The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) “is excited to provide this letter of support for the development of the Troupville River Camp. This project will increase tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities in our area.”
![[This project will increase tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities in our area.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-31--wwals-gosp-troupville-river-camp/2019-12-04--SRWMD-Troupville-River-Camp-0001.jpg)
This project will increase tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities in our area.
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Thank you, SRWMD Executive Director Hugh Thomas and Edwin McCook for this support letter. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hahira, Georgia, December 19, 2019 — Compelled by the severity of Valdosta’s record raw sewage spill and the expenses and stigma incurred nearby and downstream, Suwannee Riverkeeper for WWALS Watershed Coalition has sent a letter requesting ten enforcment actions to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD). WWALS member Deanna Mericle of Hamilton County, Florida, summed it up: “As a person living downstream on the Withlacoochee River in Florida, I feel shat upon by Valdosta over and over. I cannot drink the water from my well. I worry about the health of the river itself and the animals that live in it and drink from it. We in Florida were patient while Valdosta was improving their wastewater plant, which apparently was not adequate since we still have spills when it rains heavily. But this time it was not a rain event. It was gross negligence. I am out of patience. I believe it is time for legal action.”
The Suwannee Riverkeeper letter notes GA-EPD already has a legal action against Valdosta, a Consent Order. WWALS asks GA-EPD to use its enforcement power to require notification, water quality testing, education, and plans and procedures not only for preventing such spills but also for tracking them as they travel down our creeks and rivers and for remediation of effects on wells and reputation.
![[2019-12-17--WWALS-GA-EPD-Valdosta-sewage-0001]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-17--wwals-ga-epd-valdosta-sewage/2019-12-17--WWALS-GA-EPD-Valdosta-sewage-0001.jpg)
2019-12-17–WWALS-GA-EPD-Valdosta-sewage-0001
“Valdosta says it does what GA-EPD tells it to do, so we’re asking GA-EPD to tell them,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “Today we’re forwarding the letter to Continue reading
Thanks, CEO Chris Hamilton and the Board of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority for this letter supporting the Troupville River Camp project:
![[a positive impact on the economy here and, likewise, the quality of life.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-31--wwals-gosp-troupville-river-camp/development-troupeville-camp-20_vlcccta-support-letter-0001.jpg)
a positive impact on the economy here and, likewise, the quality of life.
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Please accept this letter as an endorsement of the WWALS Watershed Coalition’s pre-application for grant assistance regarding the Troupville River Camp project.
The VLCCCTA believes that improvements in the destination’s tourism-related offerings will build the travel and tourism industry’s economic impact. The Troupville River Camp would not only enhance the destination’s appeal to the outdoors market but it would also garner more attention for Valdosta, Lowndes County and South Georgia that could lead to even greater development in the future.
The increase in travel and tourism business would have a positive impact on the economy here and, likewise, the quality of life.
A collection of such letters thus far and the rest of the WWALS grant pre-application to the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) is here: Continue reading
Update 2022-03-02: Trash beyond fence not finished at Flying J, I-75 exit 2 2022-02-26.
Thanks, Flying J and Lowndes County Code Enforcement, for finishing cleaning up what was a huge mess of trash at Exit 2 on I-75 in Lowndes County, Georgia.
Back in August, a WWALS member called Code Enforcement, and I followed up. Code Enforcement responded quickly, came to an agreement with the company, and Continue reading
Update 2019-12-19: Still dirty at GA 133 Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2019-12-19.
It looks like Valdosta’s record raw sewage spill may finally be washing downstream after the recent small rains.
![[Sugar Creek via Ga 133 to US 84]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-17--wq-testing-ga-133-withlacoochee/map.jpg)
Sugar Creek via Ga 133 to US 84, Withlacoochee River with the GA 133 bridge highlighted,
on the WWALS
map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.
Valdosta’s numbers went way down at Gornto Road on Sugar Creek on Sunday, December 15 and Monday, December 16, in this table the Valdosta City Clerk sent this data today in response to my open records request: Continue reading
Hamilton County, Florida, sent a letter supporting the Troupville River Camp an hour before I mentioned it to the Lowndes County, Georgia, Commission on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
![[what a synergy would be created by this project as it will capitalize on the same efforts of development of eco-tourism efforts here.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-31--wwals-gosp-troupville-river-camp/Hamilton-County-FL-Letter-of-Support-for-Conserver-Ga-Grant-12-10-19-0001.jpg)
what a synergy would be created by this project as it will capitalize on the same efforts of development of eco-tourism efforts here.
