I still see EPA’s new Clean Water Rule
as a good thing, since it protects drinking water,
paddling, and fishing, while opponents remain quite vague about
what might be wrong with it.
After last year’s comment period, U.S. EPA has posted a prepublication version of its final Clean Water Rule.
Katie Shepherd, L.A. Times, 27 May 2015, Under new EPA rule, Clean Water Act protections will cover all active tributaries, Continue reading
WWALS has long opposed the unnecessary, environmentally destructive,
and hazardous Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline,
see for example
the 3 April 2015 front page Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
Now Sabal Trail has sued a landowner in a WWALS watershed county.
Everyone who can, please attend the hearing or send letters.
When: 9:30 AM 28 May 2015 Continue reading
Still spewing.
Yet more documentation on why gouging a pipeline under the Withlacoochee River, or through this Valdosta Limesink area anywhere, would be a bad idea:
In most watersheds (river basins) in Florida the interactions between ground water and surface water typically result in a single dynamic flow system. This direct hydraulic linkage results from numerous karst features (such as sinkholes, conduit systems in the underlying limestone, and springs) that facilitate the exchange of water between the surface and subsurface (fig. 1). Unique problems can arise in protecting water quality in karst areas because of the direct and rapid transport of recharge through conduits to the subsurface and through resurgence by springs. In some areas, recharge from unknown drainage pathways to areas of discharge may contribute to chemical and biological contamination of water supplies. Such contamination in karst areas has been documented by many studies.
Yes, it says Florida, but the geology doesn’t stop at the state line, as USGS spelled out in a 1999 study of the Withlacoochee River. It works like this in Georgia, too: Continue reading
Update 2014-04-25 11:AM: Unfortunately the whole event has been cancelled.
Come hear from
Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.)
about fossil fuel divestment
and other environmental issues, 1-4PM today in Drexel Park, NE corner of Patterson Street and Brookwood Avenue;
Facebook event. Rain location: University Center, just south of Brookwood.
WWALS will have Alapaha River Water Trail brochures, flyers for the Third Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race 2015-05-16 and other WWALS events, plus news about opposition to the Sabal Trail pipeline.
WWALS and S.A.V.E. have long been allied in opposing the Sabal Trail pipeline, and in proposing fossil fuel divestment. WWALS sent a letter to the VSU Foundation 18 October 2013 quoting S.A.V.E.: Continue reading
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LEE COUNTY
STATE OF GEORGIA
|
SABAL TRAIL TRANSMISSION, LLC,
Plaintiff,
vs.
JAMES E. BELL, II and ROBERT A. BELL,
Defendants. |
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : |
Civil Action No. 14-CV-208RS
|
AMICUS CURIAE OF WWALS WATERSHED COALITION, Inc.
IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS THE BELLS
COMES NOW WWALS WATERSHED COALITION, INC. (WWALS), as friends of the court and concerned citizens in the above-entitled action in support of the Defendants and file this their brief with the court in the above referenced case and states as follows and provides in support thereof the following:
Continue readingWe’ve already seen Hamilton County’s RESOLUTION 2015-02 of 3 March 2015. Madison County followed 11 March 2015, as reported by Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson for Our Santa Fe River, The Commissioners of Madison County—THEY ROCK!!
This morning the Commissioners of Madison County concluded their business by unanimously signing a resolution to ban fracking and to support the bills in Tallahassee which do that. County Attorney Tommy Reeves was johnny-on-the-spot ready with the resolution so there was no delay there.
Continue reading
Yes, it seems like robbery, and no, we don’t have to tolerate any of this.
Satilla Riverkeeper’s board member Clay Montague wrote in the Camden County Tribune & Georgian 26 March 2015, Don’t risk river for foreign oil sales,
Dear Editor,
A fuel pipeline across the Satilla River is a danger to our county. Imagine a broken pipe spilling fuel into the Satilla for just one day.
Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline would transport 167,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products to Jacksonville, Fla. It will likely cross the Satilla about a mile downstream of Burnt Fort. The river is tidal there. Any spill will quickly head both directions, spreading fuel into swamps and marshes, killing fish and trees, and reach the beaches of Cumberland and Jekyll.
How much is 167,000 barrels? Continue reading
Update 2017-09-13: The Lowndes County Commissioners surprisingly agreed to rezone “backwards” to Estate A gricultural (E-A) at their Regular Session of 14 April 2015.
A historic dairy farm wants to go back to the most agricultural zoning,
upstream on Cherry Creek from the
Cherry Creek Sink that leaks into the
Floridan Aquifer.
Vallotton Farms (both the part outlined in red
that appears to be the subject of the rezoning and the bigger part west of Bemiss Road) includes quite a bit of Cherry Creek itself.
Agriculture is probably better than other likely uses in such a location. Continue reading
Calls from Atlanta and from downstream in Florida about the
three Valdosta wastewater overflows in February prompted WWALS as the local watershed organization to contact
the City of Valdosta about organizing a presentation to the interested parties.
Valdosta presented less than two weeks later, and brought their entire hierarchy related to this issue, from the mayor on down. Plus Lowndes County, which isn’t even responsible for Valdosta’s wastewater, was represented by their Chairman and a Commissioner.
In
Valdosta’s slides and the LAKE videos of that meeting of Tuesday 17 March 2015,
you can see many questions were answered, but some are still open. Continue reading