Water Water Everywhere And Not A Drop To Drink

 

After 22 years of legal and political posturing by successive Governors, the Corps of Engineers and various state agencies, we,  GEORGIA,  UP and LOST the last round of the “water war.“  This time, in a sweeping judicial decision, our fate is sealed in 3 years (up a dry creek without a paddle) without congressional action.

 

For 22 years our Norton Native Intelligence™  Forecasts have cried for water solutions, long -range water planning, conservation and “real world” water business practices for the capture, storage and distribution of water….The states have been acting like three little kids fighting over toys in a sandbox….  Without water, Atlanta will become a concrete desert. Without water, Georgia’s food processing businesses will evaporate and the general public will become parched toast.

 

Since the ruling I’ve heard lots of folks bellyaching and moaning but no one really putting forth any concrete ideas. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I want to put my destiny in the hands of 435 congressmen who have a hard time deciding about anything.  It’s not Georgia’s 13 that I’m worried about…it’s the other unpredictable 422.

 

My grandmother always said…. "It is what it is….now, whatch’a going to do about it?”  When down and out, I’ve always found a well thought out  game plan helped clear the walk through the fog and smoke.

 

1.If we can only use Lake Lanier for flood and navigation, then shut the flood gates of Buford Dam and release water for those 2 purposes – The mussels will have to learn to survive.

              Result – the lake will remain full.

 

 

2. Start accurately documenting the barge traffic along the waterways. It would be interesting to see if barges are the 21st century equivalent of the “horse and buggy” and have been replaced by container truck traffic on our Interstate highways.

 

              Result – an accurate cost vs. benefit study on the transportation aspect of Lake Lanier releases.             

 

 

3. If we have NO water withdrawals from Lake Lanier unless Congress approves them (except Gainesville & Cumming), then the same should apply to the entire  Flint, Chattahoochee, Apalachicola basin… No water may be removed from any river, nor the 13 lakes in the chain, nor feeding tributary…. by any state, county or municipality without the same approval by Congress.

 

              Result – what’s fair is fair.

 

 

4. Immediately request Federal Stimulus Funds to remove 51 years of silt from Lanier…dig it deeper increasing its storage capacity. It’s a “shovel ready" project, Today thousands of graders are out of work and best of all, we don’t have to wait 10 to 20 years to go through governmental red tape – it’s already EPA approved.

 

              Result – more storage means more water for everyone.

 

5. While we’re asking Mama Congress for permission for a glass of water or two, ask them to raise the level of Lake Lanier 2 ft.(that’s 85,000 acre feet of additional water storage..a bunch!)  and earmark that part exclusively for Georgia consumption.

 

              Result – all the water we will ever hope to drink.

 

 

6. Hall County as a measure of safety (sometimes plans don’t always work) needs to immediately build a water plant and a distribution connection  into our existing East Hall Reservoir and accelerate the construction of the Glade Farm Reservoir.

 

              Result – it’s always good to have a Plan B

 

 

#7. Support a temporary 1 cent statewide sales tax to build reservoirs and pipeline distribution throughout Georgia. That’s new lakes in the Georgia National Forests,

tapping the South Georgia Aquifer, creating a system of deep water wells and building desalination plants along Georgia’s coast.

 

              Result – everyone benefits from a diversification of our water resources.

 

 

#8. Appoint a Tri-State water Czar and relinquish all states’ (3) political control over all water Storage, Distribution and Withdrawal. Charge this Czar with sound long range balanced non political water planning for all Three States ….. you might even include Tennessee for a fourth. And start planning for regional growth -  2050 is just around the corner.

              Result – it just makes too much sense

 

Two Thirds of Lake Lanier is in Hall County and 100% of it is inside Georgia and we can only withdraw (Gainesville and Cumming) some 13 million gallons of water per day vs. estimated needs of 45 million. As ridiculous, absurd, and outlandish as the ruling might appear, it’s time we control our own destiny.   RIGHT NOW!