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DEL.ICIO.USCan they stop Sonny?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opposition to Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plans to get a greater share of Lake Lanier water for Georgia is bulking up in Alabama and Florida, the two downstream dependents on that water bent on stopping Sonny.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) issued a statement attacking Georgia’s desire to send less of the water downstream. The Apalachicola River and the state’s huge oyster and fishing industry would be devastated, she said.
Joining her in her denunciation are Florida’s two senators - Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez - and Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.).
Meanwhile, in Alabama - and how often do you get to say something like that? - 15 mayors and other local officials are meeting Tuesday with the Southeast Water Alliance at the state house to open a new front against Perdue.
The group is meeting in the Star Wars Room (we kid you not) to talk about conservation. They’re out to refute Perdue’s claim that while Atlanta was conserving water to prepare for the drought, Alabama was doing “little or nothing.”
So take that, you … you … you … Georgia guy, you!
Comments
By RJ
October 29, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
Can they stop Sonny? They don’t have to…Sonny has already stopped Sonny with an inept strategy.
By Justin
October 29, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this
Okay, does Alabama and Florida have total water restrictions?? I do not believe so. As of now the Army Corps of Engineers are actually letting out TOO much water.
By Justin
October 29, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
Does Alabama and Florida have total water bans like GA?? I do not believe they do. The Army Corps of Engineers are letting out too much water, there are stats to prove that. And on top of that, the Army Corps of Engineers read a faulty gauge last summer and let out too much water. It seems to me we need someone else to manage the lake that actually knows what they are doing.
By roly poly
October 29, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
Is any of this crisis for Atlanta self inflicted? Much of it is a natural occurance but much of it is the result of a total lack of planning for such situations. Only an idiot would deny that.
Now is Georgia asking Alabama and Florida to suffer because of that? If so just come right out and say it. We in those states would respect that more. We would cooperate and hold an IOU. That’s life. Stop acting like a spoiled child Atlanta and we will be easier to get along with. As you may know Alabama has an abundance of water. With a little planning you may be allowed to have some. But in the meantime we hold all the cards. You may be upstream but without rain, any serious infrastructure projects, and a continuing accelerated growth rate in Atlanta you are screwed. This is a fact. Handle it yourselves if you can.
By Churchill
October 29, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
OK how ‘bout this Alabama. From now on, starting this year. Whoever wins the GA-AL game gets to decide how much each state can get. I would also like to offer the same (GA-FL game) to Florida. Whaddya say???? I say, GO DAWGS!!!!!
By Carismar
October 29, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
Keep in mind only 8% of the Chattahoochee watershed is above Buford Dam. Also, keep in mind that the southern half of the watershed has received much more rain this year than the northern half.
By Runtable
October 29, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
I have an idea, why don’t we let UGA play the University of Alabama and Florida football teams for the water rights on the Chattahoochee River. Oops! I forgot we have already played them and won. Looks like Georgia gets to keep the water. RT
By Churchill
October 29, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this
GO DAWGS!!! GO DAWGS!!! Runtable is the second wisest man on this one, Baby. GO DAWGS!!! GO DAWGS!!!
By Bob Jones
October 29, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
How about this? The water sits in Georgia. Alabama wants it? Florida wants it? Kiss our a*******e$. Every Auburn and Alabama grad comes to Georgia for jobs, why? That’s where they are. If Alabama had a clue, maybe they could argue about growth, but they dont so they complain about our growth? Interesting, sounds like a bunch of mexicans crossing the border for the jobs only to complain about how they’re exploited
By Craig
October 30, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
Justin,
I hate to break the news to you but AL has had water restrictions for some time. Stop listening to crap spoon fed on talk radio. Other areas are suffering and are tightening their belt as well. Maybe if we had better planning and conservation from our elected leaders we would not have to deal with this. This interstate lawsuit and fight has gone on for years. Droughts have been cyclical and tighten our water levels as well. We deal with this issue constantly but yet those in charge fail to address the long term issue. They approve development as fast as their pockets can be lined but fail to develop infrastructure to support it. Look at overcrowded schools and packed roads. These geniuses deal with the now and whatever they can do to pander for votes rather than do what is best for not only the short term but for the long term as well.
By Churchill
October 30, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this
Craig, the Dawgs still wupped some Al and FL A**, this year. How ‘bout it Craig???
By He! He! He!,
October 30, 2007 2:02 AM | Link to this
Oh how I love these RED STATE BOYS!!!! I know when we were A BLUE STATE and OUR Governor was working his little tail off trying to work out an agreement with all of our neighboring STATES he got no help from The GRAND OLD PARTY BOYS in the LEGISLATOR. This went on for a Quarter of a century and nothing was resolved. Now we got our “GO FISH GOVERNOR” Sonny “Party Switching” Perdue and our “WAR WAR” President George H.W. Bush Jr. so let them figure out how to Fill up the Lakes and Get the “CAR WASHING” businesses back up and running.
