Politics

States' deal for water in trouble

An agreement proves elusive as Alabama walks from talks days before the deadline.

By Jennifer Liberto, Times Staff Writer
Published February 27, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Remember that deal the governors of Florida, Georgia and Alabama struck at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee to work out a water-sharing deal?

Two months later and days before the March 1 deadline, that deal is looking pretty unlikely.

Florida water negotiators left their last meeting in Atlanta on Monday with no agreement and no more meetings scheduled to discuss the use of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint rivers, whose flow is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers.

What's more, Alabama isn't interested in future talks.

Gov. Bob Riley's spokesman Todd Stacy said "as far as our office is concerned, there are no plans for further negotiations."

Water negotiators with Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia said they plan to keep talking over the phone to whoever is willing to chat until the deadline. But they acknowledged that Alabama's representatives have stopped talking and that Perdue's "optimism isn't quite as strong as a week and a half ago," said spokesman Bert Brantley.

Gov. Charlie Crist sounded the most optimistic, saying Tuesday that predictions that the talks have broken down are dire.

"We're working very hard, and the talks, I hope, will be fruitful," Crist said.

Crist's negotiators also say they're hopeful. But, they also point out that a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals strengthened the ability of Florida and Alabama to assert equal water rights with Georgia, which used to have the upper hand.

In general, they don't believe Florida should take a water deal just to say it got a deal if it detracts from the quality of life for those living near the Apalachicola River and the nearly $200-million oyster and seafood industry.

"The governor, of course, remains willing to seek a resolution," but feels strongly that the impact of the drought must be shared among all three states, said Chris Kise, a Crist legal adviser in private practice who has worked on the case for years.

Dan Tonsmeire with the Apalachicola Riverkeeper environmental advocacy group said he is not surprised the talks haven't resulted in an agreement. His group is among those in Florida that have criticized the secretive nature of the talks, and he hopes groups like his will get a seat at future negotiating tables.

"Such clandestine operations among government agencies don't serve anybody well," Tonsmeire said.

Times staff writers Craig Pittman and Aaron Sharockman contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 26, 2008, 23:43:56]