Tag Archives: conservation

Lease and operating requirements added to Sheriff’s ICE detention agenda item @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16

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Late yesterday, Bradford County updated the agenda for this evening to add a lease agreement for the Douglas Building and a list of “Mandatory Operational Requirements and Compliance Standards”.

That hardly leaves time for anyone to review properly before this evening.

And there is no mention of either of the other two offers for use of the site discussed last time.

Bradford County should choose one of its other options for the site. And the county should do nothing with the site until FDEP returns results of its contamination examination.

The meeting is 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Bradford County Courthouse, 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, Florida 32091.

[Lease and operating requirements added about Sheriff's ICE detention to agenda packet @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16]
Lease and operating requirements added about Sheriff’s ICE detention to agenda packet @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16

This item is still one of the “Reports” in the agenda, not marked ACTION. But the Commissioners could choose to vote on it anyway.

There is no comment by the county attorney in the agenda packet.

There’s also nothing on the agenda about any results of the FDEP contamination study they approved last time, March 7, 2026. That would have to take much longer than nine days, anyway.

As we pointed out last time, Starke has already had sewage spills, and increasing its population by 50% (3,000 inmates on top of 6,000 Starke residents) would risk more spills, on a site that sits between two creeks that go through Lakes Rowell and Sampson into the Sampson River to the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers.

There is some verbiage about that in the lease, and in the “Mandatory Operational Requirements and Compliance Standards: Douglas Building Facility Transition”: Continue reading →

Valdosta Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15, 2026 2026-04-14

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Good idea.

[Valdosta Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15, 2026, Published 2026-04-14]
Valdosta Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15, 2026, Published 2026-04-14

Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15 (published 2026-04-14)

The City of Valdosta is reminding residents and businesses that mandatory outdoor water use restrictions will take effect beginning April 15, 2026. These measures are being implemented in response to ongoing drought conditions, reduced rainfall, and increased water demand that have significantly impacted local water source levels.

In addition to local enforcement, the City will enforce provisions outlined in the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, which has been in effect statewide since June 2, 2010. Violations may result in fines or water service disconnection.

Watering Guidelines:

Continue reading →

ICE detention center back with no alternatives @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16

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Update 2026-04-16: Lease and operating requirements added to Sheriff’s ICE detention agenda item @ Bradford County BOCC 2026-04-16.

Despite two other options for use of the Douglas Building being discussed last time, only the ICE detention center is on the agenda for the Bradford County Commission tomorrow, 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 16, 2026. That’s at the Bradford County Courthouse, 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, Florida 32091.

The board packet does not include the text of the proposed lease, nor any comment on it by the county attorney.

There’s also nothing on the agenda about any results of the FDEP contamination study they approved last time, March 7, 2026. That would have to take much longer than nine days, anyway.

According to Sheriff Gordon Smith‘s agenda item detail, such a detention center “would be capable of housing up to 3,000 detainees.” Remember the population of Starke is about 6,000. So that’s a 50% increase, plus ICE and other personnel.

As we pointed out last time, Starke has already had sewage spills, and increasing its population like that would risk more spills, on a site that sits between two creeks that go through Lakes Rowell and Sampson into the Sampson River to the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers.

Bradford County should choose one of its other options for the site.

And the county should do nothing with the site until FDEP returns results of its contamination examination. Continue reading →

The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13

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This is the letter I sent SRWMD and gave them on paper this morning.

You can see it in SRWMD’s own video on YouTube. Public Comments start at 20:28.

https://www.youtube.com/live/OwKstHuSHNg?si=nF1yXXiXayn91J7p&t=1228

My bit starts at 38:20.

https://www.youtube.com/live/OwKstHuSHNg?si=yJ_hyAkBR3r_JPR6&t=2300

[The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF --WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13]
The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13

Three other people spoke against WFNF in Public Comments, and there was more comment by the board members at the end, as well as some allusions during the Public Hearing about the Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order. You can see and hear those for yourself in the SRWMD video. I may blog some more of that later.

For much more about WFNF, including the letters and resolutions against it by towns, counties, and regional entities, as well as who you can contact and a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Below is the text of the WWALS letter to SRWMD for their 9 AM meeting this morning.

I also sent a similar letter to SJRWMD for their 10AM meeting this morning.

Images of both letters are below.

Maybe some day they will stagger their board meetings so it is possible to attend both, as Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson asked them 9 years ago. Continue reading →

Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-05-31

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Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room. If we’re lucky, there will be bats.

This is the second full moon of May, thus a Blue Moon.

When: Gather 7:45 PM, launch 8:15 PM, moonrise 9:14 PM, sunset 8:31 PM, end 9:45 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2026

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-30, Second full moon in a month is a Blue Moon]
Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-30, Second full moon in a month is a Blue Moon

Continue reading →

Stagger SRWMD and SJRWMD Board meetings –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson 2027-01-17

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Update 2026-04-14: The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.

Nine years after Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson asked them to stagger their meetings, SRWMD and SJRWMD are still meeting the same day, three hours drive apart.

