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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) expressed disappointment today with the Biological Opinion released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Revised Interim Operations Plan (RIOP) for water sharing between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama along the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) system. In the Biological Opinion, USFWS determined that the water plan, allowing for flows as low as 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs), would be in effect for the next five years.
The new water plan also allows for more storage retention in upstream lakes to the detriment of downstream users. Additionally, both the Corps and USFWS have stated that the demands along the ACF system are significant and those will only increase; yet the new tri-state water plan fails to address demand management along the system.
“I am deeply concerned that the potential for historically low flows to the Apalachicola River for the next five years could have devastating effects on our river, our bay, and the people of North Florida,” said Congressman Boyd. “The Corps’ most recent tri-state water plan does not even come close to balancing the needs of all of the users along the ACF system, and that is what we should be working towards, instead of interim approaches that reward the state of Georgia for failing to plan for their water needs. The Fish and Wildlife Service has even said that this RIOP is not the answer for how water along the ACF should be managed or allocated over the long term.”
On Monday, July 21, 2008, Congressman Boyd will be holding a Congressional Forum in Chattahoochee, Florida, on the impact of the southeastern drought and low water flows on the Apalachicola River and Bay and North Florida’s communities. Representatives from the Corps and USFWS will be at the Congressional Forum to hear from Florida’s stakeholders and local experts on the ACF system.
“The people of North Florida who depend on the Apalachicola River and Bay for their livelihood must be heard,” Boyd stated. “I am eager for the Corps and USFWS to hear firsthand from our oystermen, shrimpers, and others along the river and bay who have a tremendous stake in the ACF issue. Those of us in North Florida are committed to making sure that Florida’s resources are protected. After years of disputes, I will continue working and pushing on a local, state, and federal level to see that a reasonable and long term water management solution for the ACF system is developed.”
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