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.
There was a near-drowning on Saturday afternoon at Lower Overlook Park on Lake Lanier.
Around 2 p.m., a 4-year-old girl was been playing near the waters edge when she slipped and fell into the lake and under the water.
Fortunately other people in the park were able to find and pull her safety. When paramedics arrived they found an off-duty nurse performing CPR on the young girl and rescue crews were able to get a pulse back en route to Northside Forsyth Hospital in Cumming.
Update: Unfortunately the girl passed away on Monday evening, two days after the accident.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that for the first week of August many Lake Lanier parks will be free to enter.
From August 1st to 9th, day-use fees will be waived at parks maintained by the Corps.
Free entry includes swimming, beaches and boat ramps, but excludes camping and picnic areas.
"Waiving day-use fees presents an incentive for the public to visit our lakes," said Corps spokeswoman Lisa Coghlan. "Visitors provide significant economic benefits and an increase in visitation helps stimulate local economies."
North Georgia lakes should benefit from a wetter than average winter this year brought on by the arrival of El Niño.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects this El Niño to continue developing during the next several months, with further strengthening possible. The event is expected to last through winter 2009-10. El Niño also depresses chances for tropical precipitation from the Atlantic so the hurricaine season should be less active than in recent years.
The next few months may be a little dry but El Niño usually means a wet cool season in Georgia. The drier weather coupled with the possibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releasing enough water through Buford dam to make repairs could make it seem like Lake Lanier will be heading back to lower levels but hopefully El Niño will offset these events.
El Niño occurs every two to five years on average and can last 12 months. The most recent El Niño occurred in 2006.
As of now, Lake Lanier is about five feet below full pool as it recovers from drought conditions.
Kevin New, a 50-year-old man from Buford, has been arrested for raping a 15-year-old girl at Holiday Marina.
The incident occurred while both were at a 4th of July party at the lake.
Charges include rape, child molestation, public drunkenness and probation violation. The accused is being held in the Hall County Detention Center without bond.
Crews from the Lake Lanier Rowing Club, Georgia State University, the University of Georgia, the Charleston Rowing Club, the St. Andrews Rowing Club, the Atlanta, Nashville and Asheville Rowing Clubs participated in 29 races on Saturday for the 2009 Lanier Sprints at the Lake Lanier Olympic venue.
A new contemporary luxury houseboat, MetroShip, launches to the public, re-inventing houseboat design with modern New York City loft style interior and modern exterior that's never been seen before in the boating or yacht industry.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lifting its moratorium on new dock permits and setting up a lottery for 174 spots it is making available. Since it is unclear how many permit requests will be received, all applicants will have an equal opportunity to obtain a permit via the drawing. There will be a 90-day window for accepting permit requests July 15 to October 13. The drawing will be held on October 28.
A 24-year-old woman from Stone Mountain died Monday morning at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center after trying to rescue a 6-year-old boy that had slipped off a float in Lake Lanier on Sunday afternoon.More Articles...
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