Georgia Wins Over Florida in Water Dispute

Georgia took to a victory over Florida on Tuesday with the long running water dispute. The U.S Supreme Court appointed a special master to handle the case and it resulted that Florida failed to show a consumption cap was needed after five weeks of hearing in the case.

The strict water limits could have cost Georgia billions of dollars, the finding was celebrated by Agriculture Groups and Georgia Politicians. As for Florida a court defeat could possibly endanger its environment and hobble its thriving oyster industry reported The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Ralph Lancaster was the special master appointed by the U.S Supreme Court. However, his findings are still not final as the court has the right to reject the recommendation and take another route.

The dispute between both the states including Alabama involves water flowing from Lake Lanier downstream through Alabama to Florida's Apalachicola Bay. Both the neighbors of Georgia have been arguing for decades stating that the Peach State has drawn extra water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. This was reported causing a threat to the ecological system and harming the livelihoods of their residents.

Georgia received a stamp of approval last year from the U.S Army Corps of Engineers; it stated that metro Atlanta would get virtually all the water it needed from Lanier through 2050. Lancaster had spoken out to Florida and Georgia to reach for an out of court settlement, as he preferred that both the states had compromised before he made his finding.

According to Walb, the Gerogia Cotton Industry applauds the water dispute decision. The Georgia Cotton Commission said that the decision is crucial to the state's number one industry, which is agriculture.

Cotton is considered as the largest row crop in Georgia with an economic impact of more than $1.6 billion. It is left up to the Supreme Court to make the final decision in the case and more law suits could be filed. 

Tags

Georgia Florida water dispute, Lake Lanier water issue, Georgia Florida Court case

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