Saving Lake Lanier

Water shortage in Georgia is due to over-population, not climate change

Although global climate change is blamed for many of the maladies occurring around the world, researchers in the United States have determined that it is NOT the cause of recent droughts and water shortages in the southeastern United States in 2007-08.

Columbia University climate experts concluded that water shortages in the region were due to explosive population growth; most startling, the state of Georgia experienced a growth of nearly 50% in the 17 year from 1990-2007.  Although we may have a definitive cause of the problem, saving Lake Lanier will take more than research and analysis.

Randy Serraglio, conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity stated:

“Despite attempts to blame this water crisis on Mother Nature, intrusive regulations, or endangered species, this study clearly identifies the true culprit.  The culprit is us – a rapidly growing human population with unsustainable consumption habits.”

For a startling look at the effect of the state of Georgia droughts, consider these lake views:

One month's difference in Lake Lanier water levels

Whether you consider the research conclusions to be good news or bad, depends on how you perceive the issues.  Global climate change can be slowed, perhaps even stopped, but will require the efforts of the entire world-wide human population on a number of levels.  And it doesn’t help when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants to have a “trial” on the issue of global warming.

On the other hand, the effects of over-population can be addressed – to some extent.  For example, Lake Lanier (shown in the video above) diminished to historic lows in the past few years.  Georgia’s Governor restricted water releases from the lake reservoir in order to preserve native aquatic species.  And surprise, surprise…. lawsuits were filed.

Of course, people have been fighting over water rights for years.  From farmers wishing to irrigate and homeowners digging wells, to hydroelectric facilities blocking salmon runs and changing eco-systems.

The states of Georgia, Florida and Alabama have also been engaged in historic water wars.  The latest wrangling over the Lake Lanier reservoir pitted state against state over the finite resource, once again:

Lake Lanier, Georgia: before and after

Last summer, a federal judge ruled that Atlanta must find another source of water, instead of solely relying on the Lake Lanier reservoir.  But the explosive population growth in the region is projected to continue – doubling again in the next 30 years.  The judge’s ruling should not be considered the end of the story, nor should the conclusions of climate researchers about the cause of the water crisis.

The City of Atlanta must also start adopting and enforcing conservation measures to reduce water usage, and perhaps also consider ways to control the region’s population growth.  Planning ahead for future drought situations is perhaps made easier in this situation.  With the blame falling squarely on over-consumption, measures can and should be implemented to avoid the startling effects of the 2007-08 drought.

Saving Lake Lanier will probably be a decades-long process.  Its time to get started.