Water levels on the Apalachicola River have long been a controversial issue that has ended with many arguments, but no compromises.

Monday, one congressman made an effort to move beyond the negation table.

More than 50 people packed the Army Corp of Engineers head quarters in Chattahoochee for the areas first Apalachicola River and Bay Congressional Forum.

Many in the audience were very vocal about the reduced water flow they say has hurt the communities and environment downstream.

"The most endangered species in Florida are of the two legged variety, the commercial fisherman working on the bay and the harvester on the flood plain," Dan Tonmeire said.

"Many folks upstream have turned a deaf ear to our plight, so I believe that in order to get our neighbor to listen to us, we need to join in the call for a comprehensive study on the AHF system," Rep. Allen Boyd said.

And, the forum was the first step of Boyd’s plan.

The congressman organized the event to help generate support from the group making the decision.

Many accuse the Army Corp of Engineers of catering to Georgia’s water needs.

"I would like to contend here today that this issue at hand is Atlanta's greed and gluttony, verses Florida's necessity for survival," Jackson County Commissioner Jeremy Branch said.

But, the Army Corp of Engineers decision to reduce the flow of the river isn't to side with Georgia.

Army Corp of Engineers James Hathorn says they maintain all the needs of the system and they have a simple way of explaining the process.

"We take an everyday product Tupperware that everyone can relate to and what we've done is we represent the four federal basins, and then they are able to see how one lake fills much faster than another," Hathorn explained.

Despite the model, many still aren't satisfied with the way the water is being allocated.

However, Army Corps Official Joseph Schroedel says their hands are tied. "If there is any tag line you can take from this is that there is just not enough water in the system to meet all the needs that we have today."

Officials say the next move is to get funding for a study to determine how much water is required to support the commercial and recreational fishing needs in the area.