Clean rivers 2024-03-20 | WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

Update 2024-03-29: Rain and river contamination 2024-03-28.

We got good results for Wednesday for the Withlacoochee River and Alapaha Rivers. and for Thursday for the Alapaha River.

Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results for Wednesday are good, all two sites.

Chart, Clean Rivers, Map 2024-03-20

There are no Valdosta Monday results, because, as we learned last week from Acting Utilities Director Jason Barnes, “we are collecting once a week.”

As previously noted, Valdosta’s last downstream tests were September 1, 2023. Since for two weeks now Valdosta has reported “No Sample” for North Valdosta Road, we guess they’re not collecting there any more, either.

Perhaps it is not coincidental that it is now three years (minus one month) since the March, 2020, GA-EPD Consent Order on Valdosta that required downstream testing as a way to reduce the amount of the fine.

It rained today, and more is predicted for tomorrow. That may wash some contamination into the rivers. I’d recommend the Suwannee, Alapaha, or Santa Fe Rivers for this weekend.

For example, join Shirley Kokidko and others Sunday, Suwannee River Wilderness Paddle, Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo 2024-03-24.

The rivers are at pretty good paddling levels, and it’s not cold. So watch the weather, bring rain gear, and happy paddling, fishing, and maybe swimming this weekend.

Chart: Clean rivers 2024-03-20
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing

No sewage spills were reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

However, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) has reported some spills from Rochelle and Ashburn, Georgia, for March 9. See separate report.
https://wwals.net/?p=64460

In case you’re not aware, GA-EPD is woefully underfunded. Whenever I get a chance, I suggest to Georgia state legislators that EPD should be funded more.

WWALS tester Kimberly Godden Tanner sampled two Alapaha River sites Thursday, Lakeland Boat Ramp (0 cfu/100 mL) and Naylor Park Beach (133). She wrote, “The water was the highest I have seen since I started testing. Naylor Beach was completely underwater. I was unable to get to a place where I could sample moving water. I got what I could get to and wondered if the results would be worse as a result, but they seem in line with recent tests.”

Russ Tatum reported Wednesday results for Allen Ramp (100) and Holly Point (0) on the Withlacoochee River in Florida. He remarked, “Good results. Water is slightly higher, light tannic in color and somewhat opaque.”

Joanne Tremblay took a week off to work on the OSFR RiverFest Song Contest, to be held on Sunday, March 24th beginning at 1pm at Rum 138, 2070 Southwest County Road 138, Fort White, Florida. If you’re not paddling on the Suwannee Sunday, I hope to see you at Rum 138, where we will announce that song submissions will soon open for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

Debbie Smith had a plating mishap for Franks Creek at GA 122. It happens to everybody now and then.

WWALS Testing Committee Chair Suzy Hall reviewed all the results. She also sampled Saturday, March 16, at Sasser Landing on the Alapaha River, and got zero cfu/100 mL.

WWALS Testing Trainer Gretchen Quarterman trained 21 new testers in Thomasville. We hope some of them and others from her previous training will test soon.

If you want to get trained to be a WWALS water quality tester, please fill out the form:
https://wwals.net/?p=47084

All the WWALS “beaches” for which we have recent data are green, on the map.

Here’s a map with O’Leno Sink highlighted towards the center. O’Leno State Park Swimming Dock is slightly upstream from there.

Map: Clean Rivers 2024-02-01
in the WWALS map of all public landings in the Suwannee River Basin

Here’s a live Swim Guide Map.

Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for another generous grant for water quality testing equipment and materials.

You or your organization could also donate to the WWALS volunteer water quality testing program.

There are more images below.

-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/

-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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