Video: Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism meeting in Valdosta 2025-10-15

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WWALS will never have the direct economic effect that many of the other projects described to the five Georgia State Senators this week. But many of our activities require very little economic input, such as water trails, outings, and even the future Troupville Nature Park and River Camp.

And some solutions for things we oppose would have outsized effects.

[Video: Senate Study Committee on Georgia Tourism, meeting in Valdosta, 2025-10-15]
Video: Senate Study Committee on Georgia Tourism, meeting in Valdosta, 2025-10-15

What does an area need for tourism? A good reputation.

What’s the opposite of that? Stigma, as in:

  • A strip mine near the Okefenokee Swamp.
  • Or a long-outdated legal definition of navigability, impeding river passage.
  • Or sewage and trash in creeks and rivers.

[Summary --Suwannee Riverkeeper 2025-10-15]
Summary –Suwannee Riverkeeper 2025-10-15

Here is the Suwannee Riverkeeper Presentation to the Georgia State Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the #1 State for Tourism meeting in Valdosta, October 15, 2025:
https://youtu.be/WDMjA1iIyN8

My slides are on the WWALS website in PDF and PowerPoint, with images of each slide below.

In the state’s own video of the entire meeting, the Suwannee Riverkeeper presentation is at 03:48:50 to 03:57:05.
https://vimeo.com/1127330486?share=copy#t=13730.081

Yes, I ran over my alloted five minutes, but the three-hour meeting went on for four and a half hours, so I don’t feel bad.

[Rivers, Creeks, Lakes, and Swamps --Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman]
Rivers, Creeks, Lakes, and Swamps –Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman

It was all interesting and informative. The Senators probably had not heard of many of the initiatives discussed; I know I hadn’t.

The five Georgia State Senators on the Study Committee are:

 -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/

SRKSlides

[Rivers, Creeks, Lakes, and Swamps]
Rivers, Creeks, Lakes, and Swamps
PDF

[You are all invited: Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle]
You are all invited: Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle
PDF

[Chainsaw Cleanups to cut through hurricane deadfalls across rivers]
Chainsaw Cleanups to cut through hurricane deadfalls across rivers
PDF

[From far away to WWALS paddle outings:]
From far away to WWALS paddle outings:
PDF

[Full Moon Paddles in Banks Lake NWR]
Full Moon Paddles in Banks Lake NWR
PDF

[Many people find their way Using the WWALS Water Trails]
Many people find their way Using the WWALS Water Trails
PDF

[Future Troupville Nature Park and River Camp]
Future Troupville Nature Park and River Camp
PDF

[In the Fall: WWWALS River Revue Including Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest]
In the Fall: WWWALS River Revue Including Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest
PDF

[Suzanne Welander, co-author, Canoeing and Kayaking Georgia Spoke about boating passage on creeks and rivers: fix the 1863 navigability law]
Suzanne Welander, co-author, Canoeing and Kayaking Georgia Spoke about boating passage on creeks and rivers: fix the 1863 navigability law
PDF

[Rick Davis, chair of the River contamination Task Force of the dozen downstream Florida counties: require more testing]
Rick Davis, chair of the River contamination Task Force of the dozen downstream Florida counties: require more testing
PDF

[Water Quality Testing and Reporting: fund Know Your River]
Water Quality Testing and Reporting: fund Know Your River
PDF

[WWALS and others also hold cleanups: pass something like SB 49 from 2024]
WWALS and others also hold cleanups: pass something like SB 49 from 2024
PDF

[Sugar Creek Urban Greenway Once sewage spills and trash are stopped]
Sugar Creek Urban Greenway Once sewage spills and trash are stopped
PDF

[Along Azalea City Trail, Like Waterloo Greenway on Waller Creek in Austin, Texas]
Along Azalea City Trail, Like Waterloo Greenway on Waller Creek in Austin, Texas
PDF

[So, come on down for the paddles and festivals And the legislature can help fund infrastructure such as:]
So, come on down for the paddles and festivals And the legislature can help fund infrastructure such as:
PDF

[Contact: Suwannee Riverkeeper]
Contact: Suwannee Riverkeeper
PDF

Movies

Pics

[Getting ready]
Getting ready

TP

[Sen. Russ Goodman, Sen. Sonya Halpern, Sen. Drew Echols, Admin., Sen. Frank Ginn]
Sen. Russ Goodman, Sen. Sonya Halpern, Sen. Drew Echols, Admin., Sen. Frank Ginn

Speakers

[Rep. Angie O'Steen, District 169]
Rep. Angie O’Steen, District 169

VM

[Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson]
Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson

VLCCTA

[David DiSalvo, E.D., Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority]
David DiSalvo, E.D., Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority

BS

[Lowndes County Chaiman Bill Slaughter]
Lowndes County Chaiman Bill Slaughter

WHG

[Paul McNeal, Williams Hotel Group]
Paul McNeal, Williams Hotel Group

TheSen

TMcKey

[Daniel Bayman, The McKey]
Daniel Bayman, The McKey

LCS

[Jason Van Nus, Lowndes County Schools]
Jason Van Nus, Lowndes County Schools

VMC

[Valdosta District 1 City Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody & VL-Chamber President & CEO Christie Moore]
Valdosta District 1 City Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody & VL-Chamber President & CEO Christie Moore

WA

[John Fizgibbons, Wild Adventures]
John Fizgibbons, Wild Adventures

OSP

[Kim Bednarek, E.D., Okefenokee Swamp Park]
Kim Bednarek, E.D., Okefenokee Swamp Park

VWC

[Luke Tilt, Valdosta Wake Compound]
Luke Tilt, Valdosta Wake Compound

RTP

[Trent Coggins, Recoil Trampoline Park]
Trent Coggins, Recoil Trampoline Park

SGMSP

[Raul Torres, South Georgia Motor Sports Park]
Raul Torres, South Georgia Motor Sports Park

VSUPSST

[Doug Guthrie, Peach State Summer Theatre]
Doug Guthrie, Peach State Summer Theatre

VSUSO

[Doug Farwell, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra]
Doug Farwell, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra

VSUBA

[Troy Katen, Blazer Athletics]
Troy Katen, Blazer Athletics

TCA

[Sementha Mathews, E.D., Turner Center for the Arts]
Sementha Mathews, E.D., Turner Center for the Arts

SSH

[jsq, David DiSalvo, Sen. Sonya Halpern (D–Atlanta, District 39),]
jsq, David DiSalvo, Sen. Sonya Halpern (D–Atlanta, District 39),

GADNR

[Trevor Santos, Deputy Commissioner, GA-DNR]
Trevor Santos, Deputy Commissioner, GA-DNR

ETAG

[Matt Campbell, Entertainment & Tourism Alliance of Georgia]
Matt Campbell, Entertainment & Tourism Alliance of Georgia

ASNFM

[Hayden Hancock, City of Nashville, Azalea Sprinter, Nashville Farmers Market]
Hayden Hancock, City of Nashville, Azalea Sprinter, Nashville Farmers Market

SGMCH

[Ronnie Dean, CEO, SGMC Health]
Ronnie Dean, CEO, SGMC Health

One thought on “Video: Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism meeting in Valdosta 2025-10-15”

  1. Pingback: Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism meeting in Valdosta 2025-10-15 | WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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