Mussels are People Too

[Aaron]

Have you heard of the water shortage in GA?

Despite the famine-scale shortage the Army Corps of Engineers keeps draining the reservoir to save some "endangered" mussels.

Much of the state's attention has been focused on the Army Corps of Engineers, which controls releases from federal reservoirs in the region and is caught in the middle of a water tug-of-war between Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

The corps releases more than a billion gallons of water each day from Lake Lanier, which supplies more than 3 million Georgia residents with water. The agency bases its water releases on two downstream requirements: The minimum flow needed to supply a coal-fired power plant and mandates to protect two mussel species in a Florida river.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-28-georgia_N.htm

 

[moondg]

Good to see our priorities are in the right place.

 

[rbell]

Two things the story does not say, but should (a corresponding CNN story also made this mistake):

Said mussels (as well as two other species found in the area) are important water purifiers.

http://www.fws.gov/news/mussels.html
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/20/cnr.06.html (this was edited out of some later stories).

Two other points:

• Alabama is another player in this "water war." The arguments are more about infrastructure (we have a nuclear and hydro plant in danger of going off line due to low water), and drinkable/potable water (Alexander City, one of AL's "lake towns," is bringing in barges just to increase the water level so it can be pumped.
• There are some Republicans in FL that have been quoted as saying that they are using all arguments they can--including the environmental ones--to convince the feds to keep the water flowing. Essentially they are "playing the game" of politics--appealing to what might appeal to the more liberal DC crowd to get what they want. (I'll keep looking for this quote & post it). Do I agree with that method? Don't think so...but I think they're not trying to be "environmental wackos" as much as playing the game to get what they want.

One main issue: Atlanta has grown immensely...much more so than other Southeastern cities (especially downstream from them). Their water needs are unbelievable. Not to mention that their leaders waited too long to declare water restrictions (they did so long after AL and FL areas did). There is debate among the AL and GA governors as to exactly how much water reserves Lake Lanier and other GA reservoirs have. GA claims a few weeks; AL says several months. Who knows? I don't.

One thing we need to be doing, that few are suggesting: PRAY FOR RAIN!!!!

I'm not into politics, but I "know Someone" that's pretty influential in weather matters.

Suggestion: Ya'll pray for rain in the Southeast. I just did. Thanks!

 

[Aaron]

Two things the story does not say, but should (a corresponding CNN story also made this mistake):

Said mussels (as well as two other species found in the area) are important water purifiers.

http://www.fws.gov/news/mussels.html
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/20/cnr.06.html (this was edited out of some later stories).

Two other points:

• Alabama is another player in this "water war." The arguments are more about infrastructure (we have a nuclear and hydro plant in danger of going off line due to low water), and drinkable/potable water (Alexander City, one of AL's "lake towns," is bringing in barges just to increase the water level so it can be pumped.
• There are some Republicans in FL that have been quoted as saying that they are using all arguments they can--including the environmental ones--to convince the feds to keep the water flowing. Essentially they are "playing the game" of politics--appealing to what might appeal to the more liberal DC crowd to get what they want. (I'll keep looking for this quote & post it). Do I agree with that method? Don't think so...but I think they're not trying to be "environmental wackos" as much as playing the game to get what they want.

One main issue: Atlanta has grown immensely...much more so than other Southeastern cities (especially downstream from them). Their water needs are unbelievable. Not to mention that their leaders waited too long to declare water restrictions (they did so long after AL and FL areas did). There is debate among the AL and GA governors as to exactly how much water reserves Lake Lanier and other GA reservoirs have. GA claims a few weeks; AL says several months. Who knows? I don't.

Irrelevent. When it comes down to who has the rights to the drinking water, people win, mussels lose.

 

[rbell]

Irrelevent. When it comes down to who has the rights to the drinking water, people win, mussels lose.

Not necessarily. As in most fights, it often comes down to who has bigger mussels.

 

[Aaron]

Groooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooan!

 

[hillclimber1]

Irrelevent. When it comes down to who has the rights to the drinking water, people win, mussels lose.

I wouldn't bet on it.