Commissioner, others challenge governor to act on water issue

Jackson County Commissioner Jeremy Branch was one of three panelists featured Thursday morning on the radio show “Perspectives,” broadcast weekly on WFSU 106.1 FM.

The long-running Water Wars between Georgia, Florida and Alabama was their topic.

Branch and the other panelists say its time for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to take a more aggressive role in the battle to keep adequate fresh water flowing through the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system.

Branch said he thinks that might be the only chance for Florida to win what is considered the biggest and most critical battle in the war.

Atlanta wants more fresh water reserved in Lake Lanier there to meet the increasing water demands brought on by its growth.

Florida stakeholders, and some in lower Georgia who depend on ACF waters for crop irrigation, say Atlanta is an undisciplined user whose unchecked growth will be detrimental to its downstream neighbors if it is allowed to hold more and more water.

The most immediate skirmish   on that front is an agreement reached between the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the city of Atlanta, Branch said.
He wants Crist to file for an injunction that, if successful, would set that agreement aside.

The agreement gives Atlanta the right to reduce the rate of water flow downstream in order to shore up the reserves in Lake Lanier.

Branch said he’s been surprised and disappointed that Crist hasn’t responded to requests from several stakeholders and legislators asking him to file the court action.

According to Branch, the justification of seeking such an injunction in part revolves around the fact that human consumption is not one of the sanctioned uses of ACF water resources, and Atlanta needs its reserves for that purpose.

At stake for Florida, among other things, are the oyster beds in Franklin County which need the right mix of salt water and freshwater flows to survive.
Recreational uses, like boating and fishing, are also at risk, Branch said.

The governor’s intervention is critical to Florida’s defense, he said.

He pointed out that Con. Allen Boyd and Bill Nelson have pledged their support of Florida stakeholders in the matter.

The Jackson County Floridan has e-mailed the governor for a response on the injunction issue, and will provide an update when he replies.