Dock Permits Open on Lake Lanier

The Army Corps of Engineers is lifting a ban on new dock permits on north Georgia's Lake Lanier in another sign that the epic drought that once gripped north Georgia is fast becoming a thing of the past. The Corps issued the moratorium in April 2007 as the drought sent levels at the massive reservoir plunging. As the drought grew worse, the lake's levels dropped more than 18 feet below full pool. But rainy weather has helped north Georgia emerge from the worst drought conditions, and Lanier is now only about four feet below full pool. Corps spokesman E. Patrick Robbins said that helped federal engineers feel confident enough to begin accepting new boat dock permits.

(Associated Press)

Obama Official Offers Water War Help

Georgia’s protracted legal-fight with neighbors Florida and Alabama over water supply from the Chattahoochee basin has extended nearly two decades. Earlier this year during a trip to Washington, Governor Sonny Perdue met with Obama administration officials hoping for a fresh look at the situation. At the time, a promise was made for an official to visit Georgia for a first-hand look at the major reservoir in the battle-Lake Lanier. That happened Wednesday with the Interior Secretary’s trip south.

This morning, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took a helicopter tour over the north Georgia reservoir:

"My own view of Lake Lanier as I walk away from it is it’s one of the great assets here in the state of Georgia that has multiple uses including the generation of power that we use in homes and industry here in GA."

Getting a full sense of the scope of Southeast water issues was a charge given by President Obama to Salazar when he took the reigns of Secretary of the Interior in January. Flanked by Governor Sonny Perdue at a state Capitol press conference, Salazar said the water war is one of the "cardinal issues" for his department.

While Lake Lanier has benefited from good rainfall that’s swept the state in recent months, Perdue acknowledged the basin is still recovering—it remains about five feet below normal.

Meanwhile, in the tri-state fight for Lanier’s water, a Florida U.S. District judge is considering the latest arguments made earlier this month. The question-whether metro Atlanta is entitled to use Lanier as a main drinking water source.

Perdue says costly legal wrangling is going nowhere:

"Ultimately, one litigation leads to another litigation to another appeal, and as Secretary Salazar so wisely talks about what he accomplished in Colorado, the ultimate solution is a mutual agreement among the three affected states."

As attorney general for Colorado in 2002, Salazar helped engineer a tri-state water agreement between Colorado and neighboring Kansas and Nebraska. After tens of millions of dollars spent in the courts, the Governors and attorney generals of those states hashed-out a deal themselves:

"It’s a model that essentially projects what the water supply entitlements are to each of the states, and sets forth an agreement under which any disputes are in fact resolved. And it’s worked well. I’m hoping some of those lessons that we’ve learned in those kinds of situations might be useful here."

Salazar’s position as Interior Secretary doesn’t allow for the power to impose a solution to the tri-state water battle here. Instead, he says he wants to be "helpful when called upon":

"I do not see us as playing the role of coming in and hammering heads and trying to get the deal done. It really is something that has to come from the three respective states, and if we can play a facilitating role in that, we would be very happy to help."

Thursday, Salazar heads further south to meet with Florida Governor Charlie Crist to get that state’s perspective.

Tri-State Water Fight Now in Florida Courtroom

With the fate of metro-Atlanta's drinking water supply now in the hands of a federal judge, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson says it's time the attorneys stepped aside. And, with no quick decision expected in the case, Isakson says lawyers have argued the case for nearly two decades and nothing's been accomplished. He says it's time cooler heads prevailed.

"We've had far too much litigation and not enough conversation. People with cool heads have got to sit down. We can't start lobbing bombs at one another and trying to gotcha each other politically. It's too important an issue that has hurt this region for far too long."

And, Isakson has volunteered to kick start the dialogue.

"If we get a bad ruling, the first thing that I'm going to do is invite (the senators from) Alabama and Florida, to join Saxby and I at a lunch to sit down and talk about how we cannot afford to play gotcha politics with the drinking water … that [the] basin provides."

This latest case, now being heard in a Florida court, consolidates seven cases into one and centers on metro Atlanta’s share of water from Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier is the area's primary drinking water source.

Florida would like an increase in the amount of water released from the dam to protect endangered shell fish. Alabama wants more water to cool its nuclear power plants.

Tri-State Water Issues Back In Court

Another round in the so-called ‘water wars’ comes today in federal court in Jacksonville. Georgia will meet Florida and Alabama over the issue of allocation of water from Lake Lanier—the main water supply for metro Atlanta. Florida and Alabama both want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to send more water downstream from the hydroelectric dam. The case has now extended for almost two decades. Seven lawsuits on water issues have been consolidated and no quick decisions are expected.

