Can You Spare A Cup Of Water

Hey Mister can you spare a cup of water? This may well be the theme and topic of conversations in and around Greater Atlanta if we don’t get substantial rain soon.

Governor Sonny Perdue Seeks Help from a Higher Source

On Tuesday of this week Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue led a prayer vigil for rain with various religious leaders in Atlanta on the steps of the state capitol. At times like this desperate measures must be employed and divine intervention may be the only saving grace.

Clammed up About Mussels

It was recently pointed out on one of the news programs that one of the reasons that so much water was being released through Buford Dam was so that the mussels in Apalachicola Bay, Florida would not be harmed. Another great example of our Federal Government at work. What about the humans of Atlanta? Let’s make certain that we protect the shallow bays and excellent fishing in Apalachicola Bay along with their economy while the residents of Atlanta possibly go thirsty.

Lake Sidney Lanier

The primary source of water for Atlanta is Lake Sidney Lanier, which is located about 45 minutes northeast of the city. Buford Dam, which is controlled by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, is the release point for water from the lake and flows into the Chattahoochee River. There have been reports recently that the level of the river has been rising while the lake level decreases. Now that makes no sense at all. Why would water be released from the lake, raising the river level, when the lake is approximately 18 feet below full summer pool. As it turns out the Corp of Engineers is instructed to release about 8 billion gallons of water from the lake daily. Some of this water is for cities downstream and there is no reason to question its use.

To try and help conserve as much water as possible, outdoor watering restrictions to various degrees have been in place for almost a year and recently a total ban on outdoor watering has been initiated. Violators of the bans have received heavy fines, the first offence will cost you $1,000 and with subsequent offenses you may have your water shut off. Yes it has gotten very serious and the ramifications are reaching farther into the local economy. Yesterday one of the landmarks in Atlanta, Pike Nursery, filed for bankruptcy protection due to the drought and watering bans. No one really wants to start a landscaping project or even just add seasonal color when you can’t water it.

As you can see in the pictures there is a substantial amount of dirt showing below the large rocks in the area around Buford Dam. At full summer pool the water totally covers the dirt and comes about half way into the rocks.

Not Looking Good 

Overnight there was a little rain but not much. Just enough to wet the streets and ground. Of course today happens to be very windy in metro Atlanta and everything has dried out again. The forecast for the next five days does not offer much promise for rain either. Perhaps everyone can get together for a rain dance.

So let the question be asked again, Hey Mister can you spare a cup of water?