By Associated Press
Atlanta GA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Mobile, Alabama, is preparing a letter with its recommendations about reducing water releases from Lake Lanier.
The chief of public affairs for the Mobile office -- Pat Robbins -- says the recommendations will be sent to the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Panama City, Florida, which will make the final decision. He says the letter will outline basin conditions that would warrant a further reduction in the flow of water downstream from Lake Lanier.
Robbins declined to give specifics, saying the letter is still being prepared.
State environmental officials in Florida said this week that the federal government hasn't adequately considered the impact Georgia's drought may have had on Florida mussels. They want the Corps to further review how reductions in the flow of water from Georgia affect the health of mussels.
Florida opposes reductions of the amount of water flowing into the Apalachicola River, which is fed by the Chattahoochee River from Georgia. Florida officials fear damage to species at the river's mouth, which would hurt the seafood industry there.