Dry irony at boat ramp at West Point Lake. Print warning: "Boat Smart - Boat Safe, Wear Your Life Jackets!" (Dave Bender)
Standing by a high-and-dry boat dock at West Point Lake, Governor Sonny Perdue on Wednesday took the gloves off in a water fight with neighboring Alabama, and its Governor, Bob Riley.
Riley, in a letter to President George Bush, asked that Perdue's intention to slow the flow be stopped:
Alabama "cannot stand by and allow Georgia to take control of the water in that reservoir to the detriment of the people who live and work downstream in Alabama," Riley said. "That would be a radical step that would ignore the vital downstream interests of Alabama."
"Georgia has repeatedly framed its request as a contest between people in the Atlanta area and endangered mussels in Florida. Nothing could be further from the truth," Riley said. "In reality the action that Georgia seeks will have dire consequences on people and their livelihoods downstream in Alabama."
During a question-and-answer session at the press conference, Perdue shot back, saying,
“It's a little bit like the Old West, where one land-owner would try to dry the other one up, downstream. The interesting thing is that Alabama is trying to use these insane rules of the fish and wildlife and the Corps of Engineers to dry Georgia up -- and we're not gonna' let it happen.”
Perdue emphasizing a point to assembled reporters. Rep. Lynn Smith (R) is in background. (Dave Bender)
Perdue says he's weighing taking Georgia's case to the Supreme Court. He outlined a series of immediate and drastic water-saving steps, including a 10-percent, across-the-board cutback on usage by state agencies. Perdue told reporters gathered at the boat-ramp, that,
“the remains of West Point Lake are a stunning reminder that this drought is devastating not only metro Atlanta, but the entire state of Georgia.”
Perdue says he's spoken with federal officials, and hopes somebody from Washington -- perhaps even President George Bush -- will see for themselves how the drought is parching Georgia.
Shoal marker at West Point Lake. The red diamond indicates nominal water line. (Dave Bender)
On Saturday, the Governor declared a state-of-emergency in 85 counties.
Click here for more comprehensive GPB News drought coverage.
