By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham AL – The state of Georgia has won another round in its ongoing water sharing dispute with Alabama and Florida. Florida had requested the federal court in Birmingham order the US Army Corps of Engineers to release more water down the Chatahoochee-Apalachicola-Flint river basin to protect endangered mussels. But yesterday, U-S District Judge Karon Bowdre ruled Florida did NOT prove that the actions of the Corps harmed the mussels. Bowdre wrote that "the Corps cannot control the weather, nor can it be held responsible for the effects of the weather on the mussels' habitat.'' Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue the ruling vindicates Georgia's position that Florida's request was not feasible, considering drought conditions and current reservoir levels in his state.