ACF Stakeholders incorporate, sets initial meeting

UNDATED - There's a new player in the tri-state water wars: ACF Stakeholders, made up of people from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida with a "common intrest" in seeing that the decades-old ispute involving water in the Appalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint river basin is resolved.

Wilton Rooks, the group's interim president, describes it as "a diverse, balanced interest group of stakeholders in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin."

The formative principle of the group is that the political and legal structures have failed to resolve the 18 year dispute over how the waters of the ACF Basin - which includes Lake Lanier - should be shared. The guiding principle behind the organizational effort has been to create a structure that reflects the diverse interests of the stakeholders. Representatives from over sixty organizations have worked as a Steering Committee to evolve a structure to achieve this goal.

Rooks said "This organization reflects the best chances that the three states have of arriving at a resolution to the conflict over the waters of the ACF Basin. As a representative from the largest population center in the basin, I look forward to working with the representatives from the other basins. Our goal is to arrive at solutions that are beneficial to all users."

Billy Turner, interim Treasurer and Executive Committee member for the Lower & Middle Chattahoochee sub-basin said "The ACFS, due to its organization and make up, intends to bring together the most knowledgeable, diverse group representing all water interests in the ACF watersheds. A positive outcome from the ACFS has the best chance to be a workable solution for the 20 year old water dispute."

Dan Tonsmeire, interim Secretary and Executive Committee member for the Apalachicola sub-basin said "The level playing field upon which the ACFS is built and participation by those most affected by the management of water throughout the Basin gives us the best opportunity to find real and meaningful solutions to sharing water between citizens of our basin."

Vince Falcione, interim Vice President and Executive Committee member for the Flint sub-basin said "This past year, I've had the opportunity to be part of the ACF Steering Team working with stakeholders throughout the basin. The time I spent with these individuals convinced me that we can work together to arrive at workable solutions to meet the needs of the diverse users of this resource. I am confident this organization will have a positive impact on this resource now and in the future."

Organizations throughout the basin are now joining as members. The application and further details can be obtained at the organization's website - www.acfstakeholders.org.

The initial meeting of the Governing Board, which will be selected by representatives of each sub-basin during November, is scheduled for December 10 in Albany.