Governor hopefuls to debate water law

A panel of gubernatorial candidates will be featured in a Thursday forum at Savannah Rapids Pavilion to discuss environmental issues.

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Sponsored by the Georgia Water Coalition and organized as part of the Paddle Georgia event, the forum will take place from 7-8:30 p.m.

The Augusta Chronicle Outdoors Editor Rob Pavey will be moderator for the forum featuring at least six candidates for governor. As of last week, candidates Nathan Deal, Thurbert Baker, DuBose Porter, Carl Camon, David Poythress and Jeff Chapman had confirmed their intention to participate in the forum. Candidates who have declined to attend include Karen Handel, Roy Barnes and John Oxendine.

"Environmental issues will be the focus, particularly water issues, but we'll also touch on energy and transportation," said April Ingle, the executive director of the Georgia River Network, which helped organize Paddle Georgia and the candidate forum.

Inter-basin transfers, the controversial process of siphoning water from one Georgia water source to another to alleviate drought conditions in more urban areas such as Atlanta, likely will be a discussion topic at the forum, Ingle said.

Paddle Georgia is a weeklong canoe and kayak event featuring about 350 participants paddling about 80 miles on the Savannah and Broad rivers.

"Mainly, people are going out to have a good time on the rivers with their friends and families, but at the same time, it's an educational journey," Ingle said.

The candidate forum comprises an educational segment of the event and is open to the public.

If You Go

What: Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Water and the Environment

Where: Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road, Martinez

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday

Cost: Free