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“Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and population growth and economic prosperity in the state are tied to our water resources.”

— From the Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan

Visualize Atlanta without growth. Worse yet, picture our region even shrinking as taxpaying residents depart for good, headed for cities that have abundant water available, and maybe even at a cheaper price.

The Corps of Engineers is moving ahead with plans to cut off most of metro Atlanta's water supply from Lake Lanier in 2012 under a federal judge's order - even though Georgia is appealing the draconian ruling of last July.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to tighten the spigot at the Atlanta region’s main source of drinking water based on a federal judge’s stinging ruling in the tri-state water dispute.

After suffering a crushing court decision over Lake Lanier water rights, Gov. Sonny Perdue tapped Paul Clement, one of the nation's top litigators, to head the state's appeal.

But Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general, will not be handling the appeal after all  because of a possible conflict of interest. The state has now turned to yet another top lawyer to lead the case -- Seth Waxman, who was solicitor general during the Clinton administration.

Water is a finite resource. It is critical to our environment, our quality of life and our economic success. The limited availability of water is why Georgia has been in negotiations with Alabama and Florida for nearly 20 years. And it was the impetus for the passage of a statewide water management plan last year.

A series of major legal setbacks has finally forced Georgia officials to face reality: Metro Atlanta could actually, really, for sure and no kidding, lose its legal right to draw so much water from Lake Lanier.

As a result of the meeting between the Tri-State Delegation, the 52 members of the Alabama, Florida and Georgia House and Senate Delegations sent a letter to the three governors Tuesday urging them to expeditiously meet and develop a plan to resolve the water dispute.

Gov. Sonny Perdue called on Congress on Thursday to help settle Georgia’s water rights dispute with Alabama and Florida, a day after congressmen from all three states said Perdue and the other two governors also need to take action.

With the clock ticking toward a court-imposed deadline in the tri-state water wars, members of Congress are growing increasingly frustrated -- and concerned -- that the governors of Georgia, Alabama and Florida aren't working quickly enough toward a settlement in the case.

Scarred by the drought, and fearful of a permanent reduction in water levels, homeowners, boaters and marina operators on lakes Lanier and Allatoona are pushing Washington to raise the reservoirs.