ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers are once more asking to redraw the state's northern border in the hope of getting water from the Tennessee River.
The House of Representatives voted 171-2 on Tuesday to adopt a resolution seeking from Tennessee a strip of land leading to the river. The offer will be sent to Tennessee officials, who have laughed off similar ideas in the past.
Georgia lawmakers argue that a flawed 1818 survey misplaced the 35th parallel. If Tennessee's southern border stretched along the parallel, as Congress decreed in 1796, Georgia could take water from the Tennessee River. No one much cared in modern times until a water dispute between Georgia, Alabama and Florida threatened metro Atlanta's water supply.
"It's basically our water — at least it was when it was on our land," said Rep. Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, who sponsored the resolution.
Under his plan, Georgia would accept the current border with the exception of a slice of land allowing for access to the Tennessee River. Tennessee leaders have so far been dismissive of the latest request.
"The governor will continue to protect the interests and resources of Tennessee," said David Smith, a spokesman for Gov. Bill Haslam.
A border change would likely require Congressional action or a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Georgia lawmakers have debated similar requests in previous years. Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue considered pursuing a lawsuit seeking to redraw the border after a federal judge ruled that Atlanta had little right to take water from the Chattahoochee River, its main water supply. That ruling has since been overturned.
Georgia leaders have floated the idea in various forms over the years. House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, suggesting expanding road and rail links to Chattanooga, Tenn., in return for water access. Attorney General Sam Olens backed boosting the role of Chattanooga's airport in return for a pipe carrying Tennessee River water to Georgia.
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KarenSherryBrackett writes:
February 12, 2013
8:55 PM
Given at least three Tennessee nuclear facilities release into the Tennessee River and/or rivers which feed into the Tennessee River, I can not imagine they want the water for drinking. Most likely they would attempt to place another nuclear facility along its banks. It is best for Tennessee to decline their offer.
rockjock2000 writes:
February 14, 2013
3:28 PM
remember a couple of years ago, when that was suggested, the governor offered to send a semi-load of bottled water to Atlanta to quench their thirst. such a nice offer. perhaps we should again extend that offer.
orangecrush writes:
February 18, 2013
3:18 PM
It boils down to the fact that Georgia lawmakers are hamstrung by their ridiculous Grover Norquiest 'no tax increases ever for no reason no matter how critical the need' pledges, so they've been digging us into a deeper and deeper hole.
For years they've been doing things like cutting taxes here and there and neglecting critical needs like infrastructure. They want everything but want someone else (the feds) to pay for it all. I'm a Georgia resident, and I'd love to see the 'feds' tell us no on everything so our legislators finally have to face some real decisions.
Deepening the Savannah harbor? If it's so critical to Georgia, Georgia should pay for it. Water supplies? We should pay for new reservoirs. Roads? Same thing.