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Residents warn proposed Indian Creek/Carroll County reservoir could divert 6–18 million gallons a day from Little Tallapoosa
Summary
At a town-hall convened by Representative Fincher, residents, local officials and the Alabama Rivers Alliance discussed a proposed Indian Creek/Carroll County reservoir and a planned water transfer they say could remove 6–18 million gallons per day from the Little Tallapoosa River; organizers outlined monitoring, legal and legislative steps the community can pursue.
Residents, state legislators and river advocates met in Randolph County on concerns about a planned expansion of a reservoir and an associated water transfer that attendees said would pump water from the Little Tallapoosa River across the state line into a Carroll County (Ga.) storage site.
At the meeting, local resident Craig described the intake near Reevesville Road and a pipeline route to Snow Hill and said project documents and meeting notes he’d seen report a minimum withdrawal of “6,000,000 gallons of water a day at minimum” that “could be up to 18,000,000 a day.” He warned that reducing flow will concentrate pollution, harm fish and wildlife and impair recreational uses such as kayaking.
Charles Miller, policy director with the Alabama Rivers Alliance, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/NRCS) is listed in project correspondence as a federal funder and that the project’s draft environmental impact statement (EIS) describes monitoring requirements that include pre‑construction measurements and monitoring through construction and for a period of years afterward. “That comes with some strings attached,” Miller said, noting federal funding and the EIS create opportunities for public comments and conditions tied to federal programs.
But attendees and the Alliance stressed a regulatory gap in Alabama: unlike neighboring Georgia, the state does not have a comprehensive permitting system for withdrawals and relies largely on voluntary certificates of use for larger water utilities. Cindy Lowry of the Alabama Rivers Alliance told the audience, “There is no state‑level authority for the kinds of questions that you want answered for this issue,” and urged organizers to press for reinstatement of Alabama’s permanent joint legislative committee on water policy and for coordinated monitoring.
Local officials raised specific concerns. Donna McCabe, mayor of Wadley, said the Tallapoosa runs through her town and noted the presence of an endangered salamander; she asked how communities would secure potable water and maintain recreational access if downstream flows are reduced. Representative Fincher and Senator Price, both in attendance, said they represent Randolph County and urged residents to stay engaged with legislators. Fincher said he would contact the speaker of the House about reappointing committee members if necessary.
Speakers discussed possible next steps: asking the Carroll County Water Authority for details on how much water would be taken and where treated water would be returned; calling public meetings that include water authorities and federal agencies; and expanding local monitoring. Alabama Water Watch and other volunteers said they already conduct monthly sampling at points around the lake and invited residents to join a statewide citizen‑science program that forwards lab results to Auburn University for analysis.
No formal vote or legal action was taken at the meeting. Organizers encouraged residents to review project materials (the meeting referenced a project website and a pamphlet) and to sign up for email updates from the Alabama Rivers Alliance. Attendees also discussed seeking written, enforceable commitments about minimum downstream flows and monitoring oversight to reduce the risk to wells, wildlife and river recreation.
