Category Archives: PR

Press Release

Withlacoochee River & Floridan Aquifer: Gas Pipeline Threatens Southwest Georgia Water, Way of Life, GWC Dirty Dozen

The Withlacoochee River and the Floridan Aquifer affected by the Sabal Trail pipeline is #9 in the Georgia Water Coalition’s Dirty Dozen 2014: A Call to Action, and here’s the press release,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2014 — Today, Georgia’s leading water coalition named its “Dirty Dozen” for 2014, highlighting 12 of the worst offenses to Georgia’s waters. The annual Dirty Dozen shines a spotlight on threats to Georgia’s water resources as well as the polluters and state policies or failures that ultimately harm—or could harm—Georgia property owners, downstream communities, fish and wildlife, hunters and anglers, and boaters and swimmers.

“The Dirty Dozen is not a list of the most polluted water bodies in Georgia, nor are they ranked in any particular order,” said Joe Cook, Advocacy & Communication Coordinator at the Coosa River Basin Initiative. “It’s a list of problems that exemplify the results of inadequate funding for Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD), a lack of political will to enforce existing environmental protections, and ultimately misguided water planning and spending priorities that flow from the very top of Georgia’s leadership.”

WWALS submitted #9 of the Dirty Dozen:

9. Withlacoochee River & Floridan Aquifer: Gas Pipeline Threatens Southwest Georgia Water, Way of Life

The Sabal Trail pipeline’s path across Continue reading

New Georgia law bans riding ATVs in riverbeds.

Terry Dickson and Walter C. Jones wrote for the Florida Times-Union Saturday, May 22, 2010, New Georgia law bans riding ATVs in riverbeds,
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The measure should increase safety and reduce environmental damage.

Riding all-terrain vehicles in stream beds is against the law in Georgia with Gov. Sonny Perdue’s signature on legislation Friday that has been long sought by environmentalists, property owners and safety advocates.

House Bill 207, Continue reading

Moultrie Observer: WWALS op-ed against Sabal Trail pipeline

Bigger type than the rest of the page, and in the editorial column position: Haley Hyatt, who took these pictures, noticed that about how the Moultrie Observer printed the WWALS op-ed Friday 1 August 2014, as “Much opposition”.

So that’s at least two newspapers so far, the other being the Ocala StarBanner. Continue reading

Tifton Gazette, WWALS receives Alapaha Water Trali grant

In the Tifton Gazette, WWALS receives Alapaha Water Trali grant, 27 July 2014, from the WWALS PR of 21 July 2014. WWALS Ambassador Dave Hetzel found this, and I took the picture last night at the first in-person Alapaha Water Trail Committee meeting.

So at least two newspapers carried the story. The other one was the Valdosta Daily Times, 22 July 2014, WWALS gets grant from river network, in which Matthew Woody added some detail beyond the press release. Continue reading

WWALS gets grant from river network –VDT

Statewide organization recognizes WWALS Watershed Coalition, plus local direct and indirect economic benefits of an Alapaha Water Trail, wrote the reporter who called me yesterday about the WWALS PR. -jsq

Matthew Woody wrote for the Valdosta Daily Times yesterday, WWALS gets grant from river network,

The Willacoochee, Withlacoochee, Alapaha, and Little River Systems Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) received a $500 Alapaha Water Trail Grant from the Georgia River Network. John Quarterman, president of WWALS, said that making a water trail on the Alapaha River involves mapping out the river and putting out guide posts. The maps will show where boat ramps are along the river.

This grant goes beyond maps and guide posts; it signifies that a statewide organization recognizes South Georgia rivers.

“The grant for the Alapaha Water Trail is Continue reading

WWALS receives Alapaha Water Trail grant from Georgia River Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WWALS receives Alapaha Water Trail grant from Georgia River Network

Adel, GA, July 21st 2014 — The statewide umbrella group Georgia River Network has awarded a grant to WWALS Watershed Coalition to help conserve the mostly-undiscovered recreational and economic gem of the Alapaha River by constructing an Alapaha Water Trail (ART). WWALS invites landowners, local governments, and the public to participate.

Brown’s Guide to Georgia describes the Alapaha as “jungle-like in its remoteness and luxurious with exotic vegetation, the dark reddish-brown waters of the Alapaha wind through a swampy wonderland teeming with wildlife.”

A Water Trail or blueway will help more people see this local gem, raising awareness to conserve it, more than outweighing the minimal disturbance of signs and boats. WWALS will draw on GRN’s extensive experience with Water Trails on other rivers in Georgia.

WWALS will center the initial blueway section Continue reading

WWALS at Earth Day by SAVE

WWALS will have a table at Earth Day today, 1PM in the Magnolia Room, University Center, VSU. That’s on the east side of Patterson Street, just south of Brookwood Drive from Drexel Park.

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Billboard for Withlacoochee Paddle Event 2014-04-19

This billboard has already been spotted on Bemiss Road in Valdosta.

Please join us at 7:30 AM Saturday 19 April 2014 on the Withlacoochee River between Valdosta and Quitman, to put in at Old Quitman Road on the Brooks County side (just south of US 84) and paddle past where the proposed Sabal Trail methane pipeline would cross the Withlacoochee River, Continue reading

WWALS Brochure 2013-08-30

Update 2015-02-12: See newer version.

New WWALS brochure, with new board and recent events such as the Big LITTLE RIVER Paddle Race.

PDF | JPG page 1 | JPG page 2 | flickr (various sizes)

Page 1 Page 2
Brochure by Karan Rawlins for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

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