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.

Corps starts twice-daily water releases

The Chattahoochee River south of Atlanta is filling up faster than normal, thanks to U.S. Army Corps of Engineer releases to keep downstream locations covered.

The Corps says it's started twice-daily releases from Lake Lanier, in order to protect Fla. shellfish on the Apalachicola River. Federal law requires the Corps to keep three point-two-billion gallons flowing southward daily.

Columbus Water Works President Billy Turner official says that's likely to continue, if the quantity of water meets the Endangered Species requirements.

Fish and Wildlife officials will monitor the health of the mussels downstream, to determine of they can survive in lesser amounts of water. If so, the Corps will gradually cut back on the amounts released.

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