Florida officials call foul on Georgia over water management

Florida lawmakers are accusing Georgia of negligence in managing its water. Florida is calling on the federal government to intervene to prevent further damage downstream in that state’s Apalachicola Bay. Officials in Florida say a recently unveiled federal plan for the region’s river basin gives Georgia a free pass for failing to implement more stringent conservation measures. Just recently, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials gave an opinion that keeping more water upstream in Georgia would not jeopardize the existence of four federally protected species downstream.

Florida opposition to water plan to help Georgia

Florida officials sent a letter to federal officials detailing their objections to the newly-devised plan that would allow more water to be stored in Georgia--and less going into Apalachicola Bay. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers received the Florida complaint, which says the plan will decimate oyster populations and threaten protected species in the river. The government is expected to finalize its plan on June 1st.