Savannah River Caucus backs compact, resolution | savannahnow.com

ATLANTA — Legislators from the more than two-dozen districts bordering the Savannah River introduced a resolution in the House Friday urging the U.S. Corps of Engineers to use adaptive-management practices on the river’s lakes.

Such management practices are designed to widen the environmental and economic factors considered in the Corps’ decision making, such as timing water releases.

The Savannah River Caucus met Thursday to coordinate strategy for the current legislative session and talk about the resolution and its other legislation, a boating compact.

The caucus formed last year in conjunction with South Carolina legislators to pursue issues of common concern.

“The metro folks are organized. The South Georgia folks are organized. It’s time we got organized,” said the caucus’ chairman, Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell.

Powell said the leadership of the Corps has become more responsive since a pair of joint meetings with the two states’ caucuses. The resolution is another way to demonstrate the new spirit of cooperation.

The caucus is also sponsoring House Bill 777 which would create a bi-state compact between Georgia and South Carolina over mutual enforcement of boating laws. The agreement would allow residents of one state to return home without immediately paying a fine or posting bond for boating infractions in the other state.

via Savannah River Caucus backs compact, resolution | savannahnow.com.