DOJ sides with Fla., Ala., in water war

The US Department of Justice has sided with Florida and Alabama over Georgia in a case involving water storage at Lake Lanier. In a brief, the DOJ argued that the US Supreme Court should not hear Georgia's appeal of the case. A lower court ruled that Florida and Alabama had a right to stop a water storage plan negotiated between the Army Corp of Engineers, Southeastern Power, and the state of Georgia. Florida and Alabama argue the plan would hurt downstream Chattahoochee flows. The DOJ brief disagrees with that particular ruling, but says technical issues should keep the Supreme Court from hearing it. The nation’s highest court has not decided whether it will take up the case.

(Associated Press)