State's U.S. congressmen urge law that would keep water in Lake Lanier
Washington — Georgia's entire congressional delegation introduced legislation Tuesday intended to relieve drought conditions in the Atlanta area.
Gov. Sonny Perdue and other state officials have been arguing with the Army Corps of Engineers over how much of the water in Lake Lanier should be pumped downriver to Florida and Alabama.
But the Corps insists it's only following federal law and continues to pump billions of gallons of water downriver to help preserve federally protected sturgeon and mussels.
The legislation the Georgia lawmakers introduced would amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 so that federal protection for such species would be lifted in times of severe drought.
"It's rare that the Georgia delegation is of one mind on major legislation," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Grantville Republican.
"But we're united in this crisis to put our people before sturgeon and mussels."
Georgia lawmakers said it defies common sense to pump water to fish when people are in such dire need.
"When the health, safety and welfare of more than 4 million people in Georgia are threatened by a lack of water," Rep. Sanford Bishop, an Albany Democrat, said, "it is imperative that we take whatever steps are necessary to protect human life and the Georgia economy — including temporary waiver of the Endangered Species Act."
Perdue's office issued a statement praising the delegation's effort but cautioning Georgians to continue conserving water indoors and out.
Environmentalists are less enthused about the legislation, suggesting that the Atlanta area's wasteful use of water, not the sturgeon and mussels, is the main cause of the water crisis.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
— Staff writer Stacy Shelton contributed to this article.
