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Legislation approved by the U.S. House and headed to the Senate includes a push by Georgia Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (D- GA-07) to support and modernize water resources along the Chattahoochee River and in the Metro-Atlanta area. The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) is expected to be heard in the Senate in the next week – although Senators unanimously passed their version of the WRDA out of the Committee on Environment and Public Works recently.

“The Water Resources Development Act provides countless Americans with flood control, access to clean drinking water, and reliable water infrastructure,” said Bourdeaux. “My district is home to Lake Lanier and the Buford Dam, which are critical parts of the Chattahoochee River Basin and supply 70 percent of metro Atlanta’s drinking water. This year’s WRDA package will continue to deliver clean water while improving the Chattahoochee ecosystem so many of us love.

The WRDA package includes Bourdeaux’s Laker Lanier and Upper Chattahoochee Safety Act, which directs the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a review of potential dangers facing recreational areas near Buford Dam and Lake Lanier.

“The Chattahoochee River features great recreational activities many of us enjoy,” Bourdeaux said. “Unfortunately, activity at Buford Dam can lead to rapidly rising water levels with little to no warning. This study will help us keep the Chattahoochee River safe and accessible for all.”

Currently, Buford Dam releases excess water which can cause water levels along the river to rise by as much 11 feet in minutes.

Katherine Zitsch, Managing Director of Natural Resources at the Atlanta Regional Commission said, “In Georgia, we are fortunate to have policy makers who prioritize the importance of our water resources. Protecting the wellbeing of people while they enjoy Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River allows Georgians to safely connect with these important natural resources.”

Bourdeaux worked with her peers on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to include provisions that would authorize a watershed-based study for the Chattahoochee River Basin in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. According to Bourdeaux, the study will allow the Corps to assess the water resource needs of the Chattahoochee River basin, including ecosystem protection and restoration, flood risk management, watershed protection, water supply, and drought preparedness.