Tag Archives: WWALS Watershed Coalition

More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25

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Vigilance, please!

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, we heard from Florida State Senator Corey Simon that “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

That’s good news, as far as it goes. And it wouldn’t have happened without all of you who have opposed it.

But it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings, and the SRWMD Governing Board said nothing about this that same morning. I was there and spoke against WFNF along with about half a dozen other people.

Nor have any of SRWMD, SJRWMD, or JEA said anything since that I’ve seen. And what happened yesterday did nothing to repeal huge financial support for WFNF by JEA and SJRWMD.

So please don’t stop now. Keep on speaking to cities, counties, the state, members of Congress, and the unelected boards that are pushing WFNF: SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, plus the Jacksonville City Council.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417]
More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417

We also heard yesterday from Florida State Representative Chuck Brannan that: Continue reading →

Project Arrowhead in Irwin County considered risk to Alapaha River and Floridan Aquifer –WWALS to SGRC about DRI 2026-05-11

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This is what I sent to the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) yesterday about the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) application for the Project Arrowhead datacenter in Irwin County, Georgia.

For more about datacenters, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenters

[Project Arrowhead in Irwin County considered risk to Alapaha River and Floridan Aquifer --WWALS to SGRC about DRI 2026-05-11]
Project Arrowhead in Irwin County considered risk to Alapaha River and Floridan Aquifer –WWALS to SGRC about DRI 2026-05-11

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WFNF Canceled? 2026-05-12

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Update 2026-05-13: More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25.

Florida State Senator Corey Simon posted this letter on his facebook page about 1 PM today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Madison County Florida Board of County Commissioners also posted it.

[WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?]
WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?

Well, I hope that formerly “done deal” is undone.

A catch: a single state Senator does not have the power to undo it.

Another catch: nothing was said about this at the SRWMD Governing Board meeting this morning.

And a third: “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

Does that mean some parts of it are canceled? Which parts? For example, is SJRWMD cancelling its three-year consultant contract involving wetland siting and pipeline routing?

So, cautious optimism.

And many thanks to Senator Corey Simon, who has long made it clear he opposes WFNF, for example at the SRWMD and SJRWMD dog and pony show at UF IFAS on March 19.

But I will be making some inquiries with SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, and Sen. Simon’s offfice.

SENATOR COREY SIMON
3rd District

May 12, 2026

Subject: Update on the Water First North Florida Project

Dear Neighbor,

I want to provide you with an important update regarding the Water First North Florida Project.

After careful review and continued conversations with local leaders, water experts, property owners, and concerned citizens across North Florida, the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form. While the need to address low water levels in our aquifer remains very real, it has become clear that this proposal is not the right path forward for our communities at this time.

Protecting North Florida’s water supply is one of the most important Continue reading →

Clean Alapaha River 2026-05-08

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WWALS tester Heather Brasell got good results for Friday on the Alapaha River at Sheboggy Boat Ramp at US 82, and at the outflow creek from the Town of Alapaha wastewater treatment plant.

That’s more good news to add to yesterday’s Withlacoochee River and Sugar Creek good results.

More rain came, and more is predicted, but so far it doesn’t seem to be washing any contamination into the waterways. If there is rain, maybe it will at least dampen some wildfires. Remember not to light anything outdoors.

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, if you can find any water.

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

[Clean Alapaha River, Town of Alapaha Outflow, Sheboggy Boat Ramp, Friday, May 8, 2026]
Clean Alapaha River, Town of Alapaha Outflow, Sheboggy Boat Ramp, Friday, May 8, 2026

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 →

Clean Withlacoochee River and Sugar Creek 2026-05-06

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Update 2026-05-10: Clean Alapaha River 2026-05-08.

Even after the rains last Saturday, Valdosta Utilities got a pretty good E. coli number for Monday at GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) on the Withlacoochee River, and a good result at US 84 that same day.

WWALS got an even better result downstream in Florida.

WWALS results for Sugar Creek for Sunday were also OK.

There was more rain yesterday, but less than last Saturday. 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, if you can find any water.

More rain is predicted Saturday through Monday.

If there is rain, maybe it will at least dampen some wildfires. Remember not to light anything outdoors.

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

[Clean Withlacoochee River and Sugar Creek 2026-05-06, after rains, more rain coming]
Clean Withlacoochee River and Sugar Creek 2026-05-06, after rains, more rain coming

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 →

Leaf Area Index and Forest Water Yield, Matt Cohen, WWALS Webinar 2026-05-28

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Dr. Matthew J. Cohen will present research about forest management to lower Leaf Area Index (LAI) and increase water yield.