So tomorrow if you want to talk about Water First North Florida (WFNF), you much choose: SRWMD in Live Oak or SJRWMD in Palatka.

[Stagger SRWMD and SJRWMD Board meetings, 2017-01-17 --Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson @ joint meeting about NFRWSP]
Stagger SRWMD and SJRWMD Board meetings, 2017-01-17 –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson @ joint meeting about NFRWSP

For much more about WFNF, including who else to contact, some questions to ask, and a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here’s the WWALS video of Merrillee from January 17, 2017:

https://youtu.be/lCnR0Rw0BF8?si=V7Zpwc53S3__6CS6 Continue reading →

Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp, 2026-04-18

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Tupelo trees are blooming in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge so let’s paddle the tupelo lined Suwannee River from the Sill to Griffis Fish Camp.

The river is very low and slow so we’ll take our time on this beautiful wilderness trail. There could be some dragging where the water is too low but there should be enough water to float our boats.

Honey bees are very attracted to the blooms, anybody with bee allergies need to be aware.

When: Gather 9:30 AM, launch 10:30 AM, end 1 PM, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Put In: Suwannee River Sill Ramp, From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to GA 177; turn left and travel towards Stephen C. Foster State Park. Go 11.2 miles and turn left on Suwannee River Sill.

GPS: 30.803978,, -82.418692

[Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp 2026-04-18, to Griffis Fish Camp, Low water but doable]
Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp 2026-04-18, to Griffis Fish Camp, Low water but doable

Continue reading →

Packet: Governing Board –SJRWMD 2026-04-14

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Update 2026-04-14: The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.

Update 2026-04-13: Stagger SRWMD and SJRWMD Board meetings –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson 2027-01-17.

You can talk about WFNF in Public Comment at the SJRWMD Board meeting tomorrow.

The agenda packet for Tuesday’s 10 AM SJRWMD Governing Board meeting is considerably lighter than the agenda the same day for SRWMD. There is nothing about Water First North Florida (WFNF) and no change to the previous Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).

You can’t go to both, unless you have a time machine, because SRWMD meets at 9 AM and SJRWMD at 10 AM and it’s a three-hour drive from Live Oak to Palatka.

But maybe you have friends or family who can go to the SJRWMD meeting and ask questions.

For some such questions and much more about WFNF, including a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Packet: Governing Board --SJRWMD 2026-04-14, Palatka, FL, with Public Comment]
Packet: Governing Board –SJRWMD 2026-04-14, Palatka, FL, with Public Comment

Or you could write the the SJRWMD Board or Executive Director; see their web page. Continue reading →

Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2026-04-10

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Update 2026-04-18: Mixed Withlacoochee River 2026-04-13, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-04-14.

More waterbodies heard from since the Friday weekly water quality report:

Sugar Creek tested clean for the first time anybody can remember, and the Alapaha River also clean.

Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend.

This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.

[Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling]
Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Packet: with Public Hearing on Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order @ SRWMD 2026-04-14

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Update 2026-04-14: The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.

Update 2026-04-13: 10 AM that same day, three hours drive away in Palatka: Packet: Governing Board –SJRWMD 2026-04-14.

SRWMD is avoiding going to a Phase III Water Shortage Order by modifying their Phase II Order of last month.

[Packet: with Public Hearing on Modified Phase II Water Shortage Ordinance @ SRWMD 2026-04-14]
Packet: with Public Hearing on Modified Phase II Water Shortage Ordinance @ SRWMD 2026-04-14

The new Order does add some mandatory requirements, on agricultural uses, golf course irrigation, and utilities.

There is nothing on the agenda directly about Water First North Florida (WFNF), the SRWMD and SJRWMD plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin to rehydrate wetlands and raise levels and flows in rivers and springs, and also so Jacksonville’s water utility JEA can meet the letter of 2021 SB 64 that says it can’t keep outflowing treated wastewater into the St. Johns River starting in 2032. But this Modified Phase II Order is related.

For much more about WFNF, including the letters and resolutions against it by towns, counties, and regional entities, as well as who you can contact and a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Be on time by 9 AM, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at SRWMD HQ, 9225 County Road 49 Live Oak, FL, United States, Florida 32060, to comment at this meeting of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).

While the agenda says there will be a Public Hearing about this Order, nothing in the agenda says that will call on members of the public to speak on that agenda item.

WATER RESOURCES
Amy Brown, Deputy Executive Director

  1. Water Resources Division Updates
  2. Public Hearing for Approval of Order Number 26-003, Modified Phase II Water Shortage

So best to follow the letter of the SRWMD policy in the agenda (see below) and fill in a comment card saying you want to speak on item number 10.

If you can’t go, you can watch the meeting live or later on the District’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@SRWMD

Somebody may also want to examine the agenda of the Audit Committee Meeting, which will happen “Following Board Meeting”. Maybe you can glean some clues as to what the District has spent on WFNF thus far.

https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1744

Also, given the Exceptional Drought that covers almost all of the Suwannee River Basin, Continue reading →