Drought-plagued states fight over water

MIAMI, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A first step has been taken in settling a 2-decade-old feud among Florida, Alabama and Georgia over the rights to water from two river basins.

Resolving the dispute is a priority because of fears that parts of the South are predicted to run out of water in less than 90 days due to severe drought, The Miami Herald reported Friday.

"These are shared problems and they are going to require shared solutions," said Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue following meetings Thursday with the governors of Florida and Alabama. "If there are other measures needed we will be at the table together to discuss other measures going forward."

The three states have asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review decades-old control plans that regulate the release of water from north Georgia lakes downstream to Alabama and Florida.

For now, the corps will decrease the flow of water into two river basins pending a study of the impact on several rare species of mussels and sturgeon that live downstream.