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Hamilton County Fl. is just south of the state border from the project and realizes what a synergy would be created by this project as it will capitalize on the same efforts of development of eco-tourism efforts here.
Thanks especially to Continue reading
Update 2019-12-18: Valdosta sewage at GA 133 on Withlacoochee River? 2019-12-17.
There’s good news from the recent WWALS water quality tests that fill in the gap between Valdosta’s water quality testing inside Valdosta and at US 84 in Lowndes County, Georgia, and SRWMD’s testing in Florida. Valdosta’s sewage had not even reached US 84 as of 5 PM yesterday, Monday, December 16, 2019.
![[Looking down]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-16--wq-testing-fl-campsites-us84/20191216_165346.jpg)
Looking down onto the rapids above US 84 bridge.
You can donate to the WWALS water quality testing program and help pay for the Petrifilms and other equipment.
For Sunday, December 15, Suzy Hall found 100 cfu/100 ml E. coli at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, 33 at Nankin Boat Ramp, and 100 at State Line Boat Ramp. Those numbers are higher than the zeros I got for Wednesday, December 11, at Knights Ferry and Nankin, and the zero Sara Jay got for that Wednesday at State Line. However, Suzy’s Sunday numbers are Continue reading
Update 2019-12-17: WWALS Water Quality Testing US 84 & FL Campsites, Withlacoochee River 2019-12-16.
Here is Valdosta’s water quality testing data since the spill was discovered.
Apparently the spill was so bad it actually went upstream on Hightower Creek to St. Augustine Road, judging by the 1530 Fecal coliform cfu/100 ml reading on December 10th and 1275 on December 11th. Sugar Creek at Gornto Road was 5100 that day, and 8100 on December 11th. A reading of 1000 indicates a real problem. This was far worse.
The good news is that the levels are decreasing at those sampling stations.
The better news is that the sewage had not made it downstream even as far as US 84 (Valdosta sampling) or anywhere on the Withlacoochee or Suwannee Rivers in Florida (SRWMD sampling) as of December 15, 2019. (WWALS already got SRWMD’s data from Wednesday, December 12, 2019 last week and published it).
You may notice a big gap between US 84 and CR 150 (Sullivan Launch). We have already published some WWALS data for Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State Line Boat Ramps, in which we also did not yet see the Valdosta sewage. More will follow today.
You can donate to help pay for the Petrifilms and other equipment.
Also notice that the Florida Department of Health titles this: “SITUATION REPORT – Dec 3 2019 Valdosta Sewage Spill”. So apparently Valdosta’s record-largest raw sewage spill started Tuesday, December 3rd, not Continue reading
U.S. EPA still finds that “the proposed project will have a substantial and unacceptable impact on aquatic resources of national importance.”
That’s about “the permit application submitted by Twin Pines Minerals, LLC” for a titanium strip mine. “The proposed 2,414-acre mine area lies in proximity to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and the potential secondary effects of the mine on the NWR have not been demonstrated by the permit applicant.”
You, too, can still comment to the USACE, and all comments they receive before the Corps announces a decision can be used in any potential lawsuits.
Something new: a fun filled day of promoting paddle activities, trying various boat designs. Aiding paddlers with finding a new boat or getting rid of an old one. If the owner permits, you can try out a boat right there in Banks Lake. This should help get everyone ready to kick off a new paddling season in the great Suwannee River Basin.
Many thanks to Lanier County, Banks Lake Outdoors, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their cooperation in this event.
When: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday, March 7, 2020
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Bring: yourself. If you have something to swap, bring that. If you want to try out a boat, bring usual personal flotation device, and boat paddles, or there will be loaners. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $5 (five dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Banks Lake Boat Ramp, December 22, 2018
![[Fence keeping trash in]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-10--flying-j-exit-2/20191210_140540.jpg)
![[Testing locations]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-16--vld-sewage-release/12-16-2019-SitRep--Valdosta-Sewage-Release_html_b3d0ecfa68756e3d.jpg)
![[the proposed project will have a substantial and unacceptable impact on aquatic resources of national importance.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-03--epa-usace-tpm/SCAN0007-0001.jpg)