By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Thursday he is establishing a new office to coordinate the state’s efforts on two fronts in water wars with Alabama and Florida. Also on Thursday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott named Jon Steverson, the outspoken executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, to lead the […]
Friday, November 21, 2014
Comments Off on Supreme Court appoints special master in GA v. FL water dispute
The U. S. Supreme Court has appointed Maine lawyer Robert I. Lancaster to oversee a water dispute between Florida and Georgia. The Supreme Court earlier this month gave Florida permission to sue Georgia over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Florida Gov. Rick Scott blames Georgia for lack of freshwater flow that harms Apalachicola Bay […]
Friday, November 21, 2014
Comments Off on “Thirsty City” traces history of Atlanta’s water crisis and fight with Florida
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Atlanta created its own legal mess over water because in 1950, then-Mayor William B. Hartsfield refused to spend a little more than $1 million to help pay for Lake Lanier, writes Skye Borden in “Thirsty City: Politics, Greed and the Making of Atlanta’s Water Crisis.” Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been locked in a legal […]
Monday, November 3, 2014
Comments Off on US Supreme Court accepts Florida’s water lawsuit
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM The U. S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Florida’s lawsuit against Georgia over water use to move forward, at least long enough for Georgia to file a response. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been battling in federal court over water from the Apalachiciola-Chattahoochee Flint River system. A year ago, Florida Gov. […]
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Comments Off on Seafood industry raises concerns about Florida inaction as Georgia groups knock water policies there
BY BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Apalachicola Bay seafood industry representatives said this week they’re concerned by a lack of action by Florida to protect oysters there while Georgia environmental groups critized their state for policies that the groups say are increasing tensions in the tri-state water wars. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal […]
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Comments Off on Graham denies Southerland accusation of river flip-flop
BY BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM U. S. Rep. Steve Southerland is accusing Democratic challenger Gwen Graham of flip-flopping on the issue of the Apalachicola River but Graham denies there has been any shift in her stance. A year ago, Florida Gov. Rick Scott filed a lawsuit against Georgia asking the U. S. Supreme Court to divide […]
Friday, September 19, 2014
Comments Off on Fla. ag commissioner says he would support possible move to close Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Friday offered support for state wildlife officials as they whether decide to close Apalachicola Bay to oyster harvesting. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system since 1990. Last Oct. 1, Florida asked the U. S. Supreme Court […]
Thursday, August 28, 2014
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM APALACHICOLA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is sharply reducing the number of oysters that can be taken from Apalachicola Bay because the oyster population there remains low. And some seafood workers are warning that oysters soon could be wiped out in a key harvesting area. State officials in […]
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Comments Off on Congressional candidates agree on Apalachicola River’s importance but not how to protect it
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM APALACHICOLA — Both candidates in the race for Congress in the Florida Panhandle say the Apalachicola River and the tri-state water wars are an important issue for voters in the district. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court since 1990 over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint system. Last year, […]
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Comments Off on Alabama grapples with water use, planning affecting Florida
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A flotilla of about 70 red, green, orange a blue kayaks and canoes drifted down the Alabama River, providing a colorful contrast against the gray capital city and overcast skies. Alabama depends on water flowing from Georgia to feed some of its rivers just as Florida does with […]
Friday, December 12, 2014
Comments Off on Georgia governor creates water wars office while Florida names outspoken environmental chief