As for those that claim that Atlanta is subsidized by the rest of the state, it just ain’t so and repeating a lie over and over does not make it true. GSU Prof Bluestone recently provided a report [http://aysps.gsu.edu/frc/files/Rpt_188FIN.pdf] that shows that metro Atlanta pays more in state taxes than it receives — the report states:

‘We find that the Atlanta metropolitan area generates more revenue than it receives in expenditures…”

I remember that when this report came out a few months ago Jim Wooten had a hissy fit since it didn’t fit his opinion that metro Atlanta was subsidized by the rest of the state.

As for those that think the water issue is the City’s problem — that’s simply not so. Its Gwinnett County that gets its water from Lake Lanier, not the city. Atlanta takes its water from the Hooch — Georgia is a riparian rights state, if you live next to the river, you can take as much water as the state permitting system will allow. The failure to plan is Gwinnett’s, not Atlanta’s.

A couple of years ago the City bought land along the NW corridor of the Beltline for a drinking water reservoir and park [http://www.pondco.com/portfolios/cd-lh.html] — which shows the City is at least trying to think about future water needs — without simply sticking a straw in Lake Lanier or annexing Tennessee.

A better question is whether Atlanta will actually be able to pull off building the reservoir or the Beltline at all.

That said, you are dead on about Alabama. Their biggest problem is they are in Alabama.

Alabama and Florida will certainly agree to let Atlanta keep taking drinking water from Lanier. But now that it is considered “theirs”, look for them to ask for a steep monetary cost to balance it out. In other words, we will pay them big bucks for any increases in future withdrawals – the status quo works when we are not in drought. But if ATL returns to massive growth circa 1990’s, it will need larger set-asides from the lake. That’s when we will start paying big $$$$. Look for it to happen in Gwinnett first, they don’t really have many other sources. Counties north and east of Gwinnett can add other reservoirs (I know Hall already has commissioned some), and their populations are lower. Downstream, the Allatoona-Coosa/Alabama River basin can be tapped as well, depending on separate rulings there.

I’d be amenable to paying them for extra water only if Alabama and Florida residents in the watershed also have to follow the same restrictions and conservation measures. Waste down there is no less damaging than waste here.

As far as, the urban/rural divide that has plagued Atlanta for decades; It doesn’t matter how much water you have and how many divided four lane highways you build connecting Willacoochee and Hahira if you don’t have a work force that has a level of legitimate education exceeding the third grade you are not going to atttract quality employers. Be honest, it is not the Metro Atlanta area that has held the state back. In fact, if not for Atlanta we would be in the same pitiful shape as Mississippi and Alabama.

Florida and Alabama have just done a MUCH better job of spreading their propaganda. Check out the USGS website and look for the map that shows water consumption along the Chattahoochee. Atlanta consumes very little of what is used. Most is used by power plants south of Columbus.

Do you know that in the wake of this ruling the citizens of Dothan, Alabama are considering building a reservoir to draw from the Chattahoochee. A power company is wanting to build a coal fired power plant (they use an immense amount of water) in southwest Georgia. It too will draw water from the Hooch to generate electricity to sell to Florida.

I think a Pulitizer prize level investigation of this issue is just waiting for some smart journalist to pick up.