Yesterday I found trash still in Valdosta creeks where previously reported, on Hightower Creek, One Mile Branch, and Two Mile Branch.

Sure, the Two Mile Branch cleanup last Saturday was fun and necessary. But Valdosta, A City Without Limits on its own facebook report said nothing about more trash traps, and nothing about enforcing its own city ordinances that require businesses to keep their property clean, to keep trash out of waterways, and to strategically place trash cans where people will use them.

Valdosta has been promising at least since 2007, sixteen years ago, to do something about this ongoing trash spill problem. The city has taken a few steps, especially since City Engineer Ben O’Dowd was hired.

Time to walk the talk, Valdosta. There is more to do.

Trash, Two Mile Branch, One Mile Branch, Hightower Creek, 2023-03-29

Where Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson stood in December 2022, at the bottom of the parking lot on St. Augustine Road above Hightower Creek, trash is still there, tossed by lunchers, with no trash cans nearby.

Behind the Mega Mart at Valloton Drive and Lee Street, trash continues to wash down into One Mile Branch, clearly visible from the Azalea City Trail, Valdosta’s only urban hiking trail. Despite a Click ‘n’ Fix report on March 8, 2023, the only action we’ve seen from City Marshalls was a week later, “The city is working with the property owner to correct the issues.”

And trash continues to dribble into Two Mile Branch above Ashley Street, most of a week after the last pictures I took there, with the Click ‘n’ Fix ticket closed again by City Marshalls,

Meanwhile, the Lee Street Detention Pond Trash Trap has been modified by high water, when it caught leaves and the force of the water bent the steel. The city has taken the top off the trash trap. Here’s hoping they will continue to improve this model for more use here and elsewhere.

ASB

Ashley Street culvert, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:59:43, 30.8672242, -83.2858507

BB

Billboards, Ashley Street, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:59:59, 30.8672242, -83.2858507

RAS

Roger Budd’s Rent-A-Sign, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:54:37, 30.8673209, -83.2864960

RR

Rodeo Restaurant behind, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:55:59, 30.8670243, -83.2859296

LP

Blooming lily pads, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:56:07, 30.8670243, -83.2859296

DF1

First deadfall with trash, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:56:59, 30.8671244, -83.2851701

DF2

Second deadfall with trash, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:57:17, 30.8671244, -83.2851701

OF

Outfall with cup, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:57:38, 30.8676402, -83.2854221

SB

Shopping buggy trash washed downstream, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:58:03, 30.8675860, -83.2853140

ST

Submerged trash, Two Mile Branch, 2023-03-29, 15:58:27, 30.8675856, -83.2853142

MM

Mega Mart, Vallotton Drive @ Lee Street, One Mile Branch, 16:10:38, 30.8485450, -83.2781710

IC

Illusion of clean One Mile Branch, 16:10:59, 30.8487670, -83.2777030

Seeclickfix 14176600, One Mile Branch, Mega Mart, Azalea City Trail, 2023-03-29, 30.8487674, -83.2777029

TIOMB

Trash in One Mile Branch behind Mega Mart, 16:11:26, 30.8487674, -83.2777029

Zdoo1

Zacadoo’s in One Mile Branch, 16:11:22, 30.8487674, -83.2777029

Zdoo2

Another Zacadoo’s, 16:11:42, 30.8487670, -83.2777030

Tslope

Trash sloping into One Mile Branch behind Zacadoo’s, 16:12:13, 30.8492676, -83.2774173

ACT

Azalea City Trail, Mega Mart, One Mile Branch, 16:20:43, 30.8485489, -83.2784177

ACTMap

Map, Azalea City Trail, 16:21:06, 30.8485420, -83.2782680

KTC

Keep the Trail Clean, 16:15:00, 30.8473747, -83.2783017

OMBDown

One Mile Branch downstream from Lee Street, 16:19:44

LSDP

Trash trap, Lee Street detention pond, 16:16:54, 30.8467230, -83.2779295

HT

Trash, parking lot, St. Augustine Road, Hightower Creek, 16:50:30, 30.8366428, -83.3164919

NTC

No trash cans, parking lot, St. Augustine Road, Hightower Creek, 16:50:34, 30.8366428, -83.3164919

Maps

Map: Two Mile Branch, One Mile Branch, Hightower Creek in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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