Tag Archives: Suwannee Riverkeeper

Clean Batterbee Branch, Santa Fe River, Withlacoochee downstream, Filthy Withlacoochee upstream 2026-05-27

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The Withlacoochee River tested even worse this week at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results. Yet it again tested good at US 84, both for Wednesday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

Meanwhile upstream from the Withlacoochee River and Cat Creek in Berrien County, Georgia, Tish Hall got pretty good results for Tuesday for Batterbee Branch at Shiloh Road, Ray City.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted this weekend.

Or join us tomorrow, for Alapahoochee River Cleanup 2026-05-30.

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

[Clean Batterbee Branch 2026-05-26, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-27, Withlacoochee clean downstream, Filthy upstream 2026-05-27]
Clean Batterbee Branch 2026-05-26, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-27, Withlacoochee clean downstream, Filthy upstream 2026-05-27

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 →

Maps of datacenters 2026-05-29

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Erin Brokovich has a famous name, and she has started a map of U.S. datacenters.

While hers has more locations, a map by Fracktracker allows drilldown to see what is there.

Numerous other such maps exist, most with less coverage.

For much more about datacenters, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenters

[Maps of datacenters by Erin Brokovich and Fracktracker, 2026-05-29]
Maps of datacenters by Erin Brokovich and Fracktracker, 2026-05-29

Erin Brokovich’s map has the locations of Project Arrowhead in Irwin County near the Alapaha River and of the datacenter rezoning in Lowndes County, near the Withlacoochee River, but you can’t tell that’s what they are by her map.

https://brockovichdatacenter.com

Her map also has the rumored I-75 Exit 13 location in Lowndes County, and the old bitcoin mining operation in Cook County.

Plus something in ZIP 32628, which is Cross City, Dixie County, Florida. I can’t find anything on that location. Continue reading →

Hydrologic Conditions Report –SRWMD 2026-04-30

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In case you thought recent rains had solved the drought, think again.

This is the April 30, 3026 Hydrologic Conditions Report that was presented at the May Governing Board meeting of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).

[Hydrologic Conditions Report --SRWMD 2026-04-30, Still in drought, Need much more rain]
Hydrologic Conditions Report –SRWMD 2026-04-30, Still in drought, Need much more rain

https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/DocumentCenter/View/19656/04-April-26-Hydro-Reportk

SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MEMORANDUM

TO: Governing Board

FROM: Robbie McKinney, Hydrologic Program Manager, Office of Water Resources

THRU: Hugh Thomas, Executive Director

DATE: April 30, 2026

RE: April 2026 Hydrologic Conditions Report

RAINFALL

  • Districtwide average rainfall for the month was 0.88”, which was about 74 percent lower than the 1932-2025 average of 3.38” (Table 1, Figure 1). The 12-month period ending April 30 reflected a Districtwide rainfall deficit of 20.22”, which was an increase to the 19.98” deficit seen at the end of March. District counties ranged from just over 0.5” to 1.4” of rainfall on average, with parts of Taylor, Suwannee, Columbia, Hamilton, Union, Gilchrist, and Dixie counties receiving more than 2.5 inches of rainfall (Figure 2).
  • Overall, a 12-month rainfall deficit was present in all river basins, with the Aucilla and Coastal basins increasing in deficit by the end of April (Figure 3). A small area in the southern Waccasassa Basin showed a deficit of less than 8 inches. Portions with deficits greater than 29” were also observed in the Aucilla, Santa Fe, and Suwannee basins. Each river basin increased its 3-month rainfall deficit by the end of April (Figure 4). No surpluses were seen over the past 3 months, and each river basin had areas measuring anywhere from less than 6” to more than 9” of deficit. Sections with greater than 9” of rainfall deficit can be seen in all 5 of the basins.

SURFACE WATER

Continue reading →

AI is sucking up all the disks and memory 2026-05-11

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Here’s a problem with so-called AI, spelled out by Aaron Kostyu, Information Technology Services Director, at the May 11, 2026, Lowndes County Commission Work Session.

Commissioner Michael Smith wondered why there was only one quote for the three servers IT requested.

ITS Director Kostyu answered:

[AI is sucking up all the disks and memory, ITS Director @ Lowndes County Commission 2026-05-11]
AI is sucking up all the disks and memory, ITS Director @ Lowndes County Commission 2026-05-11

It’s because we can’t find hardware anywhere. They have increased over the last two months by 800 to 1000 percent.

None of the drives are available; none of the memory is available, because the AI industry is sucking it all up. They have done something unprecedented, Continue reading →

Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption: for-pay parks and boat ramps? @ Gilchrist County Workshop 2026-04-20

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A Florida bill could force Florida county parks and boat ramps to be pay for use, and could eliminate 4-H, agricultural extension services, libraries, and even county veteran services.

If passed, HJR 203 would eliminate all property taxes on homestead property except school taxes.

It failed in the Florida Senate, but it will be heard again in a July 2026, legislative special session.

If it passes the legislature, the people will get to vote on this constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

[Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption: for-pay parks and boat ramps? @ Gilchrist County Workshop, Monday, April 20, 2026]
Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption: for-pay parks and boat ramps? @ Gilchrist County Workshop, Monday, April 20, 2026

Gilchrist County held a workshop about this on April 20, 2026. Other counties would do well to do the same.

