Daily Archives: September 17, 2021

Good water quality results, then hard rain, Withlacoochee River 2021-09-16

Update 2021-09-24: All clear, Withlacoochee River 2021-09-22.

All the water quality samples WWALS collected Wednesday and Thursday tested good for all three rivers: Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha.

However, later Thursday hard rains fell. As hard as those last Thursday that washed E. coli into the rivers. So there’s a good chance the same thing has already happened, with contamination from livestock manure washing into the rivers.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide

So according to the results we have, I have to say all clear for boating, swimming, and fishing.

But according to experience, I’m not going on the Little or Withlacoochee Rivers this weekend.

FYI, no sewage spills have been reported. The contamination sources are most likely agricultural.

The Alapaha River is probably still good. And we have a paddle coming up Monday evening on Banks Lake, which is not downstream from anything, so it should be clean as usual. https://wwals.net/?p=56630 Continue reading →

Level Cancellation: Hal Adams Bridge to Hardenbergh Boat Ramp, Suwannee River, 2021-09-18

Expedition leader Bobby McKenzie says, “The levels have been dropping but are still moving at rate that would only allow experienced paddlers on the water. Further discussion on this has led that it be best to cancel this paddle.”

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman concurred, saying, “People will enjoy it more anyway at some later date when the river is low enough for the springs to be visible. We will post it as a new event when it looks like levels may favor us.”

[Many]
Outing Cancelled

For the original route, see the original announcement, but we’re not doing it this time.

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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