Franklin County residents urged to comment on Corps master water control manual update

The scoping process for the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint River Basin has been reopened.

The Corps of Engineers said Friday it is accepting public comment on the updating of its master water control manual in response to an appeals court ruling in 2011.

That ruling allows Lake Lanier to be used for drinking water – it’s a decision Florida opposed and one that will likely have a continued and major impact on the Apalachicola River and Bay.

Florida argued that the 11th Circuit decision could deprive Florida of water and threaten the unique Apalachicola River system and oysters in Apalachicola Bay. 

Before the change occurs, the Corps has to update its water control manuals and perform an environmental analysis of the impacts of taking more water from the ACF system.

Because of the importance of the decision to the Apalachicola Bay, residents are being asked to comment on the proposed changes and detail any impacts they feel the changes will have to the area and the fishing industry.

Comments can be submitted online through Dec. 12.

We’ve posted the link for comments on this story on the news page at oysterradio.com as well as on the oyster radio facebook page.

http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/pa/acf-wcm/form.htm

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