Georgia gets it!

The State of Georgia has started circling its collective wagons in preparation of the pending lawsuit against the state announced by Gov. Rick Scott during his August visit to Apalachicola.

Scott's announcement followed the federally declared commercial fishery failure for oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay. A failure scientifically linked to and exacerbated by Georgia's increased appetite for freshwater taken directly out of the Apalachicola River Basin.  Freshwater that's needed to maintain a healthy and productive Apalachicola Bay estuary, of which the livelihoods of Franklin County families both directly and indirectly depend upon.

Scott's decision to take the matter directly to the U.S. Supreme Court for resolution is wholeheartedly supported by the City of Apalachicola as evident by the city's recent move to join Florida in the litigation.

As a result of Scott’s announcement, news sources have reported that Georgia recently sent out a request soliciting the services of attorneys to defend the state against the pending lawsuit.  It was also noted that one attorney responding to the solicitation was a recent law school graduate who offered to defend the state for free, while the others attorneys proposed to take on the task for hourly fees of up to $1,200.  In all, almost thirty lawyers and law firms came forward in response to the solicitation to defend the State of Georgia, including a firm that recently hired Ken Salazar, former U.S. Secretary of Interior and a high profile lawyer within his own rights.

To say the least, Georgia is approaching the matter with the upmost concern and has begun its preparation to protect its interest in this high stake litigation where the winner will have unfettered access to the water rights of the Apalachicola River, in spite of the fact that Gov. Scott has yet to file the lawsuit.

As Metro-Atlanta continues its unchecked growth and their want for more and more potable water intensifies, the ability of Apalachicola Bay to maintain its productive and reproductive strength to sustain the livelihood of Franklin County families will more than likely diminish with each gallon of freshwater Georgia continues to take out of the system.

The State of Georgia “gets it” and knows full well what’s at stake here, the question is, “do we”.