WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Governor at War with Army Corps of Engineers Over Drought Management

Governor at War with Army Corps of Engineers Over Drought Management

Governor Bob Riley has declared war on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its handling of Alabama's lingering drought problems.

Riley sent a scathing letter to the Secretary of the Army accusing the Corps of violating its own water supply plan that's supposed to address droughts.

Worse, Riley says it's threatening Alabama's electric grid, our jobs and our drinking water, and  he also says any delay in fixing the problem might cause some serious consequences.

If things go the way the Governor says they're supposed to, the water that's plentiful in North Georgia should come to Alabama where the drought lingers.  Riley says not only has that not happened, it's because of a man made decision in Atlanta.

"We have some of our reservoirs down nine feet, while at the same time reservoirs in Georgia are absolutely almost filled at capacity," Riley said. "That's just not right."

In 1993, following devastating droughts in 1986 and 1988, the Army Corps of Engineers rewrote its reservoir management manual on how to handle a drought.

The latest version says the Corps would release water from the lake it built and controls in North Georgia, Lake Allatoona, for at least two hours per day.

But in a stinging letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Army, Riley says that's happened just eight times since February 1st, depriving Alabama of eighteen billion much needed gallons.

"All we want is...just live up to the manual that you published and are supposed regulate these reservoirs with," Riley said.

Riley also told the Secretary the Corps hasn't cooperated with other reservoir owners like Alabama Power.

"We applaud the governor for writing the Corps and telling the Corps what a desperate situation we're in," said Alabama Power spokesperson Jan Ellis.

The power company feeds smaller water users, and in June, asked the Corps for permission to reduce its obligations downstream to protect water quality and navigation on Lake Martin.

The corps refused that and an additional request for more water. Now, unless things change, Alabama could see an economic threat.

"We're very frustrated right now with the situation because we feel like everyone in this state is being affected by the lack of water," said Ellis.

Riley places much of the blame on the Southeastern region Corps Commander, Brigadier General Joseph Schroedel.

Riley claims Schroedel personally promised to start releasing the water July 1st, but now, more than two weeks have passed and no water.

"We're in the midst of our worst drought ever," said Riley.  "If you won't release the water today, then when would you ever release the water?"

Alabama Power isn't the only utility with concerns.

Robert Price, the general manager for Central Elmore Water and Sewer says the company's Lake Martin intake valve is at 474 feet.

At last word, the lake level is 481.

So if the drought continues and the Corps doesn't change its mind Prince says he will have to take drastic action to protect water service to more than eighty thousand people. 

Governor Riley asked the Secretary of the Army for a response no later than Wednesday afternoon.

Reporter: Chris Holmes