help. And all that Perdue is asking is that Alabama and Florida conserve and share just a little more. Not everyone in Georgia lives in Buckhead, and in the end the only ones who are going to suffer are the poverty-stricken and middle class children of Georgia. Crist and Riley need to grow a heart!

By WTF

October 25, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

This all just further proves how ignorant our elected officials are……….esp. Perdue, Bush and Cheney. They don’t give a rats azz about us, and if you don’t believe me, see if they (Bush and Cheney) step in to help!!! But we can spend trillions on a stupid war. I am so sick of them all I could scream…………..where’s a good John Hinkley when you need him?

As long as this ignorance continues, I will continue to run the water while I brush my teeth, wash my food really, really good, and take showers as long and often as I want to. Te hell with our ignorant politicians, THEY SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! And the sad part is……..no matter how much we conserve, at this rate we’ll still run out!! Better enjoy it while you can!

By Southern by Grace of God

October 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

I know. Send all of the yankees back to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Philly, Boston, NY, and all of the other sewers they crawled out of. Do that and the water crisis is over.

By T

October 25, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

Hey Southern, good idea. Then let’s send the 3.5 million illegals back to Mexico. Without the yankees and the illegals, we’ll halve our population. PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!

By Lee

October 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

Population growth in metro Atlanta has continued unabated for 30+ years. Infrastructure such as roads, schools, utilities, etc, have lagged behind so it was merely WHEN, not IF, something like this was going to happen.

We on the outskirts of Atlanta have seen pristine farmland and pastures bulldozed over and within five years, hundreds of homes with the accompanying shopping centers and big box retailers taking its place.

For those who say additional watersheds should be constructed — where??

Those of us who have lived here for many years have seen this coming for a long time.

But….

The rains will eventually come, the drought will end, and the overdevelopment will continue until the next crisis.

By BCR

October 25, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

I mean, I can’t even turn the corner without seeing an entire forrest missing that was just there a week prior. Then the next week, they are finished with an entire subdivision. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE stop the development.

By Bob H

October 25, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

“Georgia’s water crisis has been caused by a severe drought, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s management of river basins based on outdated science and population figures and by the so-called water wars among Georgia, Alabama and Florida that have been ongoing for some 17 years.

Lake Lanier never fully recovered from last year, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates both Lanier and Allatoona, released water to Florida for the spring spawning season of fewer than 10 Gulf sturgeon, a federally threatened, prehistoric fish. In addition, the corps relied on a faulty gauge at the lake, which overestimated the lake level by nearly 2 feet, costing about 22 billion gallons of water.

The Corps also is dipping into the lakes’ storage to meet downstream water supply needs, such as ensuring power plants operated by Alabama Power have enough water to operate. The agency also is trying to release enough of Lake Allatoona’s water to allow its river-dredging project to continue downstream in Alabama.”

Quoted from Senator Johnny Isakson’s Web Page.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today joined with the entire Georgia congressional delegation in sending a letter to President Bush urging him to approve Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s request to declare a major disaster area in Georgia and utilize the executive power under the Endangered Species Act to exempt the state from complying with water reservoir releases during unprecedented drought conditions.

The text of the letter, which was signed by Georgia’s entire congressional delegation, is below:

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing in support of Governor Sonny Perdue’s October 20, 2007 request for a major disaster declaration in Georgia as a result of prolonged drought conditions. The Governor is requesting Public Assistance Categories B, D, and F, including direct Federal assistance, for 85 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The Governor further requested your assistance to implement exemptions to the Endangered Species Act.

Georgia is experiencing the worst drought in our state’s history. The dry, hot weather combined with management of our river systems has left water supplies at a critical level. This drought threatens the drinking water supply and health of our constituents, as well as the economic vitality and stability of our state. We urge you to expeditiously review Governor Perdue’s request and grant this declaration as soon as possible.

We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter, and stand ready to work with you in any way possible.

By GeezGuys

October 25, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this

Bob H, looks like all that lovely prose you cut-n-pasted from Johnny Isakson’s web page has been filed by the White House. In that circular file, right at the end of Bush’s desk. Next request!

Now go put a brick in your toilet tank and accept that your Republican morons will not be kissing Georgia’s backside. Oh, the irony of it all, the greedy Republicans clawing at each others throats! This will make a great movie.

Looks like the MeMeMe philosophy has finally imploded on these brainless fools. When the other MeMeMe guy has more weight with Bush, you’re SOL.

By Bob H

October 25, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

To GeezGuys,

It figures that a ‘Blame Bush and the Republicans for all your problems’ Liberal would try to bring politics into a debate over a crisis that faces everyone and doesn’t care if you are a demacrat or a republican.

Hey, GeezGuy read the pasted quote more carefully:

“The text of the letter, which was signed by Georgia’s entire congressional delegation, is below:”

That is entire delegation including

DEMOCRATS:

Sanford Bishop Hank Johnson John Lewis Jim Marshall John Barrow David Scott

or did you forget Georgia has 6 Dems. in Congress.

GEEEEEZ!

By Bob H

October 25, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Oh, and BTW GeezGuy who said I was a Republican….I haven’t voted a straight party ticket in my life. I vote for the best Person for the job regardless, all DemoPublicans are pretty much the same anyway.

By J.

October 25, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

We had MANDATORY WATERING RESTRICTIONS IN BIRMINGHAM PUT IN PLACE IN JUNE. You people in Atlanta love to think Alabamians are “stupid,” but you all are looking pretty stupid at the moment. It’s as if your governor just woke up one day a few weeks ago and said, “hey, it hasn’t rained in a long time! maybe we might have a drought!”

We in Birmingham watched our lawns burn up all summer under mandatory water restrictions that included 200% surcharges from the water authority and fines from the police for violators. We knew we were in a historic drought MONTHS AGO. Where have you people in Georgia been????

You need to be asking hard questions of your leadership. This problem is not the fault of Alabama and Florida. You should have had mandatory water restrictions in place early in the summer when it started getting hot, and you might not be in quite the same predicament. And even the seriousness of your predicament is open to debate at this point.

Maybe this will FINALLY wake up north Georgia to the idea that you have to be sure you have adequate water for your growth. Funny how a huge city like Los Angeles — which goes months without rain EVERY year — managed to grow exponentially without running out of drinking water. As I said before — who are the stupid ones now??

By Bob H

October 25, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

J…….J

Georgia has been under watering restrictions for the past two years or more. It was and Odd-Even system, with odd addresses watering on odd days and even on even days. except zero watering on Fridays, and only between Midnight and 10am. For the past few months we have been and still are under a total outdoor watering ban, with fines penalties and even jail time, this varies by county.

So get your facts straight before you post.

We have been under bans, we didn’t JUST (wake) “woke up one day a few weeks ago and said, “hey, it hasn’t rained in a long time! maybe we might have a drought!””

Its been a couple of years or more!

BTW The Lakes are way down, but the river is close to flood stage, due to the Army Corps release of Billions of gallons a day to benefit AL and FL Muscles and endagered Fish.

While Humans face running out of water…It wall stop flowing out of thwe dams, one way or another…It will stop!

By Mike

October 25, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

Gov. Perdue, maybe the members under your command at the Georgia Army National Guard need to teach the Army Core of Engineers at the Buford Dam a thing or two about Southern Hospitality, and how it wears a bit thin when there is no water to make our sweet tea with… If you know what I mean…

Or…

Perhaps we can build a dam of our own behind the Festhall in Helen, and throttle the Chatahoochee’s flow to Lake Lanier even further upstream before it even gets under the control of the ACOE…

Mike