Jackson County files suit over water

A northeast Georgia county has filed a lawsuit claiming its neighbor uses too much water from a regional reservoir in times of drought. Jackson County wants a judge to agree that the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority allows Athens-Clarke County to exceed its rightful amount of water from the Bear Creek Reservoir. The suit says the four-county authority has not adjusted withdrawls to account for the drought. Other partners in the authority say Jackson County officials are misreading the agreement.

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.