"My fellow Augustans, members of the Augusta Commission and I are pleased with the recent decision by Federal Court Judge Gergel, permanently enjoining the implementation of a plan that would have led to the demolition of the New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam (NSBLD)," said Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.

In February of 2019, we all witnessed the damage caused when there was a drawdown to simulate water levels if the proposed plan moved forward. The simulation caused the seawall to bend and demonstrated what would happen if one of Augusta’s greatest resources was demolished.

While this injunction is a good first step, there is more work that can be done. New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam is a resource that provides countless recreational, tourism, and economic development opportunities for our region. As we work to restore Augusta and the larger region post-COVID, we should be able to use every economic engine at our disposal. That is why we support legislation that provides a long-term solution for what is in the best interest of our residents and region, which includes repairing or rebuilding the New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam.

I’d like to thank David Montgomery Moore, and Earth & Water Law for their work shepherding this through in partnership with the consortium.