With lake tapped out, Atlanta can't just go with the flow

Today I want to end the week on a bit of a high note by sharing an instance where a watershed group (and longtime River Network partner) has helped frame the water supply debate currently raging in their region. By successfully sticking to a powerful message on the adverse effects of their community's water habits, and the imperative to reduce this harm through smarter water policies, the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has influenced some powerful stakeholders in Atlanta as evidenced by a recent op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution titled " With lake tapped out, Atlanta can't just go with the flow."

For those of you who were at Winter Training, many of the key points brought up in a recent op-ed reflect Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s “Tapped-out: The Drying Up of Atlanta” presentation that was given by Sally Bethea (for more information on the presentation, you can visit the UCR website). Over the last few months, UCR has given this presentation dozens times to diverse groups throughout the Atlanta Metro area and the hard work seems to be paying off. While the op-ed (see below) contains much of the water supply doom and gloom that we in the environmental community have come to understand so well, it was penned by two prominent leaders in Atlanta’s business and resource management community. Since neither author hails from an environmental organization, this essay illustrates that it is possible for watershed groups such as UCR to advance their influence and grab the ears of powerful stakeholders as our water supplies become increasingly stretched thin.

One of the first and most obvious ways you can see UCR’s influence in this piece is in the use of the phrase “tapped out.” As river advocates, water efficiency and sustainable water management can be viewed as products we need to sell to the public and catch phrases or slogans such as “tapped-out” can help ingrain your message into the public consciousness. The article also alludes to the complexity of the issue and the need to involve a broad range of nontraditional stakeholders; by mentioning the need to involve power utilities in the process, the authors imply that they understand the importance of the water-energy nexus.

Finally, the case-studies, a key piece in UCR’s message, wrap up the argument by showing that communities in far less dire straits than Atlanta have already been reaping the numerous economic, environmental and quality of life benefits that can be obtained through better water management. In other words, the authors make the point that Atlanta can ride the water efficiency coattails of other cities, leaving no plausible excuses for policy makers in Atlanta who fail to immediately pursue a paradigm shift towards sustainable water management. By developing a strong message and sticking to it until it gets heard, UCR exemplifies how a small watershed group can successfully assert influence in a crowded debate.

With lake tapped out, we can’t just go with flow

By Rob Hunter, Jeff Seabright
For the Journal-Constitution
Friday, January 02, 2009

Water levels in Lake Lanier will be reaching another all-time low in the coming weeks. More alarming, however, is the fact that during this past year the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has only released enough water to support metro Atlanta needs and minimum flows required to dilute wastewater downstream. And while the drought continues, we are about 20 percent below average rainfall this year.

In other words, metro Atlanta has essentially used all the water flowing into Lake Lanier in 2008. This is a clear wake-up call —- and while we have hit the snooze button after past droughts, we cannot afford to do it again.

We are approaching the sustainable limit of our small watershed. This is a reality that demands a fundamental reassessment of the water challenges we face and the actions we must take. Twenty years in court and conflict have not resolved the issue.... (Click here to continue reading)