Since 1971 Dawson Forest on the western side of Lake Lanier has been owned by Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with the intention of using the land for a second airport. However, pressure for another airport diminished when Hartsfield-Jackson added a fifth runway in 2006 and now, in the aftermath of the court decision potentially restricing Georgia's access to Lake Lanier, some developers are renewing previous talk of building a new reservoir in the forest.
An Atlanta-based company named Republic Resources is asking to use one-fifth of the 10,000 acres in Dawson Forest for the new reservoir. The land would be suitable for a reservoir because Shoal Creek, Amacalola Creek and the Etowah River all run through the forest.
Republic Resources proposes that Atlanta sell the property to the Etowah Water & Sewer Authority, which serves Dawson County. The utility then would work in a public-private partnership with a new corporate entity to be formed byRepublic Resources to build the $600 million to $650 million reservoir.
There are several potential objections. The Etowah River runs into Lake Allatoona which is also the subject of a legal challenge from Alabama and government permitting requirements would be difficult to overcome.
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