New Reservoir Moves Forward

Officials report progress in Washington on obtaining a federal permit for a proposed 805-acre reservoir in north Hall County. The county bought 805 acres of the 7,000-acre Glade Woodland Farms property in Northeast Hall seven years ago with plans for a reservoir. The design called for using Lake Lanier as a conduit to transport the water to Gainesville's water intakes. Undersecretary of the Army John Paul Woodley met Tuesday with Georgia officials working on the project for years. Woodley says he and his staff agreed with the request to move ahead with the project. The county can apply for a Corps of Engineers permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

(Associated Press)

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.

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.

Group says fix leaks to save water

An advocacy group for rivers says cities across the Southeast can save millions of gallons of water a day through conservation. The group American Rivers released a report today saying steps like repairing leaks in water lines, replacing old fixtures and raising the price of water make more sense than building dams to create new reservoirs. The report estimates conservation could save up to 210 million gallons of water a day in Atlanta. The Southeast has spent much of this decade in a drought, and water shortages have crept up across the region.

(Associated Press)

Governor signs reservoir bill

The Governor also signed legislation today designed to expedite building new reservoirs. It's a response to Georgia's recent historic drought. Supporters say having more reservoirs around the state is protection against future water shortages. The bill creates faster and easier cooperation between the state and local governments looking to build a reservoir.

Lawmakers reach '09 budget deal

From the Associated Press ...

Georgia lawmakers reached a deal on a $21.2 billion budget that boosts salaries for state employees and funnels money into schools on the chaotic final day of the legislative session. But an agreement on tax cuts was proving a bit more elusive today as weary legislators raced against the clock to consider hundreds of measures in the dying hours of the 40-day session. House Majority Leader Jerry Keen said, "I'm an eternal optimist. But I'm cautious." The impasse over tax cuts created a logjam for other high-profile measures, including a new fee to help the state's trauma centers and a sales tax hike to pay for transportation improvements. Republicans pledged to deliver tax relief this election year, but with a few hours left in the session's final day they remained sharply divided over how to do it. The House wanted to eliminate the car tag tax over two years. The Senate pitched a competing plan that would trim the state income tax by 10 percent over five years. Also up in the air were vast changes to the education system, drought-inspired measures to bolster Georgia's reservoir system and a proposal to allow Georgians to carry concealed weapons in more public places. The budget deal removes at least one contentious issue from the table, but both chambers won't get to vote on it until tonight.

Water authority ponders second reservoir

A northeast Georgia Water Authority is looking into building a second reservoir. The Upper Oconee Water Authority voted yesterday to look for a consultant for the issue. The consultant will study population growth and water needs over the next 50 years for Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties. The proposed reservoir would back up Bear Creek Reservoir.

Dawson County May Get Reservior

In response to the State’s new Reservoir Development and Drought Relief Act, Dawson County may soon get one of its own. The Reservoir Development and Drought Relief Act makes it easier for local governments to build reservoirs.

One new reservoir is expected to add 11 million gallons of water a day solely to Dawson County. It will be built on Russell creek, one of three untapped watersheds in the area.

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority Manager, Brooke Anderson, said he chose Russell Creek so they would not have to start from scratch.

“We will actually have to remove the existing damn in order to construct a much larger damn turning it into a drinking water supply reservoir,” said Anderson.

The project is expected to cost 36 million dollars. Construction will begin in December pending a loan from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Macon's Water Advantage

Macon has found a silver lining to Georgia's drought. Local economic development officials traveled to a Chicago trade show recently and brought the Macon Water Authority along with them. They told business leaders from around the country that all of Georgia is not running out of water.

Despite the fact that Macon is under level two drought restrictions, their reservoir is full. In fact it's got 6.5 billion gallons. The city built the new reservoir and water treatment facility after a massive flood in 1994.

Officials with the Macon Economic Development Commission say their new water marketing strategy appears to be paying off. Just two days after the show, one food service company sent a representative to check out Macon. That company could employ up to 200 people.

Keeping water in reservoirs

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to conserve water in Savannah River reservoirs. The Savannah Morning News reports the Corps is responding to the state’s on-going drought. However, the state climatologist says reservoir levels will continue to drop despite conservation efforts. Inflows to Thurmond Lake north of Augusta are at 44% for the year. Lake Hartwell has inflows of only 20%.