Category Archives: Aquifer

The Floridan Aquifer is our main drinking water source under our entire WWALS watershed, east to south Carolina, west through Alabama to Mississippi, and under all of Florida.

Okefenokee Swamp exchanges water with the Floridan Aquifer –peer-reviewed evidence 2025-12-09

Update 2025-12-26: WWALS Webinar via zoom: Okefenokee Swamp leaks into the Floridan Aquifer, Prof. Evaristo & Rasmussen, 2026-01-15.

University of Georgia (UGA) Professor Todd C. Rasmussen is back after 30 years with peer-reviewed double evidence that the Okefenokee Swamp does exchange water with the underlying Floridan Aquifer from which we all drink in south Georgia and north Florida.

[Okefenokee Swamp leaks water into the Floridan Aquifer --peer-reviewed evidence 2025-12-09, Mining withdrawals would make it worse]
Okefenokee Swamp leaks water into the Floridan Aquifer –peer-reviewed evidence 2025-12-09, Mining withdrawals would make it worse

This paper is more incentive to pass Georgia House Bill 561 to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from mining, at least on its east side. Georgians, please ask your statehouse delegation to pass HB 561. Floridians, please ask your Georgia friends and relatives to do the same. Here’s how to contact Georgia Statehouse members:

https://wwals.net/about/elected-officials/georgia-house/

Here’s a video explaining the new paper by its first author Prof. Jaivime Evaristo, on YouTube, 2025-12-09, The Okefenokee is Not a Bathtub: A New Look at Wetland-Aquifer Coupling, Continue reading →

Packet: SRWMD Board plus Workshop on Drought Conditions 2025-12-09

Update 2025-12-17: Drought Workshop Presentation –SRWMD 2025-12-09.

Update 2025-12-14: Hydrologic Conditions Report –SRWMD 2025-11-30.

Maybe you’d like to come to the Workshop on “Drought Conditions and Review of the District’s Water Shortage Process” that the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) is holding. That’s this Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9 AM in Live Oak, after the SRWMD Board meeting.

If I’m not mistaken, a drought declaration by the Suwannee River Water Management District would mean numerous water withdrawal permit holders would have to reduce their withdrawals.

[Packet: SRWMD Board, Live Oak, FL 2025-12-09, plus Workshop on Drought Conditions]
Packet: SRWMD Board, Live Oak, FL 2025-12-09, plus Workshop on Drought Conditions

Also, Board agenda item 26. Water Resources Division Updates, will probably include an update on the Water First North Florida billion-dollar aquifer recharge project. It would pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville to wetlands in the Suwannee River Basin, and from there into sinks to recharge Ichetucknee Headspring and maybe others. Limiting water withdrawals would be less expensive and more effective, without risking contaminating our springs and aquifers with PFAS and other chemicals that wastewater treatment does not remove.

Two weeks ago I asked, Why hasn’t SRWMD declared a drought yet?

Already then, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire Suwannee River Basin in both Georgia and Florida was in drought.
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?Southeast

Conditions have only gotten worse since then. Continue reading →

Videos: Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04

The Berrien County Commission denied the subdividing issue before them: the six lots on Bradford Road, at their November 4, 2025, regular meeting.

However, many irregularities were raised.

[Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission. Many irregularities raised, 2025-11-04]
Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission. Many irregularities raised, 2025-11-04

The other lots on Old Valdosta Highway were already decided by the same Commission in 2024, and the minutes for that meeting say at the request of John and Tonia Beville.

At this meeting, John Beville said he and she had not requested that, and never saw any Public Hearing signs posted, even though they lived there at the time. When questioned by the Commission, Zoning Coordinator Teresa Willis said it was done for South Auction, and “Russ” brought the plat to her. She did not say who Russ was.

Della Gladieux pointed out that the three Planning Commission Public Hearings this year all had both plats advertised, for the lots on Old Valdosta Highway, and for the other lots on Bradford Road. She also pointed out other issues in the document she handed the Commissioners: Formal Complaint and Demand for Investigation Re Bradford Road –Della Gladieux 2025-11-04.

Lisa Sumner also spelled out numerous issues.

Below you can see the entire Berrien County Commission meeting of November 4, 2025 in the WWALS videos of each agenda item and speaker, plus a few still pictures, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

See also Continue reading →

Drought in Suwannee River Basin? 2025-11-17

Update 2025-12-06: Packet: SRWMD Board plus Workshop on Drought Conditions 2025-12-09.

Why hasn’t SRWMD declared a drought yet?

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire Suwannee River Basin in both Georgia and Florida is in drought.

