I like the watermelon term- environmentalists who are “green” on the outside but commie red on the inside.
The overarching problem seems to be that the Atlanta area is growing beyond what can be sustained by a water supply installed over 50 years ago. This is much the same problem that California has with its electric grid. Even if the Corps had not “accidentally” dumped 22 billion gallons, there would only be three or four months supply left in the resevoir.
What is Greater Atlanta doing to find new sources of potable water? Is there a push to irrigate with reclaimed water (becoming increasingly common in Florida)?
My keyboard made an error on the last post :). This is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Lake Lanier.
I don't think that there are many farmers using Lanier water. Farming is mostly in the southern part of the state, using other water sources (e.g., the Flint and Suwannee rivers). Since the entire state is suffering from a drought, farmers have been hurt (there is much dependence on rainwater).
The 22 billion gallons was estimated to be about 118 days (about 4 months) at the time. We currently have about 3 months left. So, without the spill, we would have 6 months left.
Aside from the endangered mussels and oopsies by the Corps, the major consumers of water from Lanier are those pesky neighboring states and Georgia Power. A nuclear power plant would reduce the need to release water from the lake during the AC season.
In 2004, Governor Perdue signed legislation ordering the EPD to develop the first statewide water management plan. The first draft was released for comments in June of this year:
The Water Council
This is not something that most of us have been aware of. The current crisis has no doubt raised the awareness of many Georgians. The entire Georgia congressional delegation has just introduced legislation to suspend the Endangered Species act during times of drought.
Lawmakers propose lifting species protections in drought
So maybe the entire nation will ultimately benefit from this.