Alabama's Governor has accused the Army Corps of Engineers of illegally holding-back water they need from a Georgia lake. The Corps has fired back, saying its actions are valid.
This latest flare-up in the decades-long water wars involves Lake Allatoona in northwest Georgia. Alabama Governor Bob Riley this week sent a letter to the Army Secretary, saying the Corps has been "obsessed" with keeping Allatoona levels high. Riley says the Corps has held-back 18-billion gallons of water from his drought-stricken state.
Corps of Engineers spokesman Rob Holland says they have a tough job trying to manage water. He says there is no specific requirement that water from Allatoona be released to Alabama.
"That particular river valley, the Alabama-Coosa valley has one of the worst segments of this drought, and we understand they're hurting and need water...but we have to manage it as a system and have to take into account a lot of different factors".
In 2006, Georgia sued the Corps of Engineers for releasing water from Lake Lanier to Florida. A faulty gauge led to an over-release of 22 billion gallons.
This latest flare-up in the decades-long water wars involves Lake Allatoona in northwest Georgia. Alabama Governor Bob Riley this week sent a letter to the Army Secretary, saying the Corps has been "obsessed" with keeping Allatoona levels high. Riley says the Corps has held-back 18-billion gallons of water from his drought-stricken state.
Corps of Engineers spokesman Rob Holland says they have a tough job trying to manage water. He says there is no specific requirement that water from Allatoona be released to Alabama.
"That particular river valley, the Alabama-Coosa valley has one of the worst segments of this drought, and we understand they're hurting and need water...but we have to manage it as a system and have to take into account a lot of different factors".
In 2006, Georgia sued the Corps of Engineers for releasing water from Lake Lanier to Florida. A faulty gauge led to an over-release of 22 billion gallons.
