Update
of the Alabama - Coosa - Tallapoosa (ACT) River
Basin
Compact Negotiation Process
The
ACT River Basin Compact negotiation has
lasted well beyond the original deadline and is
now set to expire on January 15, 2003. An extension
of this length was requested for a number of reasons.
First, there is a need to carefully examine water
management policies within Alabama, especially
as they relate to both top-side (reasonable use)
and bottom-side (minimum flows) protection.
Alabama’s
negotiators want to ensure that any interstate
agreement is consistent with the laws, regulations,
and policies that are both in place as well as
those that might be enacted in the near future.
A one-year extension will allow us to do just
that.
Additionally, the federal agencies
have raised several concerns associated with the
July 6, 2001 Alabama proposal. Specifically, there
were concerns in six major areas, which included:
1) Adaptive management
2) Public role during implementation
3) Congressional reauthorization of project purposes
4) Flow and reservoir levels
5) Operational practicability
6) Compensation
The process to carefully examine
these issues is underway. A technical meeting
was held in Atlanta, GA on February 26, 2002 to
look specifically at various reservoir operating
alternatives relating to the hydrology experienced
last year. Further meetings will be held to look
at other operational alternatives as well as the
remaining issues on the above list.
Those
of us involved in the negotiation process
realize the immensity of the issues at stake and
the need to help citizens stay involved and informed.
The lead agency for this effort, the Alabama Office
of Water Resources, a division of the Alabama
Department of Economic and Community Affairs has
a website
that contains information, meeting documents,
and copies of the proposals. It can be reached
by following the links to the Office of Water
Resources. You may also get information by calling
(334) 242-5499 or e-mailing water@adeca.state.al.us
--Tom
Littlepage, Alabama Office of Water Resources
