U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss have bills in Congress hoping to preserve Lake Lanier water for Atlanta. (photo-Edgar Treiguts)
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss introduced four bills Thursday meant to fix a looming water crisis for Atlanta.
Last year, a federal judge ruled Atlanta has little right to take water from Lake Lanier, a reservoir on the Chattahoochee River. Unless Georgia resolves lawsuits with Alabama and Florida, the judge threatened to severely curtail Atlanta's access to its main water source in 2012.
The legislation would allow water withdrawals from Lake Lanier for industrial and municipal uses.
Alabama and Florida say Atlanta already uses more than its fair share of water. Alabama Senator Richard Shelby says the new legislation is "dead on arrival."
