Category Archives: River

Against Sabal Trail in Savannah 2015-05-21

Like Kinder Morgan and its Palmetto Project through southeast Georgia, Spectra Energy, also of Houston, acts entitled to gouge its Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline through southwest Georgia, taking local lands, causing widespread environmental destruction, and risking leaks and explosions local and state taxes would have to pay for. Come hear about the fight so far against this invader and some ideas on what to do next, 7PM Thursday May 21st in Savannah. WWALS President John S. Quarterman and an affected landowner will speak.

State and local taxes will end up paying to clean up any leaks or explosions from either pipeline: both Spectra Energy from Houston, half owner of Sabal Trail, and Kinder Morgan from Houston, behind the Palmetto Project, tell the SEC every year they don’t have enough insurance to cover major incidents. Push Back the Pipeline, recently convinced Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to oppose the Palmetto pipeline, and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, too. Maybe they can help persuade both to oppose Sabal Trail.

Connect Savannah, today, (also on Push Back the Pipeline), Georgia’s Other Unwanted and Unneeded Pipeline,

When: Thu., May 21, 7 p.m.
Phone: 912-961-6190
Price: Free
Where: First Presbyterian Church
520 Washington Ave Savannah-Eastside
912-354-7615
www.fpc.presbychurch.net

The Palmetto Pipeline is not the only pipeline project in Georgia Continue reading

Winners of 3rd Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race 2015-05-16

Sunny with a light breeze, not too hot, not too cold, water low and a bit slow, but a fine time was had by all, at the BIG Little River Paddle Race Saturday 16 May 2015 in Reed Bingham State Park. Well, Dwight Griner did clock in slower than the previous two years, but the low water probably caused that, and he still won again.

WWALS thanks Friends of Reed Bingham (FORB), the sponsors, the volunteers who helped, and especially the paddlers. Here we see race organizer Bret Wagenhorst calling out the names of the winners, with Treasurer Gretchen Quarterman handing out the prizes; Ambassador Dave Hetzel also said a few words about WWALS.

Overall winner and still champion: Dwight Griner

300x225 Overall winner and still champion: Dwight Griner, in BIG Little River Paddle Race, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 16 May 2015

Mixed 2 person canoe winners: Underwood and Cummings

Continue reading

Rotary, Hospital, and Doctor sponsor paddle race Saturday at Reed Bingham State Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:PDF

Valdosta, May 15th, 2015 — Three sponsors have signed up for the third annual BIG Little River Paddle Race on Saturday, May 16, 2015: Tifton Rotary Club, Cook Medical Center, and Bret Wagenhorst, MD. You can register at the event tomorrow morning. Last year also saw paddlers from as away as New York and Pennsylvania and even a couple from Germany. Come have a grand time paddling with friends, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters.

Bring your canoe or kayak or rent one at Reed Bingham State Park for this fundraiser for Friends of Reed Bingham State Park and WWALS Watershed Coalition. The course runs Continue reading

Boating with Gwyneth on Lake Lewis and the Alapaha River 2015-05-25

Update 2015-05-17: Upcoming events.

Memorial Day Monday, Gwyneth Moody of Georgia River Network will be down from Athens to see some sights on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). You are invited to boat among the birds at 9AM on Lake Lewis with WWALS and Gwyneth, to discuss the ARWT over lunch at Puerta vel Sol in Nashville, GA, and then to paddle upstream on the Alapaha River from Berrien Beach at GA 168. Continue reading

Linkage between ground water and surface water –USGS

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

BIG Little River Paddle Race in Tifton Gazette 2014 2015-04-26

300x197 FullSizeRender, in BIG Little River Paddle Race in Tifton Gazette, by Bret Wagenhorst, for WWALS.net, 26 April 2015 The Tifton newspaper carried the press release Sunday April 26th about the May 16th BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park. You can register online. Continue reading

Third Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race PR 2015-05-16

PDF, Registration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Charity paddle event to take place at Reed Bingham State Park

Valdosta, April 27th, 2015 — You are invited to paddle in the third annual BIG Little River Paddle Race on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Bring your canoe or kayak or Continue reading

Draft map of Alapaha River Water Trail

What do you think of the April 26th 2015 draft map of the Alapaha River Water Trail?

How about the table of access points?

And water levels? What do you think is too high or too low on each gauge for paddling?

Here’s your chance to help tune the materials before WWALS goes to press in the next week or two with maps, brochures, and cards for the Alapaha River Water Trail.

-jsq

Tannin tea color of blackwater rivers

A major feature of coastal plain blackwater rivers is their tea color, ranging from yellow to red, from tannins from oak trees. Pretty close to it is the background color of this paragraph, RGB #FF9933, or 0 40 80 0 CMYK, or Pantone Solid Coated 1375 C. Here are some examples from three of WWALS’ rivers.

Come see for yourself at upcoming WWALS outings, such as:

Alapaha River Rise, Suwannee River, and Sabal Trail Pipeline, WWALS Outing 2015-08-15

Update 2015-07-27: Pictures and new pipeline information at this link.

After the Alapaha River sinks into the Florida Aquifer, some of it comes back up at the Alapaha Rise, which actually flows into the Suwannee River, a bit upstream from the Alapaha Confluence. Come with WWALS to the Alapaha Rise, then down the Suwannee River past the Confluences of both the Alapaha and the Withlacoochee Rivers, seeing the proposed site of the Sabal Trail Pipeline on the way.

This is a pretty easy outing, but the Suwannee is deep, so as always bring your personal flotation device. If you need a boat, let us know, and we can find you one.

When:8AM Saturday, August 15th, 2015
What: 8 mile paddle from Gibson Park to Suwannee River State Park, with a side trip upstream first to the Alapaha Rise, then downstream past the Alapaha-Suwannee confluence, the proposed Sabal Trail Pipeline crossing, and ending at the Withlacoochee confluence, taking out at Suwannee River State Park.
Duration: 4 hours, after a 30 minute shuttle.
Directions: Florida Highway 6 in Hamilton County, Florida, west to CR751 South to park just before the river.
Responsible party: Chris Mericle

This event is FREE! All we ask is that you are a current member of WWALS Watershed Coalition. If not, it’s easy to join online today at /donations/. You do not have to be a member to come on this outing. If you like the experience, we recommend that you join to support the efforts of WWALS. Continue reading