WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington denied Georgia’s appeal to reconsider their ruling that restricts the state’s authority to tap a federal reservoir for more drinking water.

The court denied the state’s appeal on Thursday to tap into more of Lake Lanier’s water.

A three-judge panel of the court in February threw out an agreement that Georgia reached in 2003 with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The agreement would give the state about a quarter of Lake Lanier's capacity over the coming decades.

The court sided with Alabama and Florida, who argued that using more of the lake for drinking water would constitute a major operational change that requires congressional approval.

The court denied Georgia's request for a rehearing without comment.