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Georgia willing to risk court appeal in water fight

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By The Associated Press

Published: July 22, 2009

ATLANTA - Gov. Sonny Perdue says he is willing to risk the state's chances in court if a judge's devastating ruling against Georgia doesn't jump-start negotiations about how to share water from a massive federal reservoir.

Perdue said he won't negotiate a deal with Alabama and Florida "that's harmful to the future of Georgia."

He said he'd rather risk the state's fate in court or at the hands of Congress before considering a deal "that does not meet the needs of a growing and prosperous Georgia."

A federal judge's ruling last week threatened to cut off metro Atlanta from Lake Lanier, its main water supply, if it doesn't reach an accord in three years.

Many political leaders say they want the governors to resolve the issue, rather than leaving it to the courts or federal lawmakers.

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