Comments on: Georgia is suddenly thirsty for friends in Congress

By: Jerry Clontz, spokesman for Save Our Lakes Now in SC

Jerry Clontz, spokesman for Save Our Lakes Now in SC — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:58:48 +0000

From what we’ve learned dealing with Lakes Hartwell and Thurmond that feed the Savannah River, one consideration is to keep from releasing more water in a drought than comes in over the course of a year. Once you take out more water than is provided by rain the lakes eventually dry up and no one get’s anything. So at Lake Thurmond the best approach was to look at the amount of water that comes in over a full year in the worst drought situation and decrease releases at the dam to that level anytime the lakes drop more than 2ft. Normal releases can resume as soon as the lake refills. That way the lakes stay full over the year and you never run the risk of drying the lake up. Once the lake dries up there is no way to take care of people’s needs downstream of the dam.

By: Jim Callihan

Jim Callihan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:25:27 +0000

Again, Georgia lawmakers can try a new approach (put down the hickory, Lester Maddox, try diplomacy) in working with the other State Governors. They can even go the (that’s how we got here) “help us oh great one(s) from DC” approach. But going back to the foundational principles of government, specifically, State Government, it is their base existence to provide for the citizens, that which they cannot do for themselves regarding infrastructure.

This is how the road & highway laws came about – “crossing Billy Bob’s land without getting SHOT!” Likewise, there is significant amounts of groundwater to the west and southeast of Atlanta. LAND IS CHEAP, UTILITY COMPANIES ARE GOING BANKRUPT – NOW IS THE TIME…to buld well-fields. Stop the finger pointing, put on your working boots and get busy!!!

And as a bonus, imagine the potential growth along those pipeline corridors? Imagine the ability to sell water to our neighbors? And just to bait that subsidy-crazed group in Congress, we could even build rice fields, sugar cane fields – that will get the pork flowing…if the past is any indication of the future?

WAKE UP!

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:25:10 +0000

First off, it wasn’t just Governor Purdue that slept on the whole water issue, it was also Govs. Barnes, Miller, and Harris. It was a collective effort to continue pulling water from Lanier without a future plan for population growth. Don’t give me this crap that Barnes had five reservoirs in the works either. It was him who made a request to the Corps for more water through 2030. Yeah, sounds like he had the same plans as Purdue and his predecessors. Also, what in the world has our Congressional delegation over the last 25 years been doing allowing this to happen and not raising a question? Failure of leadership all the way down the pipe.

DaveDawg, Congress is not going to revisit these issues. They will basically tell the Governors to play nice and get their own solution. Also the current delegation is not causing the F-22 to be scrapped. You can blame that on our President and his Administration, Senator McCain and Senator Levin. If anything our delegation is trying to save the F-22 even though it is sorely outdated.

By: Peggy Roney

Peggy Roney — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:10:36 +0000

Billy Bob, check your facts. Roy Barnes had five reservoirs in the works.

By: DaveDawg

DaveDawg — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:55:50 +0000

I think Congress needs to be called upon to give Georgia back its land from Tennessee as well, which gives us our rightful access to the massive Tennessee River.

But Price, Gingrey and others do need to pipe down (pun intended). This group of partisan “bomb-throwers” is also costing Marietta the F-22s. Common sense dictates that when you’re in the minority party, you should play nice with those holding the power.

By: Etowah Eddie

Etowah Eddie — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:26:40 +0000

Govenor Riley siad he wants to return to the negoitiating table as soon as possible. If no agreement is reached, and if congress does not act, Atlanta will have to return to what the court called a baseline – drawing out the same amount of water it drew out in 1970. Far below what we draw out now. It will be interesting to see what kind of deal Alabama wants to make.

By: GoOx

GoOx — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:11:08 +0000

We have three long time members of the legislature, including one that has spent over 10 years in the US Congress, have they done anything to help resolve the issue?

We need a leader who can solve problems – my man Ox. Look at the great customer service they provide at his office, open until 7:00pm, and they answer the phone.

By: Geezguys

Geezguys — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:33:21 +0000

Maybe our neighbors got tired of Georgia acting like a fat @&$ entitled pig. If my neighbor decided to throw a big party and had people parking on my lawn, I’d be pretty happy to see the cops show up. Simply put, Sonny decided to help himself to any amount of water he cared to take, and the economic growth of States downstream has been limited. How can you attract business when you have a jerk upstream who may cut off your water on a whim?

I strongly suggest metro Atlantans elect a Governor who has a better plan than hogging resources and praying to Jeebus when we run short.

I am so sorely disappointed by my neighbors who think they have a God-given Constitutional right to run a sprinkler 24/7 on their McMansion lawn, despite anyone in Alabama who wants to waste water say, growing food. But I am quite grateful for a judge to slap these third-grade mentalities right across the face. Nice to see the rule of law still alive in our country.

By: Vince

Vince — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:59:32 +0000

This has little to do with water. Read Governor Riley’s celebratory comments, “This decision will be an economic boon for Alabama.” It is about Florida’s and Alabama’s hatred of metro Atlanta, pure and simple, and their jealousy of our growth. Alabama obviously, as outlined by their Governors remarks, hopes that Atlanta’s problems will lead to growth in Alabama.

I strongly suggest that metro Atlantans boycott Florida. Why visit a place where the people care nothing about you, but only want your money. Florida and Alabama want to destroy your way of life. You can visit beaches in SC or NC or Georgia that do not have 30 story condos towering over you, the water doesn’t have that horrific green slime and the natives don’t hate you.

I am so sorely disappointed by people I considered our neighbors.

By: Etowah Eddie

Etowah Eddie — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:54:08 +0000

The proposals to work with Tennessee sound more like pernanent solutions and possibilities to me. Excpet I think Georiga will have to kick in funds in addition to those supplied by congress. Unless we could get the pipeline as part of the second stimulus package, if there is one. Certainly worth a shot.