Did Georgia pull a fast one on Alabama and Florida? This editorial argues that an agreement between Georgia and the Corps of Engineers was entered in bad faith, with willful exclusion of other affected areas.
Remarkably, amid ongoing negotiations among the states, Georgia officials bypassed Alabama and Florida and entered into an agreement with the Corps of Engineers to take up to 50 percent more water from Lake Lanier, northeast of Atlanta. This water use, as much as 210 million gallons a day, would have a major impact on the flow of the Chattahoochee. That's a concern along Alabama's eastern border and a huge concern for Florida because the river is part of the system that feeds into Apalachicola Bay, a major ecological and economic resource for that state.
It seems that in the eyes of many officials, Atlanta's water needs come first... everyone else second. The issue at stake holds enormous importance for all three states. It greatly affects Apalachicola bay, Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river basin and more. Stay tuned for future developments. Can Alabama, Florida, and South Georgia stand their ground?
