- ACF River Basin
The ACF River Basin is the watershed of the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint
River Basin, in theUnited States , that begins in northern Georgia and flows into theGulf of Mexico atApalachicola Bay , nearApalachicola, Florida . The basin drains an area of more than 19,300 square miles (50,000 km²).cite journal | first = Brian D. | last = Richter | coauthors = Mathews, Ruth Harrison, David L. and Wigington, Robert | year = 2003 | month = Feb | title = Ecologically Sustainable Water Management: Managing River Flows For Ecological Integrity | journal = Ecological Applications | volume = 13 | issue = 1 | pages = 206–224 | url = http://www.nature.org/summit/files/eswm.pdf | accessdate = 2007-02-14 | doi = 10.1890/1051-0761(2003)013 [0206:ESWMMR] 2.0.CO;2]These states and
Alabama have been involved in a water-use dispute for two decades. [cite journal | first = Jefferson G | last = Edgens | year = 2001 | month = Spring | title = Thirst for growth | journal = Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 14–8 | accessdate = 2007-02-14] Georgia has also lobbied theUnited States Congress to endnavigation on the Appalachicola and lower Chattahoochee, to conserve more water during droughts. Keeping the two rivers at a navigable depth during these times requires large releases fromdam s upstream, sending potential drinking water dowstream for shipping, and often dropping lakes to levels dangerous to boaters.Other concerns include harvests of
oyster s in Apalachicola Bay, which require a large enough flow of fresh water to prevent excessivesaltwater intrusion from the Gulf. [cite journal | first = DH | last = Wilber | year = 1992 | month = August | title = Association Between Freshwater Inflows and Oyster Productivity in Apalachicola Bay, Florida | journal = Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science | volume =35 | issue = 2 | pages = 179–190 | accessdate = 2007-02-14 | doi = 10.1016/S0272-7714(05)80112-X] The cost ofdredging silt , much of it from uncontrolled growth across metro Atlanta's fine red clay soil, has also been called wasteful to float so little ship traffic. [cite press release | publisher= Florida Department of Environmental Protection | date=2003-07-30 | title=Florida Reaffirms Commitment to Protect Apalachicola River: Officials call for end to dredging | url=http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2003/july/0730.htm | accessdate=2007-02-14]References
External links
* [http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/acfframe.htm U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: ACF Basin]
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