Federal biologists say Georgia can keep more water

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to keep more water upstream in Georgia got the blessing of federal biologists Monday. U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials say storing more water in Georgia's reservoirs and releasing less downstream would not jeopardize the existence of Gulf sturgeon and three types of mussel. The adjusted water plan was announced in April, allowing for reservoirs along the Chattahooche to store 50 percent of the inflow into the river basin. The Chattahooche runs into the downstream Apalachicola River, which in turn runs into the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida to Army Corps: reassess water flow

Florida’s top environmental official says the reduced flow of water into the Apalachicola River has already changed the makeup of the water, and is killing oysters. The official says the Army Corps of Engineers needs to reassess its decision to cut the flow of water that is sent downstream in the Chattahooche River, from Georgia’s Lake Lanier. Georgia’s Sonny Perdue will meet the governors of Florida and Alabama December 17th to talk water issues once again.

Decision to come today on Lanier water release

Federal biologists are expected today to give their decision on the Army Corps of Engineers' plan to reduce the water flow out of Georgia’s Lake Lanier. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been analyzing whether federally-protected mussels can survive on less water coming downstream, into Florida’s Apalachicola River. Earlier this month, an agreement was worked-out in Washington to help Georgia by slowing the release of Lanier’s water. It needs the O-K of the biologists to move forward.

Columbus wants off level-4 drought list

Ankle-deep, midstream in the Chattahoochee River,
looking north to the 13th St. Bridge. (Dave Bender)

The Columbus Water Works wants the city to be taken off the level-four drought list, saying the designation is unfair.

Water Works Executive Vice President Bob Tant, says the state should lower the city to the less-strict stage two designation. He says Columbus is carrying an unjust burden, compared to other parts of Georgia:

“The contribution to any savings that Columbus can make -- at best -- is really, very small, and is, in fact, dwarfed by the flows that would be taken out of the lower end [of the Chattahoochee River] into the Apalachicola [River].”

Tant says city residents have largely followed the ban, and that overall daily usage dropped from 39 to 23 million gallons since the ban went into effect at the end of September.

He added that Columbus, dubbed the “Fountain City,” has turned off all the decorative downtown waterworks, and that educational institutions have followed suit.

While repeat ban-breakers might have their water turned off, the city is not levying fines against violators.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the drought.