If I’m not mistaken, a drought declartion by the Suwannee River Water Management District would mean numerous water withdrawal permit holders would have to reduce their withdrawals.

With the Floridan Aquifer and intermediate aquifers already low, reducing withdrawals would be prudent before some wells run dry and sinkholes appear.

SRWMD posted their monthly press release about the Hydrologic Conditions Report on November 17, 2025.

[Drought in Suwannee River Basin? Low Rain, Rivers, and Wells 2025-11-17, Aquifer starting to be low, What is the threshold?]
Drought in Suwannee River Basin? Low Rain, Rivers, and Wells 2025-11-17, Aquifer starting to be low, What is the threshold?

In the linked October 2025 Hydrologic Conditions Report, page 2:

CLIMATE AND DROUGHT OUTLOOK

La Niña conditions are present and favored to persist from December 2025 to February 2026, with a 55% chance of ENSO-neutral transition between January and March 2026.

The NOAA three-month seasonal outlook suggests above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation within the District from November 2025 to January 2026.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on Thursday, November 6th, shows Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions in the southern Levy County, Moderate Drought (D1) and Severe Drought (D2) indices across most central District counties, and Extreme Drought (D3) in all of Hamilton and parts of Suwannee, Columbia, Madison, and Jefferson counties.

That DM report was two weeks ago. And the Drought Monitor report released today, November 20, 2025, with data valid through November 18, 2025, shows Extreme Drought through all the Suwannee River Basin counties along the GA-FL line, adding parts of Baker, Alachua, and Lafayette to the above list, and Severe or Moderate Drought for the rest. Even Levy County no longer has any D0 conditions: it is completely D1 for Moderate Drought. Continue reading →

Comment and CWA Request re Suncoast Parkway 2 Seg 3A –Stop the Sand Mine Committee 2025-11-06

Received yesterday, a comment against the huge borrow pit proposed in a horse area, uphill from the Crystal River, in Citrus County, Florida, to build another segment of the unnecessary Suncoast Parkway toll road. That segment 3A would be another stop towards continuing up across the Suwannee River and other sensitive wetlands all the way to the GA-FL line towards Thomasville, Georgia.

Hurricane evacuation is the usual excuse for this toll road, but solar panels and batteries for houses and businesses would cost less and would mean many people would not have to evacuate and would not be without power for weeks as happens now after every hurricane.

You can also send a public comment, to:
PublicMail.CESAJ-CC@usace.army.mil

[Comment and CWA Request, re Suncoast Parkway 2 Seg 3A --Stop the Sand Mine Committee, 2025-11-06]
Comment and CWA Request, re Suncoast Parkway 2 Seg 3A –Stop the Sand Mine Committee, 2025-11-06

From: Stop the Sand Mine In Citrus County

Re: Suncoast Parkway 2 Segment 3A (FPID 442764-2)

Formal Public Comment and Request for Clean Water Act §404(q) Review

November 6, 2025

Dear Regulatory Division:

Please find attached the Formal Public Comment “A permit that Never Existed” Statement for the Record submitted by the Stop the Sand Mine Committee regarding the proposed Suncoast Parkway 2 Segment 3A (FPID 442764-2), and the related Southworth sand mine property purchase now being pursued by FDOT using public tax dollars.

Continue reading →

Minutes of August and September Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-21

Update 2025-11-05: After some rather contentious testimony, the Berrien County Commission denied the subdividing request. WWALS videos to come. See also below about the other GORA request.

Here are the minutes from the first two meetings with the Public Hearings for the Cole Livingston proposed subdivision on Bradford and Strawder Roads and Old Valdosta Highway, at the Berrien County Planning Commission.

The actual decision will be made this evening, November 4, 2025, at 6 PM, by the Berrien County Commission, at 201 North Davis Street, Nashville, Georgia 31639.

These were received in response to a WWALS open records request, which is at the end below.

[Minutes of August and September, Berrien Planning Commission, Plus maps, Received 2025-10-21]
Minutes of August and September, Berrien Planning Commission, Plus maps, Received 2025-10-21

The Minutes are for these Berrien County Planning Commission meetings: Continue reading →

Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16

Update 2025-10-31: Agenda: Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04.

Here is the document Della Gladieux gave to the Berrien Planning Commissioners last Thursday, at the Public Hearing about subdidiving on Bradford Road in an agricultural character area.

[Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems --Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16]
Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16

You can see her present it in this WWALS video:

Continue reading →

Videos: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-10-16

Update 2025-11-23: Videos: Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04.

Update 2025-10-21: Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.

The Berrien Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the proposed subdividing on Bradford Road.

