Sonny Perdue is pushing for restart of talks over Lake Lanier. (photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).
This is just the latest round in the gamesmanship between the governors. Earlier this month a federal judge's ruling said Georgia had little rights to Lake Lanier, the massive federal reservoir that supplies most of metro Atlanta with its water. The judge set a three-year deadline for Congress to approve a settlement.
Last week, Perdue said while he was ready for renewed talks, he would also fight to the death to keep Georgia’s share of water.
Florida and Alabama officials acknowledge that since the most recent court ruling, they have a stronger hand in future negotiations. Alabama has been flexing that new found negotiating muscle, with officials publicly demanding Georgia Power step aside from the issue. The utility company has a major stake in the outcome, and has played a big role, in previous failed negotiations.
The governor will hold water stakeholder meetings in Columbus and Albany next week. He says the ruling has impacts up and down the Chattahoochee and Flint River basin.
Local officials and leaders are invited to attend the meetings at Columbus Technical College Wednesday and Darton College in Albany on Thursday.
