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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) and members of the Florida Congressional Delegation have joined together to block Georgia’s request to drastically alter the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) reservoir releases, which would have serious and adverse effects on Florida’s Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay.
The letter sent to the House and Senate Leadership today expresses the delegation’s strong opposition to bills H.R. 3847 and S. 2165 introduced by the Georgia Delegation that would empower any Governor or Secretary of the Army to suspend the protections provided by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“Knee-jerk legislation is not the answer to our water sharing challenges,” said Congressman Boyd. “It is my hope that today’s meeting between the Governors of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama and the Secretary of the Department of the Interior will be one of many and will jumpstart efforts to work together to develop a successful, long term water management solution.”
Earlier this month, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the minimum flow of water to the Apalachicola River to the detriment of two power plants, three endangered species, and numerous communities that depend on water released from Lake Lanier. The Corps of Engineers has stated in court documents that the Atlanta area has enough water to last well into spring, even if there is no more rain, despite claims by the state of Georgia that the draining of a federal reservoir on the Chattahoochee River threatened the state’s drinking water supply.
“The water supply problems in Georgia did not happen overnight, and they certainly are not exclusive to Georgia,” Boyd stated. “The state of Florida should not have to bear the full brunt of this problem. More than 30 years ago, the state of Florida developed water management districts and coordinated a water supply plan so that our state could take a proactive approach to deal with our water supply issues. We have been ahead of the game, while Georgia has done very little. I strongly urge the state of Georgia to recognize their need to look further down the road and develop a plan for their continued growth and water needs.”
“The Apalachicola River and the Apalachicola Bay are critical to our environment, our economy, and the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of residents,” Boyd continued. “The Florida Delegation stands together to make sure that these resources are protected.”
In addition to Boyd, the letter has been signed by Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Representatives Bill Young (R-FL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Adam Putnam (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Ron Klein (D-FL), and Tim Mahoney (D-FL).
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*The letter sent to the House and Senate Leadership by the Florida Delegation is below.
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Boehner:
We write to you to express our opposition to bills S. 2165 and H.R. 3847 introduced last week that would, if enacted, empower any Governor or the Secretary of the Army to suspend indefinitely the protections provided by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). These bills would eliminate flows needed by listed species in Florida’s Apalachicola River so that water can be held upstream. Implementation of such a suspension would have adverse effects on Florida’s Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay, which are critical not only to Florida’s environment but Florida’s economy, and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of residents.
The water sharing issues of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Basin are matters to be resolved among the States of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Discussion of these issues has been ongoing for nearly two decades, and presently six separate lawsuits are pending in the federal courts involving the same parties. In addition, the Corps is actively engaged in discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the ESA, concerning appropriate measures to protect listed species in the Apalachicola River while giving due consideration to the water supply needs of upstream communities.
Empowering an upstream State or the Corps to suspend environmental laws unilaterally at the expense of a downstream State’s ecology and economy causes us great concern. Moreover, given the ongoing discussions, and litigation among the federal agencies and the States, now is not the time to consider any such unprecedented legislation that would favor one State’s interests over those of another.
While we share concerns about the impact of the historic drought on the people of Georgia, we believe there are other alternatives available that would better reflect the shared responsibility of the resources of the ACF Basin.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we ask to be kept informed of any effort to move this legislation forward.
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