The "Water War" and Lake Martin:
Water Quantity versus Quality

Even in the "water-rich" region of the southeast U.S., disputes over water allocations and flow are becoming more and more common. Most of Alabama's large rivers originate in or flow to another state. Because watershed boundaries do not coincide with political boundaries, the challenges of wisely managing water resources are compounded.

This fact became obvious in the early 1990s when Georgia began planning for a large reservoir on the Tallapoosa River a few miles inside their state line. This, and the issue of water diversion by Georgia thoughout the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River basin, was recognized as a major threat to Alabama's vital water resources, including Lake Martin. Members of LWLM were at the forefront in the so-called "water wars", and were effective in stressing the critical linkage between water quantity and water quality to officials from both states.

Negotiations between Georgia and Alabama regarding the allocation of waters of the Tallapoosa River have been underway for more than two years. Regardless of when an agreement is reached, the results will certainly have an impact on Lake Martin. Consider the following: about 22% of Lake Martin's 3,000 square mile watershed is in Georgia, and 8% would be controlled by the proposed West Georgia Regional Reservoir (WGRR on map). Additional Georgia reservoirs may be built on either the Tallapoosa or Little Tallapoosa Rivers, and population growth in the metro-Atlanta area suggests that water demands will increase and further threaten both water quantity and quality of Lake Martin.

The linkage between water quantity and quality is critical. Population growth means increased water pollution, and any reduction in clean water flows into Lake Martin will concentrate pollutants. Moreover, relatively clean water used from upstream reservoirs may be returned to the Tallapoosa River in a more polluted condition, causing the problem to magnify.

LWLM and other citizen stakeholders are voluntarily involved in the water allocation process, with hopes of reaching an equitable agreement that will factor in both water quantity and quality issues, and balance economic, ecological, political and social concerns.

This report was compiled by Alabama Water Watch program personnel
in partnership with Lake Watch of Lake Martin.