Historical Importance of Water

Georgia’s Lakes Georgia’s lakes were created by building artificial dams in existing rivers or streams. Though we love to fish and boat in these lakes, they are also constructed for power generation, flood control, navigation, irrigation and water supply. U.S. Corps of Engineers, Georgia Power, and Georgia’s massive river system have created the state’s lake system. New lakes today are being constructed mainly to increase local water supplies. Hartwell

Tri-State Water Wars Decades-long court fight with the neighboring states of Florida and Alabama over how to share regional water resources. 2013- Florida sues Georgia, claiming Metro-Atlanta residents and Southwest Georgia farmers hurt downstream aquatic species (oysters) by using too much water. Alabama has watched the legal action closely due to their own water concerns. The Supreme Court rejected a strict new water consumption limits that would have harmed Georgia’s economy. The shifting water course of the Savannah River has caused litigation between Georgia and South Carolina.

Historical Development of Water in Georgia

American Indians Food, transportation, and to transport items for trade.

European Settlers As farming increased, water was necessary to adequately serve crops. Rice production in the coastal plains provided Georgia’s first staple crop. Trading posts were established and many Europeans arriving settled in the areas of these posts. Georgia’s rivers and ports supported the concept of mercantilism for European explorers. Review: 2 ways the Fall Line impacted settlement?

Antebellum Period Water was extremely important to Georgia’s “King Cotton.” Rivers were used to transport raw cotton to coastal ports prior to the development of the railroad. Steamboats provided transportation for goods and passengers. Mills and factories were powered by the rivers of the Piedmont region.

Civil War Control of the Chattahoochee and Savannah River became a necessity during the Civil War The Union blockade of the Savannah River strangled the port of Savannah, and thousands of bales of cotton waiting to be shipped were confiscated by Union forces.

Post War After a recovery period, steamboats began traveling along Georgia’s rivers again. No longer solely cotton, more products including naval stores and fertilizers.

Post Great Depression/New Deal In the early 1900’s, Georgia Power created reservoirs to produce hydro electric power. 1930’s President Roosevelt’s New Deal program, the Tennessee Valley Authority, created additional reservoirs to control flooding 1940’s and 1950’s The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers began constructing dams for flood control and hydro electric power River usage for trade was impacted by the rise of the automobile and plane

WWII The ports of Savannah and Brunswick contributed to the war effort with the creation of Liberty Ships

Modern Georgia As of 2015, Savannah is the 4th busiest container port in the U.S. Growing population has created a higher demand for water.