Yesterday Prof. Don Thieme, WWALS member Dan Coleman, and I showed
a reporter around some sinkholes near the Withlacoochee River,
including one that’s been there for decades, leaking into the
Floridan Aquifer, and one that opened up within a couple of months
only a few years ago.
Dan Coleman says Shadrick Sinkhole has been there probably at least Continue reading
A surprising number of the Board’s nine goals for 2014 have been accomplished, and some new ones have already been added. What goals should WWALS have for 2015?
Goals accomplished include
becoming an
IRS 501(c)(3)
and raising money for and purchasing
insurance.
Some we’ve been doing right along:
cleanups, including Rivers Alive.
Some are so much the core of what WWALS does that we
didn’t even list them as goals, but we’ve been doing them anyway:
monthly outings
and
indoor events.
The later-added goal of the Alapaha River Water Trail is Continue reading
A Suwannee County, Florida landowner points to
newly-discovered connections between springs under rivers
and to
other well-known springs
Sabal Trail ignored, adding:
Note that the undersigned is a lay person attorney and NOT a karst expert. Basic research revealed the information contained herein and the omission of this infonnation by Sabal’s purported karst experts should raise serious questions as to the credibility of Sabal’s filings.
Filed with FERC 29 January 2015 as Accession Number: 20150129-5192, “Supplemental Information / Request of Edwards & Ragatz, P.A. under CP15-17. Supplemental Comments of Proposed Intervener, Thomas S. Edwards, Manager, TSE Plantation, LLC Opposing Portion of Sabal Trail Route and Related Motion to Accept Late Comments”, Continue reading
The Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline route went through
this area, and the new route is only slightly to the north.
There are springs all over this area.
The same karst limestone underlies the Withlacoochee River
in Georgia, where the river already leaks into the aquifer north
of Valdosta.
A pipeline anywhere in the karst limestone containing the
Floridan Aquifer is a very bad idea.
Profit for Sabal Trail, FPL, or Spectra Energy is no excuse for
risking our drinking water.
SRWMD PR 4 December 2014, Falmouth dye trace reveals unknown connectivity,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIVE OAK, FL, December 4, 2014 — The District and Florida Geological Survey introduced dye into Falmouth Spring On September 4th, in hopes of learning which other springs were connected to the known Falmouth Cathedral Cave System. Two days after the dye was release the dye appeared in two springs previously not known to be connected, Ellaville and Suwannacoochee.
Continue reading
A sinkhole lake like a state park, run by a local Air Force Base, is now open to the public.
Dave Miller, WALB, 14 January 2015, Moody AFB opens Grassy Pond to the public,
LAKE PARK, GA (WALB)—Moody Air Force Base announced Tuesday that Grassy Pond in Lake Park, an affiliate of Moody, is now open to the public for daily enjoyment.
For decades, Grassy Pond has catered to military personnel, retirees and their family members, but in an effort to build community relations, the Air Force approved Moody’s request to grant public access to the facility.
This 500 acre recreational area is similar to Continue reading
Lakeland Sands LLC has bought 341.26 acres for Bill Gates
in Suwannee County, Florida, about six miles from the Suwannee River.
All seven parcels adjoin, and are located on or near the corner of 44th Street and 167th Road:
Here’s a list from the Suwannee County Property Appraiser. Interestingly, one of those parcels shows Continue reading
We all drink out of the same Floridan Aquifer, and the Santa Fe River, like WWALS’ Withlacoochee River, is a tributary of the Suwannee River. Fracking in north Florida could affect our drinking water, and if it were allowed there, next frackers would try to cross the state line, just like the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline already is. So everyone who can, please support OSFR. -jsq
Our Santa Fe River Action Alert 31 December 2014, Important Meeting, Please Attend, County Commissioners, Lake City On Jan. 15, 2015,
OSFR as an organization will be on the agenda of the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners at the Jan. 15 meeting, requesting that the commission enact an ordinance which bans all forms of fracking in Columbia County.
Please plan to attend this important meeting, either Continue reading
Drilling under the Withlacoochee River could have catastrophic effects, a landowner near the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County, Florida reminds us. Chris Mericle is also a WWALS board member.
Intervenor is a resident of Hamilton County, Florida and lives near the Proposed Sabal Trail Route where it crosses the Withlacoochee River. As such, I am concerned about the adverse and potentially catastrophic effects that the construction and operation of a 36” diameter gas pipeline will have on Fresh Water Resources including Springs and the Floridan Aquifer.
Here’s how you or your organization can file a motion to intervene.
Filed with FERC 22 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141222-5037, “Motion to Intervene of Christopher J Mericle under CP15-17, et. al.” Continue reading
Last in before FERC closed 5PM Wednesday for the holidays was local geologist Don Thieme, commenting about our Withlacoochee River and the fragile karst limestone that underlies it, among other concerns. It’s likely that FERC will continue accepting comments and motions to intervene after yesterday’s deadline.
Filed with FERC 24 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141224-5109 “Comment of Donald M. Thieme in Docket(s)/Project(s) CP15-17-000 Submission Date: 12/24/2014”,
Donald M. Thieme, Valdosta, GA.
As a local resident and head of household in Lowndes County, I have
concerns about the rights of landowners to continue agriculture and other economically productive uses which may be incompatible with the proposed Sabal Trail pipeline. I have also heard many concerns voiced regarding loss of property value, particularly where new pipe may be laid on land which presently has no existing line. As a professional geologist, however, Continue reading
This legal action should reserve the right of WWALS to participate
in legal hearings, file briefs on legal actions by others, or even
to bring legal action.
In addition to all the county and city resolutions listed here,
Hamilton County, Florida also just moved to intervene.
Filed with FERC 16 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141216-5051, “Motion to intervene and request for extension of filing deadline, by WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. under CP15-17.” Continue reading