At Spirit of Suwannee Music Park
We’ll be here Friday and Saturday, too. Details here.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Yearly Archives: 2017
Water, Agriculture, and Forestry: public meeting @ VSU by WWALS 2017-03-28
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PDF)
Valdosta, Georgia; March 23, 2017 — Suwannee Riverkeeper invites you to discuss Water, Agriculture, and Forestry with forestry and agriculture experts and WWALS board and committee members in a public meeting at Valdosta State University.
When: 6-8PM Tuesday March 28, 2017
Where:
UC Theater, UC Center, Valdosta State University
1215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698
Event: facebook
Host:
WWALS Watershed Coalition
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member as Suwannee Riverkeeper®
Topics:
including but not limited to:
-
Getting out on the rivers:
- Outings: cleanups and monthly paddles
- Water Trails: signs, landings, and addresses
- Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail
- Alapaha River Water Trail
-
Science and practice:
- Geology: erosion and runoff
- Agriculture: pesticides and fertilizer
- Forestry: Best Management Practices
- Botany: Invasive species and native species
- Energy: solar power and pipelines
About: WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) advocates for Continue reading
Brooks County, Springs Capital of Georgia
Brooks County can boast three springs of a type usually thought to be only in Florida. Of only about six second magnitude springs in Georgia, three are downstream from US 84: Wade or Blue Springs, sadly defunct; McIntyre Spring, large and easily accessible in the right bank emerging from 4610 feet of caverns back under Brooks County; and Arnold Springs, actually three small springs in the left bank.
Picture by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition 9 July 2016,
as are all the other pictures herein not otherwise labeled.
And there are numerous shoals between these springs.
Springs
Continue readingVideos: Coal ash at Valdosta City Council and Lowndes County Commission 2017-03-09-14
Continuing after the recent public meetings,
WWALS and others talked about coal ash at the
Valdosta City Council March 9th,
with
a puzzling response from the Mayor,
and at the
Lowndes County Commission March 14th,
with
an interruption by the Chairman
and no other response.
Both city and county
have had the same members on the board of the
Deep South Solid Waste Management Authority (WMA) since 2005,
so presumably they have more control than they want to admit
over the local privatized landfill with its coal ash, PCBs,
and Superfund wastewater.
Remember, that landfill is a quarter mile uphill from the Withlacoochee River and in a Floridan Aquifer recharge zone.
WWALS Executive Directory Gretchen Quarterman spoke at both meetings. WWALS member Bill Worstell spoke at the Valdosta City Council meeting, as did J.D. Rice. (Meanwhile, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and one other spoke to the Valdosta City Council about sewage.)
Here are LAKE videos of each speaker, with a few notes, followed by a video playlist. Continue reading
Maryland’s GOP governor joins Dems for ban on fracking – The Washington Post
White Springs to Blue SInk Swift Creek Launch, Suwannee River, 2017-05-20
Update 2017-05-17: OK, the water’s gotten too low at the original location, so we’re moving downstream to Woods Ferry Tract Launch to Suwannee Springs.
Update 2017-05-15: The water’s low, but so far it’s a go, plus it’s Hands across the Sands on the Suwannee against the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline and for solar power.
Update 2017-04-06: SRWMD tells us Blue Sink Launch is closed, so we’ll be taking out nearby at Swift Creek Launch.
Join WWALS for a brief paddle 8 miles on the Suwannee River through White Springs down to Blue Sink Swift Creek Launch.
This shouldn’t take more than 4 hours paddling or 5 hours including shuttle.
With lunch, swim stops, and bon-bons, of course.
Bring the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. If you don’t have a boat, there are many outfitters, or let us know and many of us have spare boats.
When: 9AM Saturday 20 May 2017
Put In: Suwannee River Wayside Park Ramp, river mile 171.0
From White Springs, travel south on US 41 to the river; the
ramp is on the south side in the town park.
This map drawn using landing directions from the
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail map of
Boat Ramps & Canoe Launches
and SRWMD’s Blue Sink, Rocky Creek, Swift Creek.
Duration: 5 hours
Free: This outing is Free! And we recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Shuttle Distance: Continue reading
Suwannee River sunrise
Suwannee River, Fargo
Waiting for shuttle return
Videos: Sewage at Valdosta City Council 2017-03-09
Two citizens spoke about sewage overflows at the Valdosta City Council Thursday 9 March 2017, including about the seven downstream Florida counties passing resolutions calling on the Florida governor to step in. Here are LAKE videos of what they said and the mayor’s answers. Also, George Boston Rhynes told a droll tale about a dead cat and turkeys.
-
7. CTBH – Eric Howard on Stormwater and Wastewater
Video. He said he got a house near the river to fish and swim, only to discover Continue reading
WWALS at Suwannee Spring Reunion at the Music Park 2017-03-23-25
Come hear music outside in the spring near the Suwannee River, and talk to Suwannee Riverkeeper about paddling on the rivers and how you can help conserve them, the springs, and the aquifer.
When:
March 23-March 25, 2017
Where:
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
3076 95th Dr, Live Oak, Florida 32060
Event: facebook
What: “Suwannee Spring Reunion, featuring Donna the Buffalo, Continue reading