Supes Pick Georgia Over Florida in Water/Oyster War

Supreme Court rules for Georgia to end 8-year water fight with Florida

In a unanimous decision Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Florida's claims in a yearslong water rights fight against the state of Georgia.

The high court ruled that Florida failed to provide "clear and convincing evidence" for its claims that water consumption from its northern neighbor led to the collapse of its oyster fisheries.

Florida filed the suit eight years ago, accusing Georgia of taking more than its fair share of water from interstate rivers in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin.

Attorneys for Florida's government argued that the high rate of consumption caused low flows in the Apalachicola River and severely damaged oyster fisheries and river ecosystem.

Florida asked the court in February to order strict water limits for Georgia, especially in years of drought, so it can deliver more freshwater from the basin to the Apalachicola River.

Georgia officials countered that such restrictions would be "draconian" and cost its agricultural sector millions.

Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed with Georgia that such limits would be out of bounds and that the state can't bear responsibility for the fisheries' troubles.

 

"Florida's own documents and witnesses reveal that Florida allowed unprecedented levels of oyster harvesting in the years leading to the collapse," Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in the 9-0 ruling.

"And the record points to other potentially relevant factors, including actions of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, multiyear droughts, and changing rainfall patterns."

Sound about right to me. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Selina Kyle & Catwoman ready on time and under budget.