A public hearing was held earlier this month on the $29.6 million project but there was no opposition expressed... only strong support.
Letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning the project must be postmarked by this coming Saturday, September 5.
The address is:
Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Piedmont Branch
Attn: Mr. Justin Hammonds
1590 Adamson Parkway, Suite 200
Morrow, Georgia 30260-1777
AUGUST 6 PUBLIC HEARING
During the hour-long public, Covington attorney Tommy Craig described the project and gave it an estimated price tag.
Craig said broad support for the new reservoir surfaced following July's federal court decision to largely cut Lake Lanier out as a north Georgia water source in three years.
"That cast in doubt the region's ability to withdraw from Lake Lanier and has galvanized public opinion," Craig said.
Craig said the Glades Reservoir near Lula is the preferred alternative with its lower cost and minimal impact on the environment and on Lake Lanier.
Glades Reservoir, if permitted by the Corps of Engineers, would not be ready for several years, and Hall County Public Works Director Ken Reardon said the county is going to need alternatives.
"We've got the Cedar Creek Reservoir permitted and ready to draw water and we're looking at fast tracking the Glades Reservoir," Reardon said.
The project has Gainesville and Lake Lanier Association support.
Gainesville Public Utilities Director Kelly Randall said he's behind the project.
"Certainly any options that can provide us additional water for our community we would support," Randall said.
Lake Lanier Association Vice President Val Perry said his group applauds the project.
"It has minimal impact on Lake Lanier and so we're in support of it," Perry said.
Perry said the Association still supports raising Lake Lanier's level by two feet and added that the court decision did not bar recreation on Lake Lanier.
Craig said the federal government could save the county $7-million if allowed to send reservoir water down Lake Lanier to the Gainesville water intake.
Craig said the Corps of Engineers might be barred from such a storage agreement by the federal court and the county would have to build a water treatment plant at the reservoir.
Craig said if federal court appeals fail and Congress does not reauthorize Lake Lanier for water supply, the alternative is clear.
"We may need to be moving aggressively toward developing our own supplies where we're not dependent upon the governors of other states and the Congress with people from other states or a successful legal appeal," Craig said.
"We'll take matters into our own hands and that's where Glades comes in."
Covington attorney Tommy Craig makes a presentation on plans for Glades Reservoir at Aug. 6 hearing.
Part of the crowd at the Aug. 6 meeting.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/8/222836