Deal Still Pushing Flint Dams

A plan to build a series of dams on the Flint river will move forward despite vocal opposition from environmentalists and a former president.

Damming the Flint River is an idea dating back to the 1946. And with record drought throughout the state, Gainesville Congressman Nathan Deal says dams should go up. Deal says his proposal will increase Atlanta’s water supply during times of drought. Environmentalists, along with former President Jimmy Carter, say the plan will create an ecological mess. Still, Deal says the plan will move forward, and offered this challenge to President Carter.

"Jimmy Carter---if he has a better way of supplying water to the Carter Center in Atlanta, I’d like to hear what it is. I haven’t heard anything from him in that regard."

President Carter vetoed a funding bill for a Flint dam project during his time in the Whitehouse. In the 1980’s, Congress abandoned plans to build a series of three dams on the river. Essentially, Deal wants to reauthorize that project.