On Saturday, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. This bill includes language (Section 1315) which authorizes a full repair of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam and requires the pool level to be maintained at 114.5 feet. Upon the announcement, Congressmen Rick W. Allen (GA-12) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statements:
"This is a historic day for the CSRA, residents of the 12th District, and all of East Georgia. For the better part of a decade, I have worked closely with local leaders, stakeholders, and members of our community to ensure the Lock and Dam is maintained and the pool level remains at 114.5 feet. That is now the law of the land!
"We faced many obstacles, tenuous legal battles, and what seemed to be insurmountable roadblocks. But one thing was clear from the beginning—any option that resulted in a significant drop in the water level was a non-starter for local businesses, homeowners, and families. This was no small feat, but I could not be prouder that we persevered.
"I’d like to thank all those who have worked tirelessly on this issue, my colleagues like Rep. Joe Wilson who helped push for these changes for so long, Rep. Mike Collins for introducing the amendment in Committee for this year’s bill, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Subcommittee Chair David Rouzer for insisting this language stay in the final bill. It was my honor to take on this fight for the folks who call Georgia-12 and the CSRA home," said Congressman Allen.
"My colleagues and I have maintained for years that the Army Corps of Engineers misinterpreted the clear intent of the language in the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, requiring that the pool be maintained at 114.5 feet. Their selected plan to tear down the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam and replace it with a fixed rock weir would have been detrimental to the North Augusta community, irreversibly lowering the water levels in a manner that would negatively impact economic development, recreation, and industry up and down the river.
"I am grateful to have worked with U.S. Congressmen Rick Allen and Mike Collins, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, Governor Henry McMaster, Attorney General Alan Wilson, S.C. Senator Tom Young, S.C. Representative Bill Hixon, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams, and many other state and local officials and industry stakeholders on this critical issue. I look forward to the continuing success and development of our beautiful riverfront communities for years to come," said Congressman Wilson.
TIMELINE:
- February 14, 2019: Could Congress and the Savannah Riverkeeper Have New Ideas for the Lock and Dam?
- February 28, 2019: Rep. Joe Wilson Pledges to Work with Rep. Rick Allen on the Lock and Dam
- March 20, 2019: Congressman Allen and Wilson Hold Joint Press Conference on Lock and Dam
- April 1, 2019: Engineer Talks Issues in Lock, Dam Dispute
- October 29, 2019: Allen, Wilson Statement on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division's New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Decision
- October 29, 2019: Corps of Engineers Decides on Rock Weir Option for Lock and Dam
- February 27, 2020: Congressman Allen Testifies on New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam
- July 18, 2020: Rick Allen and Georgia Delegation Aim to Save the Lock and Dam
- November 24, 2020: Allen Statement on New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Court Decision
- January 11, 2024: Allen Testifies on New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam
- June 27, 2024: Lock and Dam Language Included in Committee Passage of Water Resources Development Act
- June 27, 2024: Bill Could Change Course of Corps' Plans for Augusta Lock and Dam
- July 24, 2024: House Passes Language to Address New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam
- July 25, 2024: Will it be Saved? Bill to Keep Augusta's New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Passes House
- July 25, 2024: Bill Protecting Lock and Dam Passes House
- July 25, 2024: Representatives Approve Language to Keep Current Augusta Lock and Dam
- August 4, 2024: Maintaining Augusta's Water Levels: A Victory for East Georgia and the CSRA (Op-ed)
- December 10, 2024: Lock and Dam Language One Step Closer to President Biden's Desk
- December 10, 2024: If this Bill Becomes Law, Augusta's New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam can be Saved
- December 11, 2024: Congress Moves Forward on Plan to Keep Augusta Lock, Dam
- December 11, 2024: New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Resolution on the Horizon