The origin of the word republic is the latin phrase Res publica, which means public thing. It is often translated as commonwealth. I understand people don’t like paying taxes, especially property taxes. But something is needed to fund public services. Florida already does not have income tax.

That leaves a gas tax, increasing millage on everybody else, or, as slide 28 suggests, “100% Fee based parks.” Which wouldn’t help libraries or 4-H.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer people, especially young people, being able to go to the library or to the river without paying, such as to Hart Springs, Otter Springs, or the FL 47 Ramp, aka Santa Fe River Gilchrist County Park Ramp. Otherwise, they will find other, perhaps more troublesome, ways to spend their time.

Oh, and your taxes would still be paying to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin; see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf Continue reading →

Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18 clean downstream and Santa Fe River clean 2026-05-20

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Update 2026-05-29: Clean Batterbee Branch, Santa Fe River, Withlacoochee downstream, Filthy Withlacoochee upstream 2026-05-27.

The Withlacoochee River once again tested bad at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results, but good at US 84, both for Monday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia, although we now have an amount for last week’s Tifton spill; see below.

I’d still avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted this weekend.

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

[Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18, clean downstream and clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-20]
Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18, clean downstream and clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-20

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 →

Videos: Datacenter Special Exception approved at Special Called Meeting of Irwin County BOCC 2026-05-20

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The Irwin County Commissioners approved almost everything unanimously, including the Special Exception for a datacenter.

[Videos: Datacenter Special Exception Approved at Special Called Meeting of Irwin County BOCC 2026-05-20]
Videos: Datacenter Special Exception Approved at Special Called Meeting of Irwin County BOCC 2026-05-20

The only exception was 6. ACCEPT PHASE II OF THE COURTHOUSE ROOF BID PROJECT, which they tabled.

On the datacenter special exception, several Commissioners did express specific concerns. But they seemed to be relying largely on hearsay, such as by the Commissioners who had visited some datacenters, which “wasn’t really rushed,” yet “We were rushing to see everything we could see. And we didn’t get all the questions like that answered.” Continue reading →

SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation 2026-05-15

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If it was really cancelled, you’d think SRWMD, SJRWMD, and JEA would say so, and announce they have cancelled any outstanding contracts, such as the one SJRWMD let on November 12, 2025, for $2.17 million for a consultant to study WFNF for three years.

Instead, we’ve heard nothing from JEA or SJRWMD, and the Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) has no comment.

For much more about WFNF, including which Suwannee District counties oppose it (all 12 of them) and which have passed their own letters or resolutions of opposition (7 of them), as well as who you can contact, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation; Nothing from JEA or SJRWMD or FDEP 2026-05-19]
SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation; Nothing from JEA or SJRWMD or FDEP 2026-05-19

Stew Lilker, Columbia County Observer, May 15, 2026, Water First North Florida: The $1.1 Billion Project That No One Likes, Except Insiders, Is on the Ropes
Where is it now and how did it get there?

Continue reading →

Datacenters and wastewater pipeline speakers at WWALS River Revue 2026-09-12

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Hahira, Georgia, May 18, 2026 — Two experts from Georgia and Florida on current water topics will speak at WWALS River Revue, the sit-down fundraising dinner for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., plus the music of a headliner and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and a silent auction.

https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026

[Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF]
Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF

Continue reading →

Packet: WFNF opposition @ Union County BOCC 2026-05-18

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Update 2026-05-19: They passed it: https://www.facebook.com/SpringtownAuto/posts/pfbid02d4vZXw719avgP7DSRd4L7pzP3dKCwYLz158gjBKNCHh8SLQKPMiv1ByQc25wHmg9l

Assuming the Commissioners pass this at their 6 PM Monday meeting, Union County will become the seventh county (plus the Town of Branford) to pass a letter or resolution against Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.

For which counties, the Task Force and NCFRPC resolutions that represent all 12 counties in the Suwannee District, and who you can contact, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Packet: WFNF opposition to SRWMD @ Union County BOCC, 2026-05-18]
Packet: WFNF opposition to SRWMD @ Union County BOCC, 2026-05-18

See Agenda, Regular Meeting, May 18, 2026, 6:00 P.M.

https://union-clerk.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/14144906/5.18.26-Regular-Meeting-Packet-Web.pdf

Union County Board of County Commissioners
15 Northeast 1st Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054 * Phone: 386-496-4241 * Fax: 386-496-4240

Ms. Virginia Johns, Chair

Suwannee River Water Management District

9225 CR 49 Live Oak, Florida 32060

Re: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project

Dear Ms. Johns:

Union County joins with its fellow members of the Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochie River Task Force, as well as the numerous counties, municipalities, and citizen groups who who have all expressed concerns about, and opposition to, the proposed Water First North Florida Project. In the apparent rush to implement this project, local governments have gone uninformed and local voices in opposition have been largely ignored until just recently. We are grateful for legislative intervention that has, for the time being, stayed the execution of this project, but we remain alert to the potential for it to re-commence in the future and therefore wish to express our opposition.

It has long been understood by the scientific community that Continue reading →