Opponents claim the 30-year agreement has questionable provisions concern water levels and water quality. According to McLane, an early meeting in Atlanta was held in which negotiators discussed the possibility of having the agreement signed within two weeks so a public review period can be completed by May 1. If the agreement is signed, it will immediately enter a federal review process with no supplemental extensions or delays, thereby eliminating any opportunities to protest or object to the agreement. Dr. David Bayne, a professor at Auburn University, said his concerns rested with water quality and the vagueness of the agreement. In my opinion, there will be some rather significant changes occurring in Weiss Lake unless something is done to make sure that we end up with more water than is proposed in this agreement.
Water flowing into the Coosa River is controlled by releases from dams in northwest Georgia.
The flow rate is measured by a meter mounted at Mayo's Bar near Rome. The proposed agreement calls for an absolute minimum flow at Mayo's Bar of 1,200 cubic feet per second. During severe droughts, Georgia would not be required to meet any minimum flow level. Critics fear that minimum flow rate would quickly become the maximum flow rate. McLane said he is in favor of granting another extension to Aug. 1 to give time for the various parties involved to express their concerns.