Troupville River Camp, center of Little and Withlacoochee River Water Trail 2019-10-31

WWALS Watershed Coalition

WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER® WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.

Troupville River Camp, center of Little and Withlacoochee River Water Trail 2019-10-31 [Up]

WWALS blog posts:

LAKE blog posts:

Five Public Hearings; Ten For Consideration, and Troupville River Camp @ LCC 2019-12-09

Documents:

2019-10-31--WWALS-GOSP-Troupville-River-Camp-pre-application-filed.pdf
The pre-application as filed with GOSP.
troupville-river-camp-summary.pdf
Project Summary: Concept Plan, Center of WLRWT, Project Narrative, Lowndes County, GA, Valdosta, GA, VL Tourism Authority, VL Chamber, Madison County, FL, Hamilton County, FL, SRWMD, VSU Geology, Architect, Valdosta Disc Golf, Landowner, Timeline, Budget.
1. Concept Plan map by ASA Engineering (pro bono)
2. Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT) map showing Troupville River Camp in its center
3. Project Narrative from the GOSP pre-application
4. Lowndes County, GA, Board of Commissioners
  
  Lowndes County’s support for the “Troupville River Camp” project.
  PDF
  
  On behalf of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to express Lowndes County's support for the “Troupville River Camp” project.
  
  Quality of life amenities are an integral component of economic development initiatives. The ability to provide a river park for citizens that could also serve as a destination for others is an amazing opportunity for our community. Further, programs proposed that will continue to protect one of South Georgia/North Florida's most valuable natural resources should not be overlooked in the consideration of this application.
  
  Lowndes County appreciates and admires the initiative demonstrated by WWALS Watershed Coalition. Those associated with the organization are both knowledgeable with regards to preservation and passionate about their mission.
  
  Thank you again for the opportunity to express Lowndes County's support of their efforts.
5. Valdosta, GA, Mayor and Council
  
  The initial investment for this project would be small and the long-term eco-tourism it would create would be far reaching.
  PDF
  
  On behalf of the Valdosta City Council, it is with great pleasure that we supply this letter of support for the WWALS Watershed Coalition's pre-application for grant assistance for the Troupville River Camp in Lowndes County.
  
  The Troupville River Camp would be a great asset to our community. The proposed property is in an excellent location near the Confluence of the Little River with the Withlacoochee River and not far from I-75 and GA Highway 133. The initial investment for this project would be small and the long-term eco-tourism it would create would be far reaching. Not only would the Troupville River Camp be a boon to Valdosta and Lowndes County, but also for other communities in South Georgia and North Florida,
  
  We want to make Valdosta a place where people will want to live, work, and play and the Troupville River Camp would help us to achieve that goal. We wholeheartedly recommend and humbly ask for your consideration of the pre-application for grant assistance for the Troupville River Camp in Lowndes County.
6. Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority
  
  a positive impact on the economy here and, likewise, the quality of life.
  PDF
  
  Please accept this letter as an endorsement of the WWALS Watershed Coalition's pre-application for grant assistance regarding the Troupville River Camp project.
  
  The VLCCCTA believes that improvements in the destination's tourism-related offerings will build the travel and tourism industry's economic impact. The Troupville River Camp would not only enhance the destination's appeal to the outdoors market but it would also garner more attention for Valdosta, Lowndes County and South Georgia that could lead to even greater development in the future.
  
  The increase in travel and tourism business would have a positive impact on the economy here and, likewise, the quality of life.
7. Letter from Myrna Ballard, President of Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce
  
  One of our Chamber's top priorities....
  PDF
  
  Please accept this letter as an indication of my wholehearted support for the WWALS Watershed Coalition's pre-application for grant assistance regarding the Troupville River Camp project.
  
  One of our Chamber's top priorities for the past 20 years is building the type of community where young professionals and amenity-seeking retirees want to live. An essential ingredient in creating a ‘cool community’ which would attract such newcomers is being able to offer a variety of both active and passive recreation venues. I am quite familiar with the property being considered for this project, and believe it is ideal for this intended use.
8. Letter from Madison County, FL, Board of County Commissioners
  
  ...will increase tourism and the recreational opportunities for locals in our area.
  PDF
  
  The Board met during a special called meeting on November 26, 2019, to discuss this issue, and it was unanimously approved because this project will increase tourism and the recreational opportunities for locals in our area.
  
  Although we live in Florida, Madison County views the Withlacoochee River as a shared resource with Valdosta, Lowndes County, and the State of Georgia, because the river crosses all political boundaries. In addition, we are very familiar with the River Camps that were built several years ago on the Suwannee River and know that these camps have worked extremely well to facilitate increased tourism. Therefore, the Madison County Board of County Commissioners is excited to provide this letter of support for the development of the Troupville River Camp.
9. Letter from Hamilton County, FL, County Coordinator
  
  what a synergy would be created by this project as it will capitalize on the same efforts of development of eco-tourism efforts here.
  PDF
  
  Hamilton County Fl. is just south of the state border from the project and realizes what a synergy would be created by this project as it will capitalize on the same efforts of development of eco-tourism efforts here.
10. Letter from Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD)
  
  This project will increase tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities in our area.
  PDF
  
  The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) is excited to provide this letter of support for the development of the Troupville River Camp. This project will increase tourism and recreational opportunities for local communities in our area.
  
