Last Thursday “Friends of Big Canoe Creek” hosted Mitch Reid from the Alabama Rivers Alliance (ARA) to speak about the growing need for a comprehensive water plan in the state of Alabama.

“As a state we are blessed with the water resources we do have, and the question becomes how do we protect it,” Doug Morrison, president of Friends of Big Canoe Creek said.  “And we are working hard to educate the public about local water resources.”

Reid spoke to the group about actions the ARA is taking to promote water plan and create water policy legislation for Alabama.

Alabama shares a majority of its water resources with other states and has been involved in tri-state water wars with Georgia and Florida.

“This puts the state in awkward position to protect water resources because we have no comprehensive water plan,” Mitch Reid of the ARA said.  “The 2008 drought brings into focus the need to protect the water we have and making sure everyone has the water they need.  Water has become very precious, especially during droughts.”

Reid says those who live upstream get first dibs on water because there is no policy currently in place.

After droughts in recent years, the Alabama Legislature formed the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee for Water Policy and Management to develop a water plan for Alabama.

“A comprehensive water plan is the only way to protect our state’s water resources and its people. The Permanent Joint Legislative Committee needs the support and leadership of local officials and constituents to move forward with a plan,” Reid said.

Morrison says plentiful water supplies are necessary to capitalize on these opportunities, as well as many others, and ensuring this supply will require proper planning. “Water is going to be like gold in the future,” Morrison said.

 Alabama’s water resources are abundant, but they are not unlimited; they must be carefully managed to meet long-term needs. Alabama is one of the few states in the U.S. that does not have a statewide comprehensive water policy. The absence of a clear plan for accounting for and allocating the state’s water jeopardizes the water security, the economy, and environment.