'09 Rainfall Continues To Raise Reservoir Levels

The bountiful rainfall of late winter and early spring in Georgia continues to erase effects of the drought. The state’s climatologist says the Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell basins have improved enough to be raised to a category of mild drought--up from a moderate drought designation. Meanwhile, the rest of the state is drought-free. Soil moisture conditions for most of the state are now above normal, except for some of the mountain counties in Georgia. And there’s more rain on the way--much of the state today can expect showers and thunderstorms, with some possibly severe.

Stimulus Funds Water War Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is getting $3 million in federal stimulus money to complete a study on managing the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint River basin. The study covers "water supply, recreation, hydropower, flood damage reduction, navigation, and fish and wildlife." Alabama, Georgia and Florida have been embroiled in a long-running dispute over water in the ACF basin. Another $8 million is for Buford Dam and Lake Lanier, metro Atlanta's main water source along the Chattahoochee.

(Associated Press)

Corps To Increase Water Release From Lanier

Winter rains have replenished north Georgia’s Lake Lanier enough that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to send more water down the Chattahoochee River. The reservoir has hit its highest-level since August 2007, now around seven to eight feet below full. Since late December, Lanier has risen about 13 feet. Georgia Enviromental Protection Division director Carol Couch previously had requested releases from Lanier be cut, but not this time. Georgia, Florida, and Alabama have been fighting over the reservoir’s water since 1990.

Lake Lanier at Highest Level Since '07

Three consecutive days of rain have added 6 inches to the level of Lake Lanier, its highest since late 2007.

Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Couch said Monday the level is still off what she had hoped it would be.

Three months ago, Lanier was 20 feet below full pool. Now it's more than 11 feet below. The decrease stems from winter rains and less water being released form the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the federal reservoir.

The Corps predicts the level will remain near 1,058.8 feet above sea level - its level on Tuesday - through April.

(AP)

Recent Rain A Bonus To Georgia

Widespread, soaking rains in two of the past three weekends this month have given the state a much-needed boost in combating the drought.

It could be called a good start. State climatologists are cautiously optimistic that drought-ravaged Georgia has received some bonus rain as spring and consistently warmer temperatures arrive soon.

More of the weekend’s widespread rain fell in north Georgia, where the drought’s effects have been most severe.

Assistant state climatologist Pam Knox says all this rain has been very beneficial for the state’s short-term needs:

"We’re going to see that all of the precipitation that falls from the end of March on, is going to be used immediately either by the plants or taken away by evaporation. So the last couple weeks is really critical for building up a bank account if you will of soil moisture."

The state’s reservoirs have seen the benefit. Lake Lanier in particular is at its highest level since October of 2007--more than 1,058 feet. Still, the north Georgia reservoir is around 11 feet below full pool.

Knox says Georgia still needs months of above-normal rainfall to make a big dent in ground water levels.

Weekend Rain Soaks Much Of Georgia

Rain is sweeping much of the state this morning--from extreme north Georgia, extending to Athens, Macon, Columbus and down to Albany. A weekend soaking for much of the state has brought continued needed relief for Georgia’s reservoirs, such as Lake Lanier. The north Georgia reservoir was up to a little more than 1,058 feet as of 6pm last night. It's Lanier’s highest level since October of 2007.

From the National Weather Service, Monday's forecast for Georgia:

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...

.TODAY...WIDESPREAD RAIN WITH AREAS OF MORNING FOG. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH. HIGHS IN THE 50S AND 60S NORTH...70S SOUTH.

.TONIGHT...RAIN SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM SOUTH IN THE EVENING...THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGH THE NIGHT SOUTHEAST. AREAS OF FOG. LOWS IN THE 40S NORTH AND 50S SOUTH.

Georgia Drought Not a Priority for Lawmakers

Lake Lanier is still around 14 feet under normal level- and environmental groups are fearing that the debate has been lost in the Georgia Legislature.

Last year legislators were saying they were going to be tackling the water issue. One of their first votes was to embrace a statewide water plan. And powerful lawmakers soon backed a bid to claim water from the Tennessee River.

But still the drought grips parts of north Georgia.

A half dozen or more proposals have been introduced by lawmakers that would spur conservation and crack down on pollution. But chamber leaders have not publicly made any of them a priority.

(AP)

Lanier Gets Return of Some Fishing Tournaments

For the first time in awhile, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting applications for fishing tournaments at Lake Lanier. It’s a sign that the north Georgia reservoir is rebounding from historic low water levels.

