How a Train Marks the Battle Lines In the Water Wars
We all know that Atlanta is where it is because of the Railroads. An East-West railroad crossed a North South rail line and boom! The roots of our city began. In fact, in the bottom of the Whales Parking Garage, you can even seen the Center post of Atlanta.
Now, here’s likely what you didn’t know. That north-south rail line was laid with the most deliberate care and is the line that defines the Eastern Continental Divide. All the water due west of Atlanta flows to the gulf and all the water due east of Atlanta flows into the Atlantic.
All those scores of years ago, no one imagined that water would become the biggest bone of contention between Georgia and it’s neighbors, but as our city’s population has hit record levels (the previous high was in 1980 at 425,000), the fight for water both in the Metro Atlanta region and between Georgia and the several states that boarder it has intensified. The battle is now so pitched that the decision will likely be made by the United States Supreme Court.
But the battle isn’t just over Metro Atlanta and it’s population; there are battles too over agricultural land where aquifers that once previously ran with fresh water have become salted. This is a direct use of farmers pulling water for irrigation.
The result of the water wars could have a huge impact on Atlanta’s ability to continue its growth. No matter the result, Mayor Franklin’s success and bringing a coalition together to get the sewers and water system fixed will read benefits for Georgians from here to Columbus. However, if Georgia does not fair well in the settlements with Alabama, you could see a large development shift going east where more of the water heads to the Atlantic. This would mean higher densities in Dekalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett, and even more need for transportation options, including suburban rail…which brings us full circle.
December 7th, 2005 at 10:18 am
Your post is interesting, but it contains two factual errors. 1. You perpetutate the widespread myth of the N-S rail line (or Peachtree Street, in some versions) being the Eastern Continental Divide. From downtown Atlanta to Norcross this is not true. Water in east-side areas such as Druid Hills, Toco Hills, Emory, part of Decatur, and Northlake drains west via Peachtree Creek, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. 2. The current Atlanta population is far from a record; it was 497,000 in 1970.
December 8th, 2005 at 9:11 am
But also the milepost signifies the terminus for the Augusta rail line, which could be the eastern continental boundary. Because to the south of the rail line water flows in the South River which flows into the Ocmulgee River & continues to the Atlantic. To the north of the rail line water flows into the Chattahoochee River & continues to the Gulf of Mexico. Though the continental line is roughly ‘north-south’, in this part of Atlanta it is ‘east-west’.