SR 123 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; urged to begin study of the costs/effects of raising the full pool for Lake Lanier

Current VersionPDF Version

Committees

Current Status

02/13/07 - Senate Passed/Adopted

First Reader Summary

A RESOLUTION to urge the United States Army Corps of Engineers to begin a study of the costs and effects of raising the full pool for Lake Lanier from 1,071 feet above sea level to 1,073 feet above sea level; and for other purposes.

Votes

Electronically Recorded Votes
DateTimeVote NoYeasNaysNVExcDescription
02/13/200711:29AMSenate Vote #61049000002005ADOPTION

Status History

Bill History
DateAction
01/31/2007Senate Read and Referred
02/08/2007Senate Committee Favorably Reported
02/09/2007Senate Read Second Time
02/13/2007Senate Third Read
02/13/2007Senate Passed/Adopted
07 LC 28 3324
Senate Resolution 123
By: Senators Hawkins of the 49th, Murphy of the 27th, Pearson of the 51st, Unterman of the 45th, Moody of the 56th and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION


To urge the United States Army Corps of Engineers to begin a study of the costs and effects of raising the full pool for Lake Lanier from 1,071 feet above sea level to 1,073 feet above sea level; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, as growth and prosperity continue to evolve in Georgia, the demand for water continues to be a major focus item for Georgia executives and stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, the situation is exacerbated by the tri-states negotiations among Georgia, Florida, and Alabama that have been in debate for over 15 years; and

WHEREAS, whenever a drought occurs, the problem becomes even more severe; and

WHEREAS, additional water supplies would help ameliorate the problem, but new reservoirs are extremely expensive and there is no readily available location in Georgia for new storage capability; and

WHEREAS, raising the full pool level of Lake Lanier from 1,071 feet above sea level to 1,073 feet above sea level would increase the available water supply by 25 billion gallons, which would be larger than Lake Seminole on the Georgia-Florida border; and

WHEREAS, this increase could be managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers by simply allowing Lake Lanier to increase as weather and rainfall permits above the present full pool level to 1,073 feet above sea level; and

WHEREAS, this increased supply will assist in the managed economic growth of the State of Georgia and will provide an additional storage buffer in the case of drought situations that could be used for assisting valid requests from Florida for additional water for endangered species; and

WHEREAS, additional water supply for Georgia will help answer additional water needs as growth in population and prosperity puts requirements on more water throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the costs of such action are minimal compared to any newly created reservoir and could be implemented in 12 to 18 months, whereas a new and costly reservoir could take a decade or longer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the United States Army Corps of Engineers to begin a study of the costs and effects of raising the full pool of Lake Lanier from 1,071 feet above sea level to 1,073 feet above sea level.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and each member of the Georgia Congressional delegation.