U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear FL-GA Water Battle

As farmers throughout our region battle this week’s unusually long cold spell, we’re reminded the so-called water war between states here in the deep southeast is heating up again. The U.S. Supreme court is set to hear arguments Monday January 8^th in the long-running water battle between Florida and Georgia. The crux of the issue: Florida contends that Georgia is siphoning too much water in northern parts of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system, damaging the Apalachicola River and the oyster industry in Franklin County’s Apalachicola bay. But a special master appointed by the Supreme Court recommended that Florida should be denied relief. Georgia has argued that limits on its water use would undermine the state’s economy, including the growth of the Atlanta area and the agriculture industry in southeast Georgia. So looks like the Supreme Court will have its say yet to come.