A paper I wrote on the current drought in Georgia...

This year Georgia has faced one of, if not soon to be the worst drought on record. The economic impact is and will continue to be disastrous. The northern region of the state was impacted hardest, where the two largest water reservoirs are located. Lake Lanier, northern Georgia’s primary source of potable water, has seen a record low pool this year. Not since the reservoirs construction have the water levels been so low. Lake Allatoona, northwest Georgia’s second major source of water, is nearing record lows also. The northern half of the state has been issued a level four drought declaration banning any and all outdoor water usage. A level four drought is the worst case scenario, and it was imposed in early September after a meeting between the states’ climatologists and regional water authorities. The impact of the restrictions has been widespread, affecting businesses and individual outfits in many fields and causing unknown losses in jobs and revenue. This drought has been monumental and the impacts will be felt for years to come. Questions are arising and studies are being performed to account for Georgia’s Reservoir systems. The obvious quandary is whether Georgia is prepared, in terms of water supply, if the drought should continue into next spring or longer. It is my observation that the current water use plan is outdated, and in essence, not prepared for the amount of growth that the metro Atlanta area is experiencing. I will furthermore attempt to prove why the watershed management is poorly constructed and is not prepared for a continued drought period.

Georgia is one of the few states to not have a single river flowing into it; that is, a river that originates from another state. We rely on a system of reservoirs and watershed management areas to keep our region supplied with potable water. Lake Lanier, the region’s largest reservoir, encompasses approximately 39,000 acres. The lake supplies the Chattahooche River, which is a major river in the supply of water to Florida and Alabama. These two states, along with Georgia, have been in a struggle for water usage for years. The quarrel has been exacerbated by the 2006 Endangered Species Act, which mandated the amount of water that was released by the Army Corps of Engineers from Lanier. Amblema neislerii, a small mussel that lives in the Apalachicola River in Florida, is the point of most of the contention. In this time of monumental drought, the mussel has been targeted as one of the largest reasons for Lake Lanier’s continuing decline. It has prompted Sonny Perdue, Georgia’s Governor, to file a lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers to limit the release of water from the reservoir. The Corps however, has stated that it is bound by law to release the required water to ensure the mussels survival (Carrns A1).

In a recent article in Barron’s magazine, Steven M. Sears speaks of the dire drought situation. Sears touches on the governor’s recent state of emergency declaration for 85 counties in north Georgia. The Governor has also petitioned the President to declare the region a disaster area; therefore, limiting the amount of water released to Florida. The Governor, in his “Man before Mussels” argument, has even called for prayer services to be held, to beg for the rain to return. By the Governor’s offices account Atlanta will be dangerously close to running out of water if the situation does not drastically improve. Economic impacts abound, with Agriculture being one of the hardest hit. In this article, Sears includes a quote from Jeff Humphrey, a University of Georgia Economist, in which Humphrey states: “The drought has exposed a vulnerability and capacity limit to accommodate additional growth.” The drought continues to impact an untold number of businesses and individuals and the forecast is appalling (19).

This year has been disastrous for Georgia. Georgia will most definitely be forced to change their water usage restrictions. If the drought persists, as all reports point towards, than the level four restrictions will surely be in place in the following spring. The economic impacts will continue to amass, until the restrictions are lifted. It is paramount; therefore, to enact a level of awareness to the conservation of water. Through the use of proper irrigation and plumbing principals, we could see drastic reductions in the amount of water wasted. The state has faced droughts before, but with the recent explosion in population of the Atlanta metro area, this current drought has impacted far more people than ever before. Our systems of reservoirs were put in place over thirty years ago when the population was a fraction of its current number.

To say that urban sprawl is solely to blame for our current water shortage would be asinine; however, it is surely an integral part of the equation. Other factors such as the lack of education on proper water usage and the governmental agencies fighting for usage of the region’s water have in fact turned this situation into a stalemate of sorts. A recent statement from Georgia’s Governor Sunny Perdue blaming “silly federal bureaucratic rules” for the state’s current water crisis, along with U.S. Representative John Linder’s Statement that The Army Corps was acting “as though mussels are more important than our children and grandchildren” seem to sum up the quagmire that is engulfing the region (Carrns A1).

