Lake Lanier Court Case Decision Disappoints Atlanta

The judge presiding over the Jacksonville, Florida court case involving Lake Lanier has reached his verdict. His conclusion is that Atlanta will no longer be allowed to use water from Lake Lanier unless Georgia, Alabama and Florida don't settle their dispute within three years.

The three states have been arguing over the water in Lake Lanier for decades. In the court case Alabama and Florida argued that Lake Lanier was never built as for supplying water to neighboring cities and only Congress has the authority to allow such usage. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson agreed.

If the matter isn't settled within three years, the court will roll back the releases to mid-1970s levels, meaning only Gainesville and Buford would be allowed to withdraw water from the lake. That will be good news for Lake Lanier as less there will be less strain on its resources, but potentiall devestating for Atlanta which would have to look elsewhere for water.

Judge Magnuson's verdict was that:

"The court is sympathetic to the plight of the Corps, which is faced with competing and legitimate claims to a finite resource. Neither the Corps nor the court can make more water ... However the Corpsí failure to seek congressional authorization for the changes it has wrought in the operation of Buford Dam and Lake Lanier is an abuse of discretion and contrary to the clear intent of the Water Supply Act."

Here's a recap of what the three states want to do with Lake Lanier's water:

• Florida: keep enough water flowing through the Chattahoochee River system to maintain marine life at the river\'s mouth.
• Alabama: supplying a power plant along the river with sufficient water for cooling.
• Georgia: feeding Atlanta's growing water needs.