 So the agency is turning to something called Federal Reserved Water Rights to try to protect the wetlands. Here's Georgia State University law professor Ryan Robery. With climate change, with the weather changing, I do think this might be another tool that the Fish and Wildlife Service would like to sharpen in their toolboxes. Robery says if Georgia issues permits and doesn't account for Federal Reserved Water Rights, the U.S. government can sue the state. For NPR News, I'm Marissa Mechie.