11^TH CIRCUIT REJECTS REQUEST FOR REHEARING

On September 16, the 11^th Circuit denied the petition by FL and AL for an en banc rehearing of the decision in Phase 1 of the Water Wars.  FL and AL have reportedly decided to appeal the 11th Circuit’s decision to the U. S. Supreme Court.  The mechanism for doing this is called a petition for a writ of certiorari.  The important thing to know about such petitions is that the Supreme Court receives about 9,000 petitions a year, and grants only about 90 of them, or about 1%.  If your case is one of the lucky 90, you still have to convince the Supreme Court that the Court of Appeals was wrong, which is an uphill battle in itself. 

The Shore Sweep event  on Lake Lanierwill take place from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., and volunteers may pick up trash bags to collect trash from the shoreline at the locations on the lake listed below. Trash may be taken to these locations with the exception of Lake Lanier Islands where volunteers may enter at no charge through the main gate to collect trash.

“I think lake levels this summer will be fine. We’re in good shape,” said state climatologist David Stooksbury, speaking in an interview last week about summer conditions.

Georgia’s citizens and virtually all government entities from the state house to the local city or county administration understand and accept the need to conserve Georgia’s water resources. Georgia’s economy – in fact, the entire Southeast economy – depends on a reliable supply of fresh water for water supply, recreation, business, industry and environmental protection.

Basically what it says is that we recommend a study be done in support of raising [the lake] 2 feet for recreational purposes … but also to support additional water supply, said Mike Berg, commission chairman.

The Dawson County commission on Thursday unanimously approved the resolution, which will be sent to state lawmakers. The Lake Lanier Association has been advocating for the increase since 2007, when the lake reached record lows due to the drought.

Increasing the lake’s full pool elevation by 2 feet would increase available water supply by more than 25 billion gallons, according to the resolution.

• Several U.S. Corps of Engineers public participation meetings are coming up regarding policy changes ot the community docks on Lake Lanier. April 25th meeting from 6-8PM at Forsyth Central School, May 24th meeting from 6-8PM at West Hall High School, June 14th meeting 6-8PM at Dawsonville Middle School. More information on COE website: http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/NewsEvents.htm

Come join us for our second social at Pier 29 on Lanier!

• Date and Time: Thursday, April 21, 6:00 PM
• Website: pier29onlanier.com
• Address: 9420 Browns Bridge Rd., Gainesville, Ga. 30506

Forsyth County has joined others in a push for a higher Lake Lanier.

Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday in support of raising the lake’s elevation by 2 feet, to 1,073 feet above sea level.

The county followed a push by the Lake Lanier Association advocacy group and Gwinnett County commissioners, who approved a similar resolution last week.

County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the reasoning behind the pool increase is simple.

“Reservoirs are expensive. We have a big reservoir … over there on the shoreline,” Jarrard said. “If you increase it by 2 feet, you have 25 billion gallons of additional water.”

The five-member commission unanimously voted in favor of sending the resolution onto state leaders and local congressmen, urging them to authorize the 2 feet addition.

The Lake Lanier Association first pitched the plan in 2007, during the midst of a record drought.

Commissioner Jim Boff said the lake elevation has been higher than 1,073 feet since then and everyone “made it through somehow.”

“I would think that as an actual number to shoot for as the full pool level,” Boff said. “It’s hard to understand why this is not a good idea.”