ATLANTA,None — A controversial plan that first came up 40 years ago is back on the front burner. Several people believe damming the Flint River could be the answer to Atlanta's ongoing water crisis. But those fighting the plan for decades are prepared to keep battling to stop it.
The Flint River begins as a spring under Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It grows into a free-flowing river that eventually merges with the Chattahoochee River in South Georgia.
Some middle Georgia residents, like State Sen. George Hooks, call the Flint the purest river in the state.
In the 1970s, Congress authorized three dams to be built along the Flint River. Environmentalists opposed it, and then-Gov. Jimmy Carter killed the project.
Two years ago, congressional records show, then-U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal proposed a federal study on reauthorizing the dams. At this time, he proposed dams could increase flow in the lower Chattahoochee River and relieve some of the pressure on Lake Lanier. Now, Deal is governor and is promoting reservoirs to deal with the state's water crisis. That makes the Flint River dam opponents very nervous.
"We would lose the last undammed river as it crosses the fall line in Georgia," said Flint riverkeeper Gordon Rogers. "You get a mix of animals and plants (along the river) that is absolutely unique in Georgia."
Still, some people in the Thomaston community along the Flint believe a reservoir on the river would bring economic benefits to an area hit hard by mill closures. Mayor Hays Arnold said said it also could prevent disasters like the devastating floods along the Flint in the 1990s.
"We overlooked what could happen in 1994 with the great flood. We overlooked the drought situation that occurred in our state a few short years ago. These cycles are going to recur," said Mayor Arnold.
Former Thomaston Mayor Sam Brewton disagrees. He owns property along the river, and said he's been an advocate of Flint River Preservation since he was in high school.
"I don't want to protect the river because I own the property. I bought the property because I love the river and have for many years," Brewton said.
Gov. Nathan Deal is making the water crisis one of his top priorities. He said the state is faced with some difficult decisions about how Georgia is going to supply itself with water. Still, he said damming the Flint may not be possible now, because of time and money.
"I don't think in the short term that it's going to provide us with the kind of relief we need," said Deal. "I think we need to concentrate on the areas we know we have jurisdiction over and that will be tributaries, perhaps tributaries of the Flint."
Deal said instead his focus now is on reservoirs in North Georgia. Flint River dam opponents think that's where it should be.
State Sen. George Hooks thinks that's where it should be. The Flint River flows through seven of the 12 counties he represents.
"The most practical thing would be to build the reservoirs in North Georgia so it would be almost a downhill flow," said Hooks.
Still, the debate along the river is sure to continue as it has for the past 40 years.
"I would have grave concern that if we don't move forward with doing something now, we'll regret it," said Arnold.
"I think some things should be preserved for our children and grandchildren," said Brewton. "Full-on free flowing rivers are now very rare. Very rare. And when they're gone, they're gone forever."
WSBTV
