It was Thursday, May 13th 2004 while standing on the banks of West Point Lake in Troup County, Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 237 authorizing the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to prepare a statewide comprehensive water plan. EPD is to prepare the comprehensive plan by July 1, 2007 in order that it may be reviewed by the General Assembly in 2008.
"As Georgia continues to grow and prosper, it is incumbent upon us to develop a comprehensive statewide plan that addresses our long-term water needs and conservation efforts," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Water nourishes our environment and is a major driving force of our state's economy."
You can read this entire article at: http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2004/press452.shtml
On Saturday, October 20th Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue asked for President Bush's help by requesting the President declare 85 counties disaster areas. As part of the plea for help the Governor has asked the President's help in easing regulations that require the state to send water downstream to Alabama and Florida...water the state doesn't have the resources to give out. Currently the state is required to release 3.2 billion gallons a day to supply Alabama and Florida as well as to provide water to the gulf to protect endangered muscles and gulf sturgeon.
The Governor feels that Georgia may soon run out of water, the Army Corp of Engineers (controlling the dam at Lake Lanier) do not feel the same way and believes that even if there were nine months without rain there would still be adequate water supplies. Lake Lanier is already 36 feet below it's normal level...without rain and being required to release water would supplies really last nine months? It doesn't appear that anyone is too concerned. All this water talk made it to the national news before it made big news on the local front. This weekend I even noticed an apartment complex watering their lawns... Are we worried? Apparently no. Should we be? We'll just have to wait and see...
I was a bit suprised to see that the Governor signed a bill back in 2004 working to prevent our current state, yet here it is three years later and the Governor is declaring a state emergency. While Georgia implements water restrictions and supplies Alabama, Florida and the gulf with water there are no water restrictions in Florida or southern Alabama. Maybe Governor Sonny Perdue is overreacting, maybe the Corps is correct, but still there should be some concern and I think everyone needs to make some sacrifice and prepare for the worst.
Sometimes governments do not act as soon as they should, but each of us has the power to act and prepare for the worst...I urge everyone to not take this lightly and even if you don't experience restrictions, please keep in mind the possible severity of the problem and conserve water whenever possible.
If you think the Governor is concerned, think again...watch this video from Channel 2 Action News, WSB-TV...you will be surprised: http://www.wsbtv.com/video/13649196/index.html
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