Declaring “collective action is needed,” State Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) and State Sen. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville) today announced their intention to reestablish the Lake Lanier Caucus to focus on the immediate concerns caused by taste and odor issues in the lake and the Chattahoochee River.
“Collective action is needed to examine the causes and effects of the recent taste and odor issues that impact millions of users of water from Lake Lanier,” said Dubnik. “As the previous Lake Lanier Legislative Caucus chairman, I’ve consulted with my colleagues, and we have decided to formally reconstitute this body and convene a dialogue around addressing the unfortunate situation.”
“We’ve heard loud and clear that the federal, state and local leaders need to look at causes and answers to fix the odor and taste issues affecting our region and beyond,” Echols added. “Bringing the Lake Lanier legislators together to advocate for solutions and convening federal and local partners is a needed first step.”
The legislators report that the recent issues are primarily caused by two compounds—geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB)—which are naturally occurring organic compounds produced by microorganisms, such as algae and bacteria, and are responsible for imparting a musty, earthy taste and odor to water. Officials with the City of Gainesville have said the same thing since complaints about the water began last fall.
The Lake Lanier Legislative Caucus is a formal group of Georgia state lawmakers representing areas around Lake Lanier. Its primary purpose of the caucus is addressing issues impacting the lake, such as water quality, safety, levels and economic impacts, working alongside county and municipal partners “to influence legislation and protect the resource.”