WWALS Events Committee member Hailey Hall will give a brief introduction.

Dr. Cohen will speak for about 45 minutes.

Questions and answers will be at the end.

When: 12-1 PM, Thursday, May 28, 2026

Register to join with Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Vd2_7sR3RyWtl4fuKQ3w9g

[Leaf Area Index and Forest Water Yield, Dr. Matthew J. Cohen, WWALS Webinar 2026-05-28]
Leaf Area Index and Forest Water Yield, Dr. Matthew J. Cohen, WWALS Webinar 2026-05-28

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WWALS at Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park 2026-05-22

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Join us on the banks of the Suwannee River on Memorial Day Weekend for Florida Folk Festival.

The festival is a three-day celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique.

Come talk to us about water quality testing, water reservations, Water First North Florida (WFNF), sewage, trash, detention centers, datacenters, and other advocacy as well as outings and water trails.

And of course our own WWALS River Revue, coming up Saturday, September 12, 2026, including the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, at the 4-H Camp in Lake Park, Georgia.

https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026/

When: 10 AM, Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 24, 2026

Put In: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs, FL 32096.

GPS: 30.332884, -82.769513

[Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, Florida, May 22-24, 2026]
Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, Florida, May 22-24, 2026

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Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival 2025-05-24

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Last year at the Florida Folk Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.

The festival is a three-day celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique.

We’ll be back this year, Friday through Sunday, May 22-23, 2026, on the banks of the Suwannee River.

https://wwals.net/?p=70272

[Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, FL 2026-05-23-24]
Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, FL 2026-05-23-24

Thanks to Michael Bachrach, Gee Edwards, Mark Coppage, and Gretchen Quarterman for talking to people about Right to Clean Water, BMAPs, opposing a strip mine permit too near the Okefenokee Swamp, sewage, trash, and other advocacy as well as outings and water trails.

And of course our own WWALS River Revue, which last year was September 6, 2025, including the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

This year it’s 5-9 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the 4-H Club in Lake Park, Georgia.

https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026/

For more Continue reading →

Smoke at Lakeland Boat Ramp 2026-05-06

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Yesterday morning the smoke was thick at Lakeland Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, and smokey haze continued all the way past Waycross to Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Rain a few days ago helped, but it was only a few inches, and fires can smolder for many days.

More rain is predicted for four days starting today: maybe that will finally put that fire out, and the many others.

Meanwhile, don’t burn outdoors, eh?

[Smoke at Lakeland Boat Ramp, Pineland Road Fire 2026-05-06, Suwannoochee Creek, Suwannee River Basin]
Smoke at Lakeland Boat Ramp, Pineland Road Fire 2026-05-06, Suwannoochee Creek, Suwannee River Basin

The smoke was probably mostly from the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols Counties. The creek in its middle is Suwannoochee Creek, which is the county line and runs into the Suwannee River downstream from Fargo.

Here’s the big picture. Continue reading →

WWALS River Revue with Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2026-09-12

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Join us at the 4-H Club in Lake Park, Georgia, for the WWALS River Revue sit-down dinner with speakers from Georgia and Florida, music from Finalists in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and Headliner Joe First, last year’s winner. Plus a silent auction, online and in person.

If you like what we’re doing, with water quality testing and water trails and river and lake outings and hikes and cleanups and chainsaw cleanups, come on down and support WWALS and have some fun! We support rights to clean water and solar power in appropriate places, and we oppose unnecessary mines and datacenters, detention centers, and Jacksonville treated wastewater into the Suwannee Basin (Water First North Florida or WFNF).

[WWALS River Revue, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 4-H Club, Lake Park, GA, 5-9 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026]
WWALS River Revue, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 4-H Club, Lake Park, GA, 5-9 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026

Tickets: $65 each:

https://app.betterunite.com/wwals-wwalsriverrevue2026

MC Tim Carroll, a former trumpet player and Valdosta City Council District 5, will introduce the speakers, the Headliner, and the Judges, Anna Stange (Madison, FL), Tony Buzzella (Lake City, FL), and Norm McDonald (Live Oak, FL).

Songwriters, don’t wait until August 12 to send in your song! It can be about any river, creek, spring, sink, swamp, or pond in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin or Estuary, or underground water such as the Floridan Aquifer. Continue reading →