I’m watching the Georgia drought issue closely as it may well be an important litmus test between the rights of humans versus wildlife. On one level, it’s not much of a battle as our political system does not recognize the rights of sturgeon to vote, ditto for freshwater mussels..

Much of the South has been in the grip of an “exceptional” drought for some time, only recently has there been the fear that Atlanta may run out of water completely. Four million humans live there, and much of the Georgia political machine is engaged in a fight with the Army Corp of Engineers, who are required to release water from Lake Lanier to save endangered sturgeon and mussels in Florida.

It’s part of the growth issue that many states are wrestling with – and my state, California, is no exception. The issues surrounding all of this is compelling; growth versus quality of life, tax revenue for city, counties, and states – versus farmland or open space, and giving life to arid desert at the expense of all else.

Passionate, motivated, and well funded forces will array themselves on both sides, with us fishermen possibly in both camps.

Much of that sprawl of lawn and homes in near default due to ballooning interest payments – 64,000 homes in my area alone. That’s a lot of paved over farmland, or enough water to save quite a few fish..

Makes a fellow wonder, keep an eye on the outcome.

Technorati Tags: georgia drought, water rights, Lake Lanier, Army Corp of Engineers