  Although we live in Florida, the District views the Withlacoochee River as a shared resource with Valdosta, Lowndes County, and the State of Georgia, because the river crosses all political boundaries.
  
  The District partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Division of State Parks to implement the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail from White Springs to the Town of Suwannee. The District built five river camps along the Suwannee River from White Springs to Branford. The river camps consist of five sleeping platforms, picnic pavilion, restrooms with showers, tent camping area, and a campground host site.
  
  The river camps focused on camping opportunities to protect the environmental impact of the riverbank; providing additional recreation opportunities and created additional economic benefits to the rural communities.
  
  The District would be most happy to share our river camp experiences, research, and designs with you.
11. Letter from Donald M. Thieme, Associate Professor, Geology, Valdosta State University
  
  Donald M. Thieme, Associate Professor, Geology, VSU
  PDF
  
  I am very pleased and excited about the proposal by WWALS to develop the Troupville River Camp. The property in question is at the juncture of the Little River and the Withlacoochee River, two large tributaries to the Suwannee River watershed. As we discussed with John Quarterman in a recent field visit to the property, there are many questions in my own research and that of Dr. Can Denizman which can be pursued through fieldwork and continuous data collection from areas on the property.
  
  The two rivers which meet at the proposed Troupville River Camp are very different in both channel sinuosity and sediment being delivered to their floodplains. Upstream along the Withlacoochee River, the surface flow sometimes connects with both shallow groundwater and the Upper Floridan Aquifer through karst conduits in both siliceous and carbonate sedimentary rocks. We have been investigating these connections in recent research using geophysical methods which include both electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR).
  
  I am planning to work at the proposed Troupville River Camp property this spring with students in my course on Environmental Soil Science (GEOL 3710). I plan to train my students in soil description while sampling these floodplain soils and then complete some basic laboratory analyses which should be useful in planning future use of the landscape.
  
  Along with Dr. Denizman and other colleagues in the Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences, and Engineering Technology, I will be collaborating with WWALS on the development of the Troupville River Camp project. We discussed how to harvest LiDAR data on surface topography with the surveyors and engineers working for WWALS. We will help WWALS use this data to identify areas of possible prehistoric and historic cultural activity and select areas where subsurface coring or trenching may yield useful information about environmental change in the Upper Suwannee River watershed.
12. Letter from Architect Mac McCall
  
  their work will... help monitor and keep clean these watersheds will have a great impact for generations to come.
  PDF
  
  As a property owner of separate properties in Valdosta, Lowndes County, and on the banks of the Suwannee River in Florida, I fully support the mission of the WWALS Watershed Coalition and the work they are doing for the rivers. The impact their work will have to help monitor and keep clean these watersheds will have a great impact for generations to come. The funding provided by this grant will only serve to add to their ability to do this work and to help citizens learn about and experience these rivers which are valuable natural assets of the State of Georgia.
  
  As a Principal of McCall Architecture, I am glad to offer my firm's in-kind architectural services to the project to assist in any planning or architectural design needed.
  
  Thank you for your consideration of this Application. Please let me know if any additional support or documentation would be helpful.
13. Valdosta Disc Golf
  
  Our club members would be an important partner in helping to keep the River Camp park and grounds clean.
  PDF
  
  My name is Mark Gaither, the current president of the Valdosta Disc Golf Association (VDGA), and on behalf of the club, I would like to offer our support on the construction of the Troupville River Camp. Valdosta currently has the 5 th highest ranked disc golf course in the state according to the Disc Golf Scene (www.discgolfscene.com). VDGA has about 60 members and many other locals that frequent Freedom Park, the place of our current, single course. Likewise, we have out of town visitors come to annual events at our course and even some that come to the area just to play at Freedom Park. The VDGA club members have become a family and rally together to support one another and take great pride in our facility. We would take the same kind of pride in the new establishment at the River Camp. Having two superb courses in our area would attract even more out of town visitors to enjoy quality disc golf.
  
  VDGA's members have documented over 300 hours of volunteer labor at our current disc golf course since August of 2018. It would be safe to say we have worked many more undocumented hours. Nearly every time I go to the park, I try to make it a little nicer than it was when I got there. Our club members would be an important partner in helping to keep the River Camp park and grounds clean. Our members would gladly offer services in the design of the new course at no charge. The addition of a recreational disc golf would make the River Camp an even more attractive place for people to visit. I look forward to seeing how the VDGA can help in the construction and maintenance of the new Troupville River Camp.
  
  Comments in support of Valdosta Disc Golf Association
  PDF
14. Letter from landowner Helen Tapp
  
  Helen Tapp welcoming Paddle Georgia
  
  ...Grant applicants have a vision for a unique way to celebrate nature, history and outdoor fun. 74 acres of greenspace can be available for public Fishing, Water Trail Paddling, Camping, Hiking, Birding, Nature Journaling, Art, Historical Site Interpretation, Heritage Education, Ecological Studies, Watershed Protection, and more. I hope you will support that vision. For the first time in a century this land is available. Once sold for private use or subdivided, the opportunities for public use will be lost forever. Future generations deserve to know the beauty of this place.
15. Project Timeline
16. Project Budget: PDF

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/

Pictures

Photographs by WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.,
licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 U.S. License.

WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS), est. 2012, is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-for-profit charity.
WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.
Since 2016, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER® is a project and a staff member of WWALS as the Waterkeeper Alliance® member for the 10,000 square mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia.