Update 2020-09-22: Bad far upstream and far downstream: Withlacoochee, Clyatt Mill Creek, Suwannee, Santa Fe 2020-09-21

On the Withlacoochee River, for yesterday (Thursday, September 17, 2020), WWALS testers Michael and Jacob Bachrach got excellent results at Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State Line Boat Ramps, and Madison Health got good results at the GA-FL line and at the usual two places in Florida (CR 150 and FL 6).

Valdosta has reported good results upstream for Monday and Wednesday for US 41 and US 84. Not so good on Fecal coliform at GA 133 Wednesday, but still acceptable on E. coli.

So all the WWALS Withlacoochee River “beaches” remain green on Swim Guide. Happy boating, swimming, and fishing this weekend, so far as we know! Do be aware there was significant rain upstream, which could wash things into the rivers.

Not so good news at the bottom of the Suwannee River. The town of Suwannee, Florida, had a sewage spill. But there’s good news even for that: it was tiny (25-50 gallons) and did not last long.

Chart and Map

Thanks to FDEP for the email alert for the Pollution Notice below, received at 10:10 AM this morning.

Hurricane Sally did not cause any other reported sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

Type of Notice: Initial Report

Date of Notice: 09/18/2020

Incident Information

Name of Incident: Lift Station Overflow due to Coastal Flooding

State Watch Office Case Number:

Start of Incident: 09/17/2020 15:00

End of Incident: 09/17/2020 16:00

Incident Description

Localized flooding due to high winds and High tides due to Hurricane Sally, created a very brief overflow at the Central Lift Station. Approximately 25-50 gallons of Rainwater/Floodwater overflow puddled around the Lift Station Vault at the height of High tide.

Incident Location

Facility/Installation Name: Suwannee Water And Sewer District WWTF

Address Line 1: CR349

Address Line 2: Suwannee, FL 32692

Directions: Across from SE 867th Ave.

City: Suwannee

State: FL

Zip Code: 32692

Coordinates (in decimal degrees):

Lat: 29.33975086898518, Long: -83.1353631019583

Impacted Counties: NA

Incident Reported By

Name: Keith Segar

Title: General Manager

Phone: (352) 542-7570

E-mail Address: gmsuwanneewater@yahoo.com

On-Site Contact

Name: Keith Segar

Phone: (352) 542-7570

E-mail Address: gmsuwanneewater@yahoo.com

To view a list of all received Public Notices of Pollution or to modify your e-mail subscription settings, please click the link below: Public Notice of Pollution

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Too bad GA-EPD still doesn’t have sign-up for such alerts.

It looks like WWALS will have to set up such alerts for Georgia, because it seems I’ve missed a few small spills in the Suwannee River Basin since December, one of which explains one day of our water quality results. More on that in a later post.

Meanwhile, here’s today’s composite chart.

Good Withlacoochee River water quality (except GA 133)
For context and the complete WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results from Georgia and Florida, see: wwals.net/issues/testing/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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