Water Wars Down South An Analysis of the Tri-State Battle Over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin

Marilyn Payne

Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Johnson, Robert

Keywords

Water Allocation dispute, Southeastern, Water Wars

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines the southeastern water war among Alabama, Georgia, and Florida over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. It focuses on the political and legal issues at hand, while analyzing the circumstances of each that contributed to the current resource battle. I argue that the political factors associated with the ACF River Basin, coupled with the environmental and economic aspects at stake, have over time led to an inefficient use of water that created the battle over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Furthermore, this thesis examines the three main possibilities for a resolution: congressional apportionment, judicial apportionment and interstate compact. After analyzing each available resolution options� strengths and weaknesses, I conclude that the interstate compact method is the most promising water allocation resolution option available to Georgia, Alabama, and Florida because it has the highest chance of having each state�s impending needs met due to its dependence on their direct involvement in the water allocation resolution process.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS