The Northwest Georgia Regional Water Resources Partnership will host a gathering Thursday of representatives from a 15-county region. The meeting will be at the Calhoun Depot from 4 to 6 p.m., and participants will discuss pooling their political power into a water authority to protect the Coosa River basin.
Floyd County Commission Chairman Jerry Jennings, who also chairs the Partnership, said plans are to have legislation establishing the water authority introduced in the 2008 Georgia General Assembly session.
More than 30 government and industry water-permit holders are expected — representing areas ranging from from the cities of Cartersville, Rome, Summerville and Dalton to the counties of Gordon, Catoosa, Haralson and Gilmer.
“I think we’re going to have to have a regional authority,” Polk County Commission Chairman Billy Croker said. “Somebody sitting in Atlanta can’t tell us what we need over here.”
The General Assembly is scheduled to adopt a Statewide Comprehensive Water Management Plan during the 2008 session.
Click to view 'map of Water Partnership counties and basins'
