ATLANTA -- The state's historic drought hasn't put a crimp in Gov. Sonny Perdue's $19 million plan to boost fishing tourism in Georgia, according to Perdue's office and the Department of Natural Resources.
Though the Professional Anglers Association recently canceled plans for two fishing tournaments set for Lake Lanier because of the dry conditions, the overall plan to build large boat ramps on big lakes, create a bass trail and build a new visitors center and hatchery to support new tourism is still on.
Bert Brantley, Perdue's press secretary, said there is no reason to call off the main thrust of "Go Fish Georgia" because of a temporary drought.
"The proposal for Go Fish Georgia is a long-term kind of proposal," Brantley said. "It's meant to have an impact over the years to come. ... The return to the state on the investment is just as real as it was in January when the governor proposed it."
The program came in for criticism during the legislative session, with some lawmakers questioning the need for building boat ramps even as the state was trying to work with the federal government to bail out some publicly-funded health-care plans.
Though Perdue touted increased interest in fishing tournaments as a key reason to approve the plan, the cancellation of the Professional Anglers Association events doesn't mean the state won't still benefit from fishing by individuals -- or that it will give up on luring other tournaments to Georgia.
"If you look at our neighboring states, it's not tournaments that are driving the hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact this year," he said.
Beth Brown, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources, said her agency was also moving forward with its plans for Go Fish Georgia. The sites for large boat ramps, other upgrades, the visitors center and hatchery could all be announced as soon as the end of the year, Brown said.
"We still feel like it's a great investment," Brown said. In fact, she said, boat ramps built in dry conditions can actually reach further into the water, since workers have more solid ground to work with.
"It's a good time to be building boat ramps," she said. The ramps won't likely reach as low as would be needed during a severe drought like the one Georgia is currently facing, but could work during less intense dry spells.
And even with the pullout from this year's tournaments, the state is hearing from organizations interested in holding events in Georgia after some of the water returns.
"People are still looking at the state, because they know we're going to have the infrastructure in place in the years ahead," she said.
