PANAMA CITY – Any day now, a U.S. Supreme Court special master is expected to issue a ruling Apalachicola Bay oystermen say will determine the fate of their industry.
The "water wars" case is the most recent development in a decades-old dispute questioning who has the right to the water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin – upstream Georgia or downstream Florida – and how much water is an "equitable apportionment" for each state.
Hanging in the balance is water Georgia says it needs to supply the sprawling Atlanta metropolis, irrigate crops and prevent a projected $18 billion hit to the state's economy. Meanwhile, Florida says a steady supply of water is the last chance for Apalachicola Bay's struggling oyster industry and endangered species.
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