Living in the Environment

Politics, Politics, Politics

First, let me give a quick synopsis on the situation about the Tristate Water Dispute going on between Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Buford Dam and created Lake Lanier fifty years ago. This lake was intended to help provide flood control, hydropower and navigation. Over time, Atlanta started to rely on the water from Lake Lanier for its primary water source. Using Lake Lanier as a water source was not its purpose and in using the water, it is taking away resources from Alabama and Florida.

The Water Wars is over a water system that starts in Northern Georgia and runs through Alabama and Florida. Georgia needs the water to help in continuing to grow in its booming metro Atlanta area. Alabama needs the water for power generation, fisheries and other uses. Florida needs the water to keep the Apalachicola Bay multi-million dollar shellfish industry alive. So who gets the water?

There are several factors that are making this a problem that has been talked about for about 20 years. Over the past 20 years, you could blame the court system. Now days, I believe a bulk of the problem is politics with the different political parties and political posturing.

Over the years, there have been countless lawsuits filed over the tri-state water dispute. If anyone knows anything about the court system, they know that is goes at a snail’s pace. Not only have there been countless lawsuits filed, there have been several environmental studies done which take an enormous amount of time. Lawyers, Judges and environmentalist can take years just to get pumped up to get started.

Next, there the different political groups involved. Anyone who watches politics knows that it is always us against them in the political world. There was almost a deal done this year but Charlie Christ decided to be an independent. Republicans can only work with Republicans.