Save Lake Lanier from Evil Florida Business Men and Incompentent Georgia Governor

Tragic Results of a Lost Water War For as long as I can remember, growing up in Atlanta,the news every summer reflected a 3 way water war between Florida, Alabama & Georgia over Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier is the primary water source for most of the Atlanta area. The primary source of trouble is the Buford Dam, which feeds the Chattahoochee River which the flows mostly through Georgia, forms the border with Alabama south of Columbus and then becomes one of many, many water sources in Florida (where I might add it rains every afternoon and is a very wet environment). North Georgia where the lake resides is currently under one of the worst droughts on record. We have a total outdoor watering ban and our lake is 16 feet below normal. I know people instantly read this and think , OH NO another Global Warming article, but I assure you reader this issue is 95% the fault of the US ARMY CORPS OF Engineers( the same great folks who built the levees of Katrina fame) and the greedy head of Florida and the spineless Governor of Georgia - veiw current water level - buy a cool tshirt and help the lake

Problem #1 Too much Water is being released to protect Florida mussel production.

The Army Corps of Engineering along with the Federal District Courts have decided that to preserve a single industry (namely muscles and shell fish production in Apalachicola River and Bay) that my entire city must suffer. The Lake cannot refill due the mandatory release. I have personally gone by depth Gage on the front of Buford Dam and seen the water level drop 2 feet after a good rain. The Florida law makers who apparently do a much better job of listening to their constituents than Georgia lawmakers do, Go in and win in court so that a niche industry wins and the whole of North Georgia suffers.

What I propose, is since Florida law makers listen better Georgians, humanitarians and people who care about the future of people over an industry should get the attention of these lawmakers. Now who has more clout in Florida than Muscle farmers? Biggest industry in Florida is the Tourism industry. Now to get the tourist industry and the votes that they buy behind this venture I propose a complete boycott of all Florida tourism for the duration of the silly water war.This has to be a total boycott no Disney , No Seaworld, No Panama city. If you are in this area and looking for good beaches I recommend the Alabama/ Mississippi Gulf shores offers cleaner less crowded beaches and the Casinos of Biloxi await.Also the Carolinas offer fantastic beaches historical lighthouses with out the touristy expense of Florida.

Problem 2 Sonny Perdue

This man has accomplished much when the right pressure was exerted. He has managed to change our state flag twice (even though a big white flag would seem appropriate right now) He has allowed citizens with CCW licenses to actually exercise that right. He took a big initiative last year to turn Georgia into one of the top fishing destinations in the country(but then let our biggest fishing lake become the topic of this lens).

What he can not seem do is win a battle in this war. He has not been able to find an attorney that can beat theirs. He can't broker deals When the governors of the three states came together to hammer ideas he seemed to care about what the leaders of Florida think him more than what Georgia voters think, then again he does own Twenty acres of land near Disney world and maybe pursuing a political career in Florida is among his future aspirations. What really irritates me is the man has the audacity to have a PSA featuring himself interrupt local hockey games to inform the citizens of Atlanta to conserve the very water that he will not fight for.

Solution

We are the ones that will save Lanier and all our parks! Did you know that $30.00 Tag purchased at Federal park is good for free admission and parking to any park ran by the Federal government. Only by using this resource will the bean counters know that we have any concern or well wishes for these resources
Please visit the parks to insure their continued existence. Also support who ever is not Sonny in the next election,( primary , general: etc).

Also if you are in a drought affected area of Georgia do every thing you can to save what little bit of water Florida allows us to have.