Georgia officials announced Monday that they signed an agreement allowing for water service providers to use Lake Lanier's water supply through 2050.
According to a press release from the Office of Governor Brian Kemp, Kemp, former Governor Nathan Deal, Environmental Protection Division Director Rick Dunn, local officials and representatives from water services providers in the cities of Buford, Cumming and Gainesville, and Gwinnett and Forsyth counties were present for the announcement on Monday.
"Today, we're celebrating a landmark agreement between the various parties represented here to draw from a crucial asset for both our state and its future - Lake Lanier," Governor Brian Kemp said. "After decades of work and negotiation, we have reached a sound, carefully developed, and fair resolution to this long and slow battle of the so-called broader 'Water Wars,' and I want to thank former Governor Nathan Deal and his administration, Director Dunn and his hardworking team, and the many others who have contributed to this decades-long process to make today possible."
The contract grants the state 254,170-acre-feet of water storage on which the water service providers are able to draw. That space is about 13% of the lake when at full levels. The storage will cost about $71 million in addition to annual operations and maintenance costs. The $71 million will be spread over 30 years. The state has already made two payments toward the costs, allocating over $14 million in the state budget to secure the agreement. The state will have permanent rights to the water storage once the payments are complete.
Over 1.5 million residents and businesses in Gwinnett, Forsyth and Hall counties along with other portions of north Metro Atlanta rely on Lake Lanier's water supply. The state previously announced a contract in January 2021 between Georgia and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water storage in Lake Lanier to meet the region's estimated municipal and industrial water supply needs. The various water service providers and Georgia's EPD have completed the process with the new contract.
"After many years of arduous labor, diligent legal work by many parties, and constant effort to see this through to the finish line, I'm so thankful Governor Kemp was able to bring to fruition this quality agreement for all stakeholders," former Governor Nathan Deal said. "This is a win for all of Georgia, and it underscores the importance of that timeless advice - 'never give up!'"
