During a recent meeting of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Alabama Power Manager Mike Godfrey shared information on the “Water Wars” between Alabama, Georgia and Florida, as well as water issues in our own backyard.

The southeaster water disputes are comprised of two separate cases: the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint watershed case, and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa case, which runs through St. Clair County.

The ACT water dispute contends that the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ operation of Lake Allatoona, located in northwestern metro Atlanta, was inappropriate.

“Alabama parties’ primary claim was the Corps’ operations of Lake Allatoona are inconsistent with their congressionally authorized purposes, which is flood control, navigation and hydropower,” Godfrey said.

With a status conference scheduled for Aug. 17, Alabama and Georgia are still in the process of negotiating over the matter.

“Worst case scenario, they could let Georgia take all the water they want, and maybe even remove more from the ACT,” Godfrey speculated. “You suspect some compromise along the way.”

Downstream from the water disputes, however, Alabama Power is operating business as usual on the Coosa River.

The company is in the process of relicensing the Coosa River for hydroelectric power generation. The company requested a 50-year license in 2005, and included a request to maintain Logan Martin water levels two feet higher than they currently allow, ensuring proper recreational access to the lake.

After the permit is approved, Godfrey said a turbine aeration system is planned for Logan Martin Lake, as well as the enhancement of nine recreational facilities on the lake’s shores. “We’re hoping for a new license in early 2012, there’s a strong possibility of it happening, but I wouldn’t make any bets,” Godfrey said.