Thanks to Kim Bednarek, Executive Director of the Okefenokee Swamp Park, we now know the answer to what puzzled the Clinch County Commission when they reserved $50,000 for cash match for a Dark Sky Observatory: where will it be?
![[Dark Sky Observatory, Cultural and Natural History around the Okefenokee Swamp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-10-19--okefenokee-world-heritage-site-bid/many.jpg)
Dark Sky Observatory, Cultural and Natural History around the Okefenokee Swamp
The answer is: to the left of Eco Lodge Drive, as you approach the Suwannee River Eco-Lodge, north of Fargo on US 441. Continue reading
Update 2923-11-10: Eddyline kayak raffle tickets for each $100 in WWALS Day of Giving this month 2023-11-10.
You can donate anytime this month to help support the mission of WWALS
in this #GAGives day of giving fundraiser:
https://www.gagives.org/story/Wwals-Gagives2023
WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.
WWALS Vision: A healthy watershed with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water.
Your donation will help WWALS encourage citizens to become more active in watershed conservation, benefiting our local economy, ecology, and community, including boating, fishing, and hunting. If you like, you can also donate more in time to help us all with boatable, fishable, swimmable rivers and clean drinking water.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
National Geographic lists the Okefenokee Swamp among “The World’s most beautiful places, 100 Unforgettable Destinations,” along with the Everglades, the Amazon River, Yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Pyramids, and the Great Wall of China.
![[Okefenokee Swamp among the 100 Most Beautiful Places, National Geographic 2013-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-06-01--okefenokee-national-geographic/many.jpg)
Okefenokee Swamp among the 100 Most Beautiful Places, National Geographic 2013-06
Seems like that should help the UNESCO World Heritage Site bid for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR). Many of those 100 places are already UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
ONWR Manager Michael Lusk explained the Refuge, and then held up that copy of National Geographic. Continue reading
Yesterday, September 11, 2023, the Clinch County Commission unanimously passed a resolution supporting the Okefenokee Swamp and the Suwannee River against the proposed titanium mine, and set aside $50,000 as cash match for a Dark Sky Observatory next to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR).
![[Resolution and Clinch County Commission 2023-09-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-09-11--clinch-county-resolution-against-mine-for-okefenokee/many.jpg)
Resolution and Clinch County Commission 2023-09-11
You can help stop that mine.
Ask your city council or county commission to pass a resolution.
Here are other things you can do:
https://wwals.net/issues/titanium-mining/
The Clinch County resolution includes:
“7. Request the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to move the
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from a tentative list to become
a full UNESCO World Heritage Site, and support a bill by a
bipartisan coalition of members of Congress in support of that move.”
As Chairman Henry Moylan remarked, the UNESCO World Heritage List is a big deal, since it goes through the U.N. and includes sites like the Pyramids and the Grand Canyon. Getting ONWR on it should attract more visitors. That list also includes Yellowstone, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, and Everglades National Parks, so it’s a bit puzzling why ONWR is not already on there.
Resolution Against Strip Mine in the Okefenokee Swamp
Video: https://youtu.be/36S7GqrfdWE
The Dark Sky project involves Continue reading
This aired a few days ago on PBS: Suwannee: Wild River, in the series AMERICA OUTDOORS WITH BARATUNDE THURSTON, Season 2 Episode 1 | 53m 8s.
The Suwannee is one of the last wild rivers in America, and its watershed creates woods and wetlands, marshes, and cave systems. From its headwaters in the Okefenokee Swamp, Baratunde journeys downstream, meeting colorful denizens of the Suwannee. From jet skiers to herpetologists, manatees to snapping turtles, he learns how this unique environment inspires a whole range of passions.
It’s on YouTube: Continue reading
Update 2023-09-13: About WWALS River Revue on The Spotlight Show, Talk92.1 FM 2023-09-14.
How WWALS water quality testing discovered cow manure was contaminating the Withlacoochee River and got it (mostly) fixed.
About that titanium dioxide strip mine proposed too near the Okefenokee Swamp, plus trash and water trails.
Thanks to Bryan Blount for inviting me on WKUB 105.1 FM, from Pierce County, Georgia.
This is Part 2. See also Part 1 about the WWALS River Revue sit-down fundraising dinner, with three speakers, silent auction, and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, all 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.
Tickets are available online only here:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/
![[Suwannee Riverkeeper against a strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, on WKUB FM 2023-09-07]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-09-07--wkub-fm-testing-cows-okefenokee-mine/many.jpg)
Suwannee Riverkeeper against a strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, on WKUB FM 2023-09-07
For more Continue reading
Cedar Key is getting high winds from Hurricane Idalia, and Steinhatchee’s weather camera is offline, while the National Weather Service has added more Georgia counties to its Hurricane Watch; all Florida Suwannee River Basin Counties were already in Hurricane Watch.
If you’re in Florida, hunker down. If you’re in Georgia, you may have time for some last-minute preparations. Either way, most schools and businesses are closed today in the Hurricane Watch counties, so there’s not much need to go out in the rain and wind.
Also, don’t buy water in plastic bottles. Fill pots, jugs, buckets, and bathtubs with tap or well water.
Watch your local county or city Emergency Management Agency. Have your power utility outage number handy.
Dear central and south Florida urban sophisticates: we know you’re used to this. In the rural Suwannee River Basin a Category 3 hurricane is unusual, especially one making landfall where it is, and likely to stay a hurricane so far inland.
Also, many of us remember Hurricane Michael, which only five years ago devastated the Florida Big Bend and trashed Albany, Georgia, on a path only a bit farther west than Hurricane Idalia. So this is not a joke to those of us who live here.
Better safe than sorry.
Since our last post, NWS JAX has added to the Hurricane Watch Suwannee River Basin Georgia counties Thomas, Cook, Berrien, Atkinson, and Coffee, along with more counties northeastward, Jeff Davis, Bacon, Pierce, Brantley, Apppling, Appling, Wayne, Tatnall, Long, Evans, and along the coast McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan, and Chatham Counties. All the Florida Suwannee River Basin Counties were already on Hurricane Watch.
All the nearby Georgia and Florida counties are on Tropical Storm Warning, as far west as Albany in Dougherty County. Continue reading
Update 2023-08-30: Hurricane Idalia landing in Florida, more Georgia counties on Hurricane Watch 2023-08-30.
The Georgia governor has declared a State of Emergency about Hurricane Idalia for the entire state.
![[Georgia State of Emergency, Hurricane Watch Counties 2023-08-29 14:27]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-29--hurricane-idalia-georgia/many.jpg)
Georgia State of Emergency, Hurricane Watch Counties 2023-08-29 14:27
Like the earlier Florida State of Emergency, this Georgia one mobilizes numerous state agencies and enables cooperation with relevant federal agencies.
The Executive Order does not name any counties, but the press release names almost all the Suwannee River Basin Counties on the GA-FL line (Brooks, Lowndes, Echols, Clinch, Ware, and Charlton), plus Lanier, but not Thomas. Continue reading
Update 2023-12-01: South Georgia Naturalist Chris Adams to speak at WWALS Griffis Fish Campout and Okefenokee Swamp and Suwannee River Paddle 2023-11-08.
Join us to camp overnight Friday at Griffis Fish Camp.
On Saturday