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BOYD: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP PRESSURE ON THE STATES TO RENEW TRI-STATE NEGOTIATIONS
Boyd, Florida stakeholder testify before Water Resources Subcommittee on the Apalachicola River and Bay and the water sharing issue
(left to right) Chad Taylor, a member of the Riparian Coalition from Jackson County; Kevin Begos; Congressman Boyd; Joseph (Smokey) Parrish, Franklin Co. Commissioner; and Dave McLain, Coordinator of the Riparian Coalition and Senior Policy Director of the Apalachicola Riverkeepers, outside of Congressman Boyd's Washington, D.C. office
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WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) today testified before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment regarding the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) water sharing issue and the immediate need for the three states—Florida, Georgia, and Alabama—to revive tri-state discussions and develop a responsible and workable solution to address the region’s water needs.
“The federal government will keep pressure on the three states to renew tri-state negotiations,” said Congressman Boyd. “Today’s congressional hearing helped to raise the profile of this issue, and it is my hope that this will be the first of many more hearings and discussions on water supply planning in the southeast.”
During his testimony, Congressman Boyd outlined the following key points that he encouraged the three states to include in a transparent and collaborative process:
- Use independent and local experts to determine the water flows that the Apalachicola River and Bay need to maintain their productivity;
- Set limits on water use within the Tri-State Basin (For example, cap the water use to ensure that the river flow requirements can be met.);
- Assess the water conservation potential among all users in the basin—agricultural, municipal, and industrial—and determine the most cost-effective investments and who will pay for them; and
- Embody these agreements in a durable, Tri-State Compact with strong enforcement mechanisms.
At the hearing, Congressman Boyd also pointed out that over the past 35 years the state of Florida has been ahead of the game when it comes to water supply planning through the development of a long term, statewide water management strategy. In 1972, the state of Florida created five water management districts that were given broad statutory authority and were charged with developing regional water supply plans, amongst other things. In stark contrast, the state of Georgia has allowed for unbridled development with little to no thought of its increased water needs until recently.
“In order for us to successfully and responsibly address the water sharing issue, we must look at the big picture and tackle both our short term and long term problems,” Boyd stated. “In the short term, we must reach a tri-state agreement with strong enforcement measures so that our immediate need for fresh water can be addressed. In the long term, states must plan for their continuing water supply needs, which Georgia has failed to do.”
Kevin Begos, the Executive Director of the Franklin County Oyster & Seafood Task Force and a member of the Apalachicola River Riparian County Stakeholders Coalition, also testified before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Begos was joined by members of the Apalachicola River Riparian County Stakeholders Coalition: Joseph (Smokey) Parrish, Franklin County Commissioner; Dave McLain, Coordinator of the Apalachicola River Riparian County Stakeholders Coalition and Senior Policy Director of the Apalachicola Riverkeepers; and Chad Taylor, one of the representatives from Jackson County on the Riparian Coalition.
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