Page 2-A  Thursday,  September 16, 1999     THE ST. CLAIR NEWS-AEGIS

Letters to the Editor

                 Water Wars

   Many are rightly concerned that Alabama negotiators in the "water wars" have, 
from the beginning, taken and continue to take a defensive position in the matter.      Appropriately, Alabama filed suit in 1990 to prevent Georgia from constructing a reservoir on the Tallapoosa River, a proposal among other negative water flow measures the state had proposed.  

   This was a proper defensive response by Alabama at the moment but by no means should have established a position fromwhich to posture. Might we have gained a more favorable negotiating position had we, at the time, not only filed this defensive suit to deny restriction of future water flow to Alabama, but also filed suit to recoup former water flow levels to Alabama, the reduction of which, over time, has already placed our rivers at serious marginal levels?

   Does this suit to recoup sound a bit much? Maybe, but it would surely place all things in proper perspective.  What defines "optimum flow"?  Have we long exceeded it and to what extent?

   Throughout our earth, all rivers should eventually and ideally reach a water flow of optimal benefit to all, a flow arrived upon through careful study of costs versus benefits to the population and environment.  Many centuries-old, beautiful and productive rivers in Europe strive today due to this optimal stage having been reached, recognized and respected.
Many other rivers throughout the world, sadly, have been swallowed up by reckless overextension of their capacities.  

   If Alabama has already reached the inevitable pinch whereby the water flow in its rivers has dropped to a point of no redemptive return, why are we even negotiating whether or not we further exacerbate our existing critical river situation?

   Go figure.

Armond "Si" Simmons
104 Wadsworth Lane
Pell City, AL 35128