Lanier has risen more than five feet since early December. So now the Corps is issuing permits for daytime fishing tournaments, 90 days or less in the future.

The return of at least a partial schedule of tournaments is a relief for nearby fishing equipment and bait shop owners. Candy Hammond runs Hammond’s Bait and Tackle in Cumming. She says that while her business has weathered the drought and economic downturn relatively well, others around her have not been so lucky.

"There’s some places that have closed the doors, there’s some people that are trying to hang-on. It’s just here and there, it just depends on where they are in proximity to different ramps."

Now, she says renewed optimism is taking hold for businesses nearby Lanier.

Fishing in Georgia is typically a nearly $2-billion economic engine for the state. And state officials late last year announced a national tournament to be held at Lanier in 2010--expected to spark $20-million in financial impact for Georgia.

Atlanta mayor hopes for truce in 3-state water war

West Point Lake. (Dave Bender/file)

Mayor Shirley Franklin is hopeful President-elect Barack Obama will make good on a promise to unite Georgia, Florida and Alabama over the issue of water.

In October, Obama said he would call for the states' governors to begin negotiating again on water sharing.

Speaking to the Atlanta Press Club Tuesday, Franklin said she considers overhauling the city's troubled sewer system one of hermost challenging accomplishments, but that the new president must bring regional governors to the table on water issues.

Franklin, who leaves office at the end of the year, says her successor will need to focus on what can be done to ensure a stronger future for Atlanta.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of water issues and here for previous reports about the drought.

High Court Declines Georgia Motion Water Wars Case

Lake Allatoona: a bridge over troubled, and receding, waters (Dave Bender/file)

The U.S. Supreme Court will let stand a lower court ruling that threatens Georgia's long-term water plans for the Atlanta region.

The court's decision Monday raises fundamental questions about Georgia's rights to Lake Lanier, a massive federal reservoir outside Atlanta. It could also play a key role in deciding the
long-running water wars among Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

The case involves a 2003 water-sharing agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers that would have allowed Georgia to take far more water from Lanier for drinking water.

Florida and Alabama contested the pact. A lower court agreed, saying the Corps didn't have authority to use the lake for that reason.

Georgia had appealed to the Supreme Court for another review.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of water issues and here for previous reports about the drought.

Rain boosts Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier has benefited from recent rains. The reservoir supplies water to the Atlanta region and has been rising about an inch per hour. That’s according to the National Weather Service.

Despite the lake’s rise by about one foot, officials say it’s still well below its normal winter pool level. They do expect larger gains as the runoff from rains continue to trickle down today.

Rains raise Lake Lanier

Parched Lake Lanier is up a foot of water thanks to recent rains. That's a month's water supply for metro Atlanta, or about 11 billion gallons of water. The north Georgia reservoir had dropped to record low levels earlier this year because of drought.

(Associated Press)

Lake Lanier to get boost

The Army Corps of Engineers decided Friday to hold more water in the Lake Lanier. The Corps determined sending less water downstream did not significantly impact the environment. The decision could mean a one foot rise for the reservoir. Lake Lanier supplies Atlanta with most of its water.

Reservoir headed for record low

Metro Atlanta's main water supply could soon set a record low. The Army Corps of Engineers says Lake Lanier could surpass last year's low in early December. The lake hit its previous record low on December 26, 2007, when it reached just under 1,051 feet. The epic drought gripping north Georgia has taken a toll on Lanier, a massive reservoir that supplies metro Atlanta with most of its water.

(Associated Press)

Crux of tri-state water war focus of public meetings

The crux of the tri-state water dispute between Florida, Georgia and Alabama is the topic of five public meetings scheduled for next month.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will discuss how it operates the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee Flint River basin.

Lake Lanier residents and Georgia lawmakers have long criticized the Corps for continuing to operate the lake by a manual last updated 50 years ago.

Georgia meetings will be held in LaGrange, Marietta and Gainesville.

Lanier at record lowest seasonal level

Lake Lanier. Click on the map for a full-sized image. (Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Hurricane Ike and other recent storms that've swept the region didn't leave as much water behind in Lake Lanier as water officials had hoped. In fact, it's the lowest Lanier has even been for this time of year.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials says that while tropical storm Fay did bring up the level to just over 1055 feet, that's still 17 feet below normal full pool - 1,071 feet.

In addition, officials say they’re expecting a dry winter.

Click here for more GPB News ongoing drought coverage.