Georgia is not alone in facing this monumental drought. The entire Southeast region has faced lower than average rainfall amounts this year. On the contrary, Texas rebounded from a drought that had lasted over ten years. Georgia is in its third year of below average precipitation and is being forced to reassess its current usage guidelines. Georgia would be wise to follow the lead of Texas. In 2002, Texas implemented a new water plan to address then current and future droughts and expansion of the population. Based on estimates from scientists, economists, and regional commissions Texas forecasted its population to be over 70 percent higher by 2050. Texas’ then current water usage projections were only 27 percent higher. The state then took steps to account for projected growth pertaining to water usage. The state implemented a comprehensive plan that included conservation, updating existing reservoirs, wastewater treatment, desalination of seawater, and a thorough drought contingency plan. When all was said and done Texas far exceeded the standards that the federal government has in place. Through intelligent forecasting and implementing simple, yet affective plans, Texas has taken a step ahead of most states in drought preparedness and urban sprawl (Wurbs 144).

Another region that has faced water usage shortages due to increase in population is the Rivanna River basin in Virginia. This areas situation was different from Georgia, however, in the fact that Virginia relies on rivers to supply the majority of their freshwater supply. This regions approach was interesting in the fact that they used such a seemingly simple approach to solve their dilemma. Through years of scientific research the State concluded that leaving the levels in the rivers as close as possible to their natural levels, while adding water in times of excess to new reservoirs would have the lowest probability of lack of reserve, and also the least environmental impact. This finding, along with an impressive drought management and forecasting plan have helped this region to maintain potable water and survive times of drought (Richter 24).

Georgia is one of the few states that have flexible water usage rights laws. Most states treat water strictly as a commodity to be sold and regulated. Georgia, however, sees water as a resource, subject to regulation. Rights of permit are assigned to individuals through county offices. In John Wodraska’s journal, “Water: Resource or Commodity?” the author questions whether this is a wise idea, as it is impossible to account for all of the water drawn from streams and rivers, among other sources. Simply stated, it is impossible to manage our water supply when we do not know what quantities we are dealing with (86).

Georgia will have to change and adapt to overcome our current crisis. It is evident, through the current water usage restrictions that the State has had a knee jerk reaction to the drought. If the restrictions are kept in place into next year, the economic impacts will be devastating and countess jobs and companies will be dissolved. There is no questioning the severity of this drought is overwhelming, but this state has an obligation to reassess its current water usage strategy to account for months or even years of drought. Through education, conservation, and reclaimed water we could lower our demand for the precious water that our state is blessed with. The implementation of forecasting, and if necessary, construction of additional reservoirs and wastewater treatment facilities will help us in times of below average rainfall. This is an issue that will continue to plague this region if it is not addressed soon. I am convinced; furthermore, that if the state does not ratify the problem and quickly solve some of our major shortcomings the reach of implications will be biblical in proportion. All living things rely on water; add to that the countless businesses, farms, and municipalities that depend on a steady supply of water. Our water should be treated as a prized resource, it is vital to our regions success and growth.

Works sited

Carrns, Ann. “Atlanta Is Flexing Muscles In Its War On a Little Bivalve; Both Rely on Reservoirs Drying Up In a Drought; Army Corps On The Spot.” Wall Street
Journal. [New York, N.Y.] 26 Oct. 2007, Eastern Edition: A.1. ABI/INFORM GLOBAL. ProQuest. 11 Nov. 2007. .

Richter, Brian. "Meeting urban water demands while protecting rivers: A case study from the Rivanna River in Virginia.” American Water Works Association. Journal 99.6 (2007): 24-26. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. ProQuest. 11 Nov. 2007. .

Sears, Steven M. “Atlanta Burning-Again.” Barron’s. 5 Nov. 2007:19. ABI/INFORM. ProQuest. 11 Nov. 2007. .

Wodraska, John. "Water: Resource or Commodity?” American Water works Association. Journal. 98.5 (2006): 86-90, 10. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. ProQuest. 11 Nov. 2007. .

Wurbs, Ralph A. "Future water availability in the U.S.” The World & I 18.7 (2003): 144. Platinum Periodicals. ProQuest. 11 Nov. 2007. .