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Georgia Governor Calls For State Of Emergency Due To Drought

By Kristen Johnson
Created Oct 20 2007 - 8:42pm

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kAs a drought of historic proportions dries up the water supply, Georgia's Governor declares a state of emergency and calls on President Bush for help.

Gov. Sonny Perdue says, "We're experiencing the single worst drought in North Georgia's history."

The scene of barren land like this has Governor Sonny Perdue declaring a state of emergency for 85 North Georgia counties.

In fact, some say Lake Lanier, a reservoir that supplies more than 3 million residents with water, is less than 90 days from depletion.

What's equally as bad, Perdue finds, "The corps is sending 3.2 billion gallons of water downstream out of Georgia reservoirs everyday. That's enough to fill 3 and a half sized olympic swimming pools every minute."

Perdue calls the action of the corps of engineers and the fish and wildlife services irresponsible and dangerous.

He filed an injunction Friday to immediately restrict water flows from leaving reservoirs and going to other states.

Perdue says, "They need to understand the harm that comes to Georgia will be upon their hands."

And beyond that, the state wants the President's help, in hopes he'll declare this section of Georgia a major disaster area.

Perdue adds, "We ask him to utilize his power under the endangered species act to prevent catastrophic harm to those both upstream and downstream, human or otherwise."

Lake Lanier's top manager at the US Army Corps of Engineers told Atlanta business leaders Friday that they've been legally required to make water releases but are aware of the impact.

The governor says he is determined to change that.


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