However, that only applies to part of what (almost) everybody thought was being considered. It turns out the three lots at the corner of Bradford Road and Old Valdosta Highway were already divided out in October 2024.

Yet there are still many issues of urban sprawl and its costs, stormwater runoff, etc.

The Chairman not only moved to recommend denial, he also said the county should stop approving subdivisions until a Comprehensive Land Use Plan can be drawn up and enforced.

[Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16]
Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16

Applicant Cole Livingston and his attorney Danny Studstill said that when the applicant bought the property in an online auction, he understood that all agency permits were already in order. Also, the corner tracts were subdivided before he bought them.

Zoning Administrator Teresa Willis said those corner tracts were heard in the “9-19-24” Planning Commission meeting, and that the subdividing was approved in the October 2024 County Commission meeting. For more about that, see below after the WWALS videos of this October 2025 meeting.

It all still adds up to plopping ten houses in the middle of an agriculture character area, with runoff and recharge issues that affect the neighbors, Gin Branch Creek, the Withlacoochee River, and groundwater down to the Floridan Aquifer.

Chair Parrish Akins clarified that all the previous testimony in the preceding two Public Hearings was still valid. Then he asked for further comment for or against.

Della Gladieux supplied a tome of objections. Continue reading →

Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16

Update 2025-10-20: Videos: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-10-16.

After it was tabled a second time, there’s yet another Public Hearing about plopping ten houses in the middle of an agriculture character area, with runoff and recharge issues that affect the neighbors, Gin Branch Creek, the Withlacoochee River, and groundwater down to the Floridan Aquifer. As well as all the usual issues of trespassing, poaching, pets, livestock, traffic, and road erosion.

Plus transparency and the Berrien Planning Commission should follow the Berrien County Code and Comprehensive Plan.

The farther out from existing services, the more a subdivision costs the county in calls on Sheriff Deputies, Fire Rescue, school buses and places at the schools. Property taxes on those houses would not pay for all that. The rest of Berrien County would have to pay the difference.

[Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission, Thursday, October 16, 2025]
Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission, Thursday, October 16, 2025

For what happened at the previous Public Hearing and why it was tabled, see previous post:
https://wwals.net/?p=68463

Here’s a facebook event to encourage people to come to this Public Hearing:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1476163917000214/

This is what the Public Notices on the roads say:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearing:

Cole Livingston, Subdividing multiple lots off the Old Valdosta Hwy, Bradford Rd and Strawder Rd
Ray City, Ga 31645

Time: 5:30 October 16, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting
6:00 pm November 4, 2025 County Commissioners Meeting

Public Hearing

Location: Planning Commission 201 N. Davis Street Nashville GA
County Commissioner’s Board Room 201 North Davis Street Nashville Ga 31639 Continue reading →

Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing –WWALS to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-09-18

Update 2025-10-07: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.

I handed this letter to the Berrien Planning Commissioners and the Zoning Administrator before I spoke to them at the recent Public Hearing. They tabled this item for another month, awaiting more documents from the applicant, Cole Livingston, for his proposal to subdivide for ten houses in an agricultural character area on Bradford and Strawder Roads and Old Valdosta Highway, in Berrien County, Georgia, draining to Gin Branch Creek and the Withlacoochee River.

[Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing, WWALS 2025-09-18, to Berrien Planning Commission]
Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing, WWALS 2025-09-18, to Berrien Planning Commission

September 18, 2025

To: Teresa Willis
Berrien County Zoning Administrator
229-686-2149
twillis@berriencountyga.gov
201 N. Davis Street Room 122
Nashville GA 31639

Re: Subdividing M&P 061-14-000, 061-16-002, Old Valdosta Rd. & Bradford Rd.

Dear Berrien County Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission,

Please recommend denial of the proposed subdividing, because:

  1. House lots would produce more runoff, which would run onto neighboring properties, as attested by several neighbors at the previous Public Hearing on August 21, 2025. See attached LIDAR map and attached wetland and flood zone map.
  2. Runoff would carry trash and other contamination into Gin Branch Creek that runs north across Bradford Road and west into the Withlacoochee River. See attached map of Gin Branch Creek.
  3. Under Bradford Road and along Gin Branch Creek is an aquifer recharge zone, into the groundwater from which we all drink. We do not need to risk more contaminants possibly getting into that. See attached aquifer recharge map.
  4. Increased traffic and runoff would erode Bradford and Strawder Roads, requiring more work by the county to fix them.
  5. The houses would not be accessory to farm operations as in the Berrien County Comprehensive Plan Strategy for an Agriculture Character Area, which says: Continue reading →