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DEL.ICIO.USWe fire up the ‘way-back machine: What would happen if, in 1988, someone decided that Georgia needed a few more reservoirs? Nothing.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just in case you still might be clinging to the thought that Georgia’s case of dry mouth was created in a day:
On Nov. 2, 1988, a body called the Growth Strategies Commission gave its final report to the man who ordered it up — Gov. Joe Frank Harris.
Members of the commission, headed up by Joel Cowan, included many who would rise to great influence, legislators like Roy Barnes, Johnny Isakson, Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Calvin Smyre, and Larry Walker.
Among the commission’s recommendations was legislation to empower the state Department of Natural resources to construct and manage a series of reservoirs with $11 million in bonds.
A faithful reader recently dug out a copy of the Growth Strategies report out of some old files. Water was the commission’s No. 4 priority. Transportation was No. 3. Education was No. 1.
Here’s what was said about water:
The availability of water will be a major constraining factor of future growth, especially in North Georgia. The solution is to build regional reservoirs.
Because of severe financial restraints, local governments do not take full advantage of existing programs to develop reservoirs and often plan reservoirs that impound less water than is possible and meet only short-term needs.
Since a limited number of sites for large reservoirs is available, the Growth Strategies Commission is recommending the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) be given responsibility for the acquisition, construction, financing and managing of regional reservoirs.
In the long run, those who benefit from those facilities should bear the cost. Both the capital and operating costs would be recouped through user fees paid by communities contracting for impounded water.
These facilities would supplement smaller “community” reservoirs[,] which could still be built by one or more local communities.
Any local government wanting to contract for water impounded by the regional reservoirs would be required to have an approved water conservation plan already in place.
Local and regional involvement, through the three-tiered planning process, is essential. The new regional development centers would advise DNR on reservoir sites, help local governments develop watershed protection and water conservation plans, and develop regional plans on these issues.
Local reservoir boards, drawn from regional development center boards, would advise DNR on the setting of feeds and general management of each reservoir.
Nearly 20 years later, of course, none of this has happened.
Not to say that a reservoir system was the only boat Georgia missed. The same report calls for the preservation of rail services and corridors to “ensure the feasibility of future commuter and inter-urban mass transit systems.”
Comments
By Maybe One Day
November 27, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
This is not a state where we look ahead and plan for 10-20 years from now. We’re a stick it to the next generation state. Elected state rep’s, senators and even guvna’s, from both parties, are too busy playing with wedge issues (no one more than Earl Ehrhart).
Been a long time since there was any under the Gold Dome with some guts and foresight. Hope my kids have drinking water 30 years from now.
By George Clements
November 28, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
Elected officials are not the only ones who should be blamed for the current water crisis. The real culprits are the do-nothing bureaucrats in the Department of Natural Resources who didn’t follow up on this 1988 report. Every DNR employee who retired between then and now should have their pensions cut.
The failure by Georgia to build smaller, regional reservoirs is truly criminal. The people of Georgia should demand better government than this.
I’m hoping that the AJC stays on the water issue and helps force the appropriate state and local officials to take meaningful actions to prevent future water supply problems.
By John Harris
December 4, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
The key words in the report are “..DNR should be given responsibility…”. The Legislature did not deem the issue important enough to “empower” DNR with this responsibility. They never even brought the issue before the Board of Natural Resources or provided funding or personnel to implement the project. DNR is entirely at the mercy of the Legislature for funding to operate. When the Legislature is in session, DNR must keep a full time person under the Gold Dome just to lobby the Legislators for minimum funding to keep the Department operating. Despite these efforts, many programs are cast aside each year for lack of funding. Due to budget constraints and staffing shortages, Georgia does not even have the basic data to quantify or qualify it’s water resources. We do not even know what we have or what quality it is.