Ga. and Tenn. working on a water deal, sorta - Tenn. river

http://www.atlantawatershortage.com/


Will the Tennessee River solve our problems?


The Tennessee River is once again begin discussed as a possible solution to our water problem. The river moves a massive amount of water through Chattanooga — roughly 34,300 cfs, which is about 17 times greater than the amount being released through Buford Dam.

The problem, of course, is politics. Tennessee understandably doesn’t want to part with their water. However, Atlanta might be able to offer a few things in exchange for some water.

First, Chattanooga is concerned that Atlanta might want to build a second airport in the northern part of the state. If we ruled out that possibility it might help. The second exchange might involve building a high-speed rail line from Atlanta to Chattanooga. $8 million has been put aside to study the possibility of building that rail line, which would eliminate the need for a second airport.

It could cost about $5 billion to pump water from Chattanooga (and another $10 billion to pump the used water back, which some people think should be done). The article doesn’t mention how long it would take to build the pipes to handle that, but I’d have to think it would take a few years. If anyone has a good answer for that, please post in the comments below. If we’re talking about a couple of years to get this done, it becomes more of a long-term solution than a short-term fix and we’re still in big trouble in a few months.

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hhhmmmm

Other systems in the country are set up to release only the top level of water that comes in as the natural flow (whatever that is at any given point) so that water released downstream represents only that top level. In this way the reserve always maintains the needed level of water for the atlanta area. This, of course, requires that the reserve be brought up to minimal levels...and for the dams to be modified to release only the extra water that flows into the reserve naturally. Either way, it is a less costly and more effective way to manage the city's water.

the lake could never fill again - with climate change you never know

My understanding is that there isn't much there...

but I don't see how it could be done quick enough either.

I live next to GSMNP and it seems like the water levels have been very low in this area for the past two years. Really short rainfall years. It rained like crazy here last night, and everything was so dry that there is no trace it ever rained.

It might be helpful as a quick way to help GA - if thats possible, but I have to wonder, the way things are going, if its a good long term solution.

for rail line and empty water pipes to a dry lake

to be low, it might be a whole lot of money spent for a band-aid. :(

The GSMNP is actually considered to be a temperate rainforest. Tennessee is usually a pretty wet state, so theoretically, we have water to spare. But that has been changing the past few years.

I live in GA but grew up in Chattanooga.

We simply have NO leadership by the GOP controlled government to limit development and conserve water. Building reservoirs won't help because our water supply (smaller rivers) is limited.

As for the rail line from Atlanta to Chattanooga, we should do that ASAP. Athens to Atlanta to Chattanooga and Atlanta to Macon should be top priority.

The irony about Chattanooga is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo historic train station has no train service at all. There is no passenger train service to a famous railroad city. :(

Atlanta tore down its train station. Athens used to have 5 train station and now has none. :(