I never thought I would ever see two people who didn’t have a clue how to run anything trying to come up with a solution on how to get it to RAIN He!He!He! Maybe they can get a couple of sticks,and some string and make a rain widget He!He!He!
I don’t know what I am going to do with all of this fishing gear I went out and bought for this tournament. Maybe our Governor can get me a refund, but I am not going to hold my breath until he does. “GO FISH GEORGIA” has gone to the DEKALB FARMERS MARKET to ge himself a mess of fish He!!!He!!!He!!!
By wackolibhack
October 30, 2007 2:28 AM | Link to this
RED STATE+ BUSH= BUSHITLER!!!!! DOWN WITH THE JUNTA!! VIVA CLINTONOBAMARAMA!!!!!!!!
By roly poly
October 30, 2007 6:35 AM | Link to this
Hey Bob Jones,
Grow all you want, we don’t care. Some of us still manage to scrap out a living collecting cans and raising chickens over here in Alabama. Next time however make sure to build a water line or something for all that wonderful growth. By the way, Georgia hasn’t beaten Auburn yet and we get to play you there. You’re screwed again.
By Craig
October 30, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Churchill,
What does that have to do with water?
By realistic
October 30, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Hey .. Roly
I agree that Atlanta has grown out of control, and should be checked. But only 4 percent of the flow is consumed by Atlanta… would you agree that Al and Fl are only entiled to the natural flow of the river.. what comes in goes out forever… it’s it would be like their never was a lake…what a grand idea, and htat means that Atlanta would have to button down also…. I think it would work for everyone, Atlanta slows, and you guys get what you are intilted too daily…
By Iron Mike
October 30, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
He! X 3 is typical of libs. No solutions for anything. Takes joy in misery. Enjoys it when Atlanta runs short of water or when the U.S. suffers casualties overseas. All that matters is that the misery occurs in a “red” state.
Last I checked, a sinking ship hurts everyone. You’re pathetic.
By roly poly
October 30, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
realistic,
I agree, that sounds insanely sensible. Some call it living within your means, but what does that to do with football?
By John in Alpharetta
October 31, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Well, I am about tired of all the bickering. Looking at the facts: Atlanta grew too fast, Alabama didn’t have a plan to handle the drought either…ditto for water rich Florida.
I agree, what comes in lake lanier is what goes out. Simple math to keep a shortage from happening in the future. The one most ironic part is Ala Gov Riley putting the brakes on a new dam in Georgia that would do nothing but ensure more water flow downstream. Then have the nads to tell the President that the Sonny cannot call a state of emergency in GA because it might ( numbers are being disputed) impact his state. I cannot find in history when one state petitioned the federal government to halt a state of emergency issued by another state.
Alabama GOV Riley, get a life. Georgia did not elect you, you need to stop meddling in GA and build some more lakes in Alabama. If I remember you have 3 major rivers that you can use there. Snap to it buddy. You are wasting time.
By Colt
November 1, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Some facts that tell the story:
If the river were not dammed, estimates are that river flow would be 50% or less than what it is now - the “damage” FL talks about to Appalach Bay would already be well under way in current rainfall conditions. The muscle and sturgeon species living along the banks today are supported by unnaturally high water flow. These species handled the gradual ebb and flow of drouts for hundreds of thousands of years before the river was dammed.
Only 6-8% of the Appalach/Chatt/Flint watershed flows into Lake Lanier. Atlanta, AL and FL are dependent on a very small geographic area in the N GA hills for their water reservoir.
There are at least 4-6 other dams in the watershed - 2-3 of them on the AL and FL state lines.
The corp of engineers mistakenly released about 3-4ft of water from the lake in May 2006 due to a “faulty” gauge measuring inflow from the Chestatee. The lake level never rose back after that - causing us to start the drout well below full pool.
If the drout in North GA persists through spring and Lanier levels drop below water intakes where are AL and FL going to get their water then? Instead of a gradual decrease in river flow we would presumambly get a much sharper cutoff.
The two power plants using water from the Chatt can stretch their water intake equiipment and get water out of a lower river - just as City of Atlanta would have to do to get more water out of Lanier.
When I look at these facts it tells me that water flow down the Chatt should bee reduced in the interest of all parties, and the Corps should be re-tihinking the storage and water flow plan of the entire watershed so that it is not so dependent on Lake Lanier.
By C Muniz in Tucker
November 1, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Have the government at least consider the possibility of dredging the lake now that the water levels are low. I can probably be done with Bulldozers. It won’t solve our immediate problem but will increase the capacity of the lake. When the rains do come, it will hold more water and we will be better prepare for the next drought. This is of course independent of any dispute with Alabama and Florida.
Of course, they will have to fight about who pays for the process, either Georgia or the corps. I suppose that we can not charge Alabama, and Florida for this improvement in a resource that benefits them also.