Precision Planning Vice President Jimmy Parker, the project’s engineer, said the announcement of Deal’s plan to secure water for the state could benefit the HLC Reservoir project and recommended the board pursue funding.

“The local leadership in Walton and Oconee (counties) are preparing a formal request to the state, to solicit grant funding in the amount of $32 million over three years to facilitate the completion of the reservoir,” Parker said in an e-mail. “Both Walton and Oconee remain firm in their position that the award or acceptance of any such grant funding must be closely evaluated to ensure that the two counties retain full control and ownership of the Hard Labor Creek Project.”

“I think we are in a good position to ask for money,” said Jim Luke, Oconee County commissioner and vice chairman of the board.

If secured, the funds ensure Walton and Oconee would provide an answer to the state’s water woes, taking pressure off the state which is currently embroiled in a water war with Alabama and Florida.

In a year when the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir went from breaking ground to becoming a “shovel ready” project, any glimmer of hope is welcome. 

That small glimmer came recently when, in his first major speech to state lawmakers, Gov.-elect Nathan Deal called for legislative action to help build reservoirs in the state when the new session begins Jan. 10. 

Despite a potential $2 billion budget shortfall, Deal said he will ask for the budget to include borrowing for new reservoirs and the state should not wait for a water sharing agreement with Florida and Alabama related to the tri-state water wars. 

This is good news for the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir, which has acquired more than 50 percent of the land needed for the project, has done most of its engineering studies with dam and water intake facility designs in hand and, more importantly, coveted permitting from the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

“I am excited that Gov.-elect Deal sees the critical need in Georgia for reservoirs,” said Walton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Little. “This should be good for the Hard Labor Creek project because there is no other reservoir as far along with the permitting, land purchases or just all aspects.

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir officials began meeting with members of their local delegation last week to start hammering out a plan to try and secure funding Gov. Nathan Deal has promised for reservoirs.

The governor has set aside $46 million in bonds in his proposed budget to push for new regional reservoirs.

“This was the first time I sat down and got the overarching scope of this project,” said Walton County’s freshman state Rep. Bruce Williamson, R-Monroe, after last Friday’s meeting. “But as I continue to grasp the implications of this project, I will work toward positioning Walton County’s interests through the legislative process and appeal to the governor to give this project some of the monies promised for reservoirs.