Today (Tuesday) and Thursday, public workshops about Florida’s newest state park, Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park.
When:
5:30-8PM, Tuesday,
November 28, 2017
Where:
23760 NW 187th Avenue,
High Springs, FL 32643
Santa Fe Room,
Old School Community Center
When:
5:30-8PM, Thursday,
November 30, 2017
Where:
105 NE 11th Avenue,
Trenton, FL 32643
Gilchrist County
Public Library
A COPY OF THE AGENDA MAY BE OBTAINED BY Continue reading
Aaron Sirmons sent these pictures. He was tipped off by Guy Bryant.
Apparently the church used to use the spring for baptisms. Continue reading
Next Tuesday in Live Oak, the latest on BMAPs.
To: Suwannee River Basin BMAP Stakeholders
From: Terry Hansen, Basin CoordinatorReminder: A meeting for the Lower and Middle Suwannee River, Withlacoochee River, and associated springs Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) is scheduled for November 14th, 2017. Note that everyone is welcome to attend. The primary purpose of this meeting is to discuss and receive comments on the draft BMAP document. The Department requests that you please submit any comments on the draft document by COB Thursday, November 30th, 2017.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
6:00 PM,
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR49
Live Oak, FL 32060
Photo: John S. Quarterman, from BMAPs: Agriculture and water at the Suwannee River Basin crossroads 2017-04-13A meeting agenda Continue reading
Update 2025-09-13: Updated format, fixed typos, and added a map.
Floridians worried about springs drying up: it already happened to this one. A sad channel with no flow in Saunders Park once was a large and famous spring-fed pool, remembered by many in Valdosta, Georgia, both those who went there and those who were refused. Continue reading
Fun was had by all at the WWALS booth at South Georgia Pride, in Saunders Park, Valdosta, Georgia, September 16, 2017. Plus we saw the remains of an artesian spring. Here are pictures plus a google map.
The good news: no wastewater spills from Valdosta since January.
And Valdosta has a new Utilities Director: Darryl Muse, formerly of Ocala, Marion County, Florida.
While at Ocala, Muse handled converting septic tanks to city sewer
and a wastewater plant upgrade,
both to protect springs.
Maybe he will be more sympathetic to people downstream in Florida than
certain officials still with the City of Valdosta.
Having completed the installation of the new Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant and the the force main at the Y on Gornto, Continue reading
Come ask Gretchen questions this Thursday morning, 10-11AM, at VSU’s Continuing Education building in midtown Valdosta.
When: 10AM to 11AM, Thursday, August 31, 2017
Where:
VSU Continuing Education
903 N Patterson St, Valdosta, Georgia 31698
Event: facebook
Gretchen Quarterman speaking at a WWALS public meeting at VSU last spring
WWALS will be offering an interactive lecture at Valdosta State Learning in Retirement Fall Session. We will talk about the watershed of the Suwannee Basin, the Floridan Aquifer, current challenges, and how together we can make sure our water is swimmable, fishable, and drinkable.
Continue readingUpdate 2025-10-13: Pictures in updated format.
Back by popular request, 9.1 miles past two of the six second-magnitude springs in Georgia, into and back out of Florida, over numerous shoals, on the tea-colored Withlacoochee River in the fall, all on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.
When: 9AM Saturday, October 14, 2017
Put In: Nankin Boat Ramp, MILE 36.3, 6899 Clyattville-Nankin Rd, Valdosta, GA 31601, in Lowndes County.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, water, snacks, trash bag, and trash picker: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup! If you do not have a boat, let us know, and probably somebody can loan you one, or contact one of the many outfitters.
Free: This outing is Free! And we recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Take Out: Madison Highway Boat Ramp, MILE Continue reading
Seems like this course by the Florida Springs Institute should also be of interest to agricultural managers, especially now that the BMAPs indicate massive reduction in nitrate runoff into springs.
Sunday, August 20th – Wednesday, August 23rd
Ocala National ForestThis year’s Springs Field School is scheduled for four days of outdoor activities and springs education in The Ocala National Forest! Field trip locations include Silver Springs State Park, Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, and Silver Glen Springs. We will be camping and lodging at Lake in The Forest Black Bear Resort, central to the over 600 Ocala National Forests lakes, rivers, and springs! Each day of Field School will consist of about four hours of field trips and four hours of lectures with breaks during the day for meals.
Who Should Participate in Springs Field School? Continue reading
Yes, Hardee Spring is accessible by land, off of 34th Street NW, Jennings, Florida, aka Hardee Camp Road, but it’s on private land. It’s on one of four parcels totaling 305 acres, with 8,000 feet (1.6 miles) of river frontage and a lodge, which can be yours for a mere $8.5 million. Maybe Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) should buy it, since SRWMD already owns the next properties upstream and downstream on the Withlacoochee River. Or maybe it should be turned into a state park. Or maybe somebody wants to donate it to WWALS for an office location.
Map from SRWMD
PARCEL ASSESSMENT SUMMARY.
![[Barber Pool, former spring, Saunders Park, Valdosta GA, E.R. Barber, Coca-Cola, Sugar Creek, Withlacoochee River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2017-09-29--barber-pool/many.jpg)