TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin has been named the "Most Endangered River" in the United States by protection and restoration group, American Rivers.
This comes as a lawsuit against the state of Georgia over water rights in the Apalachicola River continues to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
American Rivers says they selected the river basin for the title because of a system of outdated water management, claiming the basin is "at a breaking point".
"This Most Endangered River listing is a call to action for all of us to come together to safeguard reliable clean water supplies for today's communities and future generations," said Ben Emanuel of American Rivers.
The group is also calling on Governors in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama to create a water-sharing agreement to protect the rivers in addition to asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve water management throughout the area.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a suit filed by the State of Florida over Georgia's water consumption in 2014. In the suit, Florida says that Georgia is using more of its share of water and that is negatively affecting the health of the Apalachicola Bay and its oyster fishery.
American Rivers named 9 other rivers in the annual list, including rivers in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, among others.
