Legal arguments end in ACF water war

Arguments in the legal battle over water usage from the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee Flint River system ended last week.

Over the past month lawyers representing the states of Georgia and Florida have been presenting their cases in the hopes of settling a decades long dispute over how water from the river system should be shared.

Arguments were made before a special master named by the US Supreme Court.

The case was heard in Portland, Maine and included dozens of witnesses and hundreds of exhibits.

The case was filed by Florida in 2014.

Florida argues that Georgia is taking too much water and hurting users downstream, particularly the Apalachicola Bay.

Florida feels that low water flows into the Bay has damaged the Apalachicola oyster industry and led to a Commercial Fisheries Disaster Declaration in 2013. 

Florida wants the US Supreme Court to cap Georgia's water withdrawals at 1992 levels with even tighter restrictions during times of drought.

It also wants a special master to be appointed to oversee how the waters in the river basin are divided.

Georgia contends there's not enough evidence to support Florida's claim and any change could hurt the Georgia's economy as well as the water source for millions of people in the Atlanta area.

The special master could issue his recommendation before the end of the year, but asked that the two states try to negotiate a settlement before then.

Barring a settlement, The US Supreme Court will consider the case next year.

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