Daily Archives: July 3, 2026

Clean Withlacoochee River 2026-06-29 and Alapaha River 2026-07-01

The Withlacoochee River and the Alapaha River tested clean in the results we have for this week.

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

According to the results we have, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, and it’s even supposed to be sunny Saturday and Sunday morning.

This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.

[Clean Withlacoochee 2026-06-29, and Alapaha River 2026-07-01, Sunny Saturday and Sunday morning, Happy paddling, swimming, and fishing]
Clean Withlacoochee 2026-06-29, and Alapaha River 2026-07-01, Sunny Saturday and Sunday morning, Happy paddling, swimming, and fishing

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Madison Blue Spring browned out 2026-06-26

People were asking me about that, so I called the park.

jsq: Why is the park closed?

Park: Because the spring is browned out.

jsq: Why is it browned out?

Park: Because big rains upstream wash mud down, more than the spring can pump out.

jsq: So it’s just a typical brownout after big rains upstream.

Park: Yes. Should be back open in about two weeks. Will be updated on the website.

[Madison Blue Spring browned out 2026-06-26, It's natural, Many times before]
Madison Blue Spring browned out 2026-06-26, It’s natural, Many times before

It was also browned out in May 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/EconfinaSprings/photos/florida-state-park-admission-is-free-this-weekend-%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F-madison-blue-spring-current/782045814038133/

And no, Floridians, it’s not Valdosta wastewater this time.

https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

And yes, we know about the trash problem.

https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/posts/pfbid0TnCsYbWPbXc9XqEJ6TFZPHKbxK5eW7tGq4dvysnrcQDFgrCqt2uDNuDBA2RGCg47l

https://wwals.net/?p=68941

What springs are not browned out?

Here are a couple:

Ichetucknee Springs

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ichetucknee-springs-state-park

Peacock Springs

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/wes-skiles-peacock-springs-state-park

Here are some pictures of Madison Blue Spring when it was not browned out.

In the first one, you can see the difference between the tea-colored Withlacoochee River water and the blue spring water. Continue reading →

Drought reveals two new springs on the Suwannee River –SRWMD 2026-07-01

The spring I’ve used to illustrate this story is somewhat upstream of Suwannee Springs. It is called Ham1019971, and is a fourth magnitude sulphur spring seen on a WWALS paddle, May 20, 2017. It is not the newly-discovered Ule Spring mentioned in the press release.

Also, Byron Herder, who owns the first-magnitude spring Alapaha River Rise, remarked on facebook, “I found a first magnitude spring on Suwannee during the drought. Bringing state total to 34.”

Speaking of drought, this Tuesday SRWMD will approve a Further modified Phase II Water Shortage Ordinance @ SRWMD 2026-07-14. Nevermind St. Johns River WMD and Southwest Florida WMD went to Phase III months ago.

[Drought reveals two new springs on the Suwannee River --SRWMD 2026-07-01]
Drought reveals two new springs on the Suwannee River –SRWMD 2026-07-01

PR, SRWMD, July 1, 2026, Drought conditions reveal new springs along the Suwannee River; see also WCTV,

LIVE OAK, FLA., JULY 1, 2026 — While ongoing drought conditions have reduced river flows across the region, unusually low water levels have also provided a unique opportunity for Suwannee River Water Management District (District) staff to locate and document several previously unknown springs.

Continue reading →