Apalachicola Riverkeeper issues "call for action" to state and federal governments during drought

The Apalachicola Riverkeeper has issued a call for action to the Governors of Florida, Alabama and Georgia to mitigate the economic and ecological impacts from the prolonged drought conditions that all three states are experiencing.

The Riverkeeper is also seeking action from Senator Nelson, the federal government and the Northwest Florida Water Management District.

The southeast is undergoing severe drought conditions – researchers are seeing the lowest ever water levels on the Flint River and groundwater levels in areas of southwest Georgia.

They are also seeing historically high, prolonged salinity levels in Apalachicola Bay which is causing a loss of seafood habitat and significant oyster die-offs.

Shrimp harvests in Apalachicola Bay and eastern Gulf have diminished to levels that will not support commercial shrimping and the blue Crab harvest is suffering too. 

To help keep water upstream, The US Army Corps of Engineers has entered drought operations and cut the amount of water flowing into the Apalachicola River to 5,000 cubic feet per second to protect threatened and endangered species.

The Corps plans to maintain the minimum flow and store all available rainfall when possible until the basin recovers sufficiently to come out of drought operations.

The Apalachicola Riverkeeper is calling for the Governors of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia meet in an emergency session to assess any options that could mitigate the impact of this prolonged drought.

They are also calling on Governor Rick Scott specifically to begin state action to provide seafood industry workers relief during the ongoing drought. 

They are asking that the NW Florida Water Management District establish water conservation measures that Georgia Governor Deal impose significant water use restrictions.

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