How the Drought in Georgia Affects Florida
Target Reading Level: Grade 8

Lake Lanier was one of the most beautiful lakes in Georgia. People spent many summers swimming and boating at Lake Lanier. Since 2006, Lake Lanier’s water level has been dropping which is making it impossible for anyone to use it for fun.

High temperatures and not enough rain have caused the lake’s water level to fall. Today, Lake Lanier looks more like a desert than a lake. This has caused great concern for the people of Georgia because the lake is also used to supply water to the citizen's homes. The governor of Georgia has asked President Bush to declare the State of Georgia to be a National Disaster Area. This means, the state would be able to receive extra money from the government to help the people buy water.

The governor wants to save as much water as possible from leaving the state so he also asked that the river water flowing from Georgia to Florida be slowed down. This is a serious problem for marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. The Apalachicola (ap-a-lach-i-co-la) River runs into the Apalachicola Estuary (esh-oo-ary). An estuary is a nursery for baby sea creatures. Its water is made from a river, which is fresh water and the ocean, which is salt-water. Together, the fresh water and the salt-water are mixed and it is then called, brackish (bra-kish) water.

Brackish water is very important for sea creatures like oysters. Oysters start out as very small larvae. A microscope is needed to see them. They then float around in the brackish water until they get big enough to attach themselves to an oyster bed. An oyster bed is made up of a many oysters and rocks stuck together. Oyster larvae need to attach to a hard surface or they will die. One of the most interesting things about the oyster is that it can actually clean the water it lives in! While the oyster is eating, it pumps the brackish water through its body and gets rid of the algae (al-gee). The oyster beds are also important for other tiny sea creatures that hide in between the oyster shells such as plants, crabs, worms, and fish.

If the water that flows down the Apalachicola River is slowed down, the estuary will be in serious danger. The water that flows into the bay will be mostly salt-water. Salt-water is the home for many dangerous predators such as sharks, which might eat the oysters and destroy the habitat.

The governors of Florida and Georgia need to work together to come to a solution that is best for the people and for the marine life living in the estuary. Citizens can do their part by conserving the water they use. If we work together, we can come up with many ways to help each other live through the drought, save the sea creatures, and help replenish Lake Lanier.