State Representative Barbara Massey Reece (D- Menlo) has signed on to a bill in the Georgia House that would regulate interbasin water transfers.  The bill is not popular with metropolitan Atlanta groups but has wide-spread support from Northwest Georgia's lawmakers.

The measure would require the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to consider the impact on downstream communities before allowing water to be diverted to another river basin.  Currently, all that’s needed is a press release to the affected communities at least seven days before the permit is issued.

Georgia's rural lawmakers are concerned that Atlanta will continue it's grab for water without any consideration of the impact on rural areas of Georgia.