Georgia-Florida water war to trial this fall

Georgia and Florida are ready to go to trial — again — to try to resolve the never-ending water war between the two states over a fair sharing of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers.

Attorneys for both states this week told the U.S. Supreme Court's "special master" in charge of the case that an early November trial in Washington would be suitable. It could last two months.

While a trial would serve as yet another milestone in the 27-year battle to "equitably apportion" water from the rivers, which form the Apalachicola River at the border, it won't keep attorneys, state officials and governors from mediation efforts. So far, though, direct talks between the warring parties have failed to reach a resolution that would provide ample water for metro Atlanta's development and Florida's oysters.