(NSF) — After years of legal battling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously rejected a lawsuit in which Florida argued Georgia has used too much water in a river system shared by the states. The 12-page ruling dismissed the lawsuit that Florida filed in 2013 after the oyster fishery collapsed in Franklin County’s Apalachicola Bay. Florida contended that Georgia …
Supreme Court Rules Against Florida in Water Fight
(NSF) — After years of legal battling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously rejected a lawsuit in which Florida argued Georgia has used too much water in a river system shared by the states. The 12-page ruling dismissed the lawsuit that Florida filed in 2013 after the oyster fishery collapsed in Franklin County’s Apalachicola Bay. Florida contended that Georgia …
Supreme Court Weighs Arguments in Water Battle
(NSF) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday plunged back into a years-long water battle between Florida and Georgia, at times sounding skeptical of arguments that more water should be directed to Florida in a river system shared by the states. The fight is rooted in a collapse of the iconic oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay at the southern end …
Florida FWC Puts Hold on Oyster Harvesting Decision
(NSF) – Looking to address additional concerns from area residents, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission delayed a vote Wednesday on finalizing a suspension of wild-oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay for five years. Commission Executive Director Eric Sutton said some people in the Northwest Florida area have had late concerns and “we’d like to take some more time to shore …
Florida’s Arguments Rejected in ‘Water War’
(NSF) — For years, Florida has blamed Georgia’s water use for causing damage to the economically vital oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay. But a special master appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed this week, dealing a major blow to Florida in its legal fight to force Georgia to share more water in a river system that links the two …
Congressman Bishop Comments on Special Master Ruling in Water Litigation
Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, released a statement following Special Master Paul Kelly’s ruling in Georgia’s water litigation: “I am elated by this ruling, which is a major victory for Georgia. As we move forward, I hope we can come to …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Florida-Georgia Water Ruling
(FDACS) — Following the ruling by a federal judge on Georgia’s consumption of water shared with Florida, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “This ruling is a major disappointment for fair, responsible water usage on which both states depend. Georgia’s unchecked disruption of our shared waters in the Apalachicola River has devastated Florida’s oyster industry. I’m encouraging our …
Decision in Florida vs. Georgia “Water War”
This latest decision just out about the longstanding argument between Florida and Georgia about water issues growing more complex as populations boom in these two deep southeastern states. In The Supreme Court of the United States ——————————— * ——————————— STATE OF FLORIDA, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF GEORGIA, Defendant. ——————————— * ——————————— CHAMBERS OF THE SPECIAL MASTER ——————————— * ——————————— REPORT …
New Judge for Florida-Georgia Water War
Earlier this month, we told you a new federal appellate judge, based in New Mexico, is tasked with sorting out the long-running battle between Florida and Georgia over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, both sides recently filed briefs in the debate about whether limits should be placed on Georgia’s …
Deadlines Set in Florida-Georgia ‘Water War’
Florida and Georgia will have until the end of January to file new arguments in the legal fight over water use impacting the Apalachicola River system, a special master said this week. Paul J. Kelly, a senior judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who is serving as special master, set a Jan. 31 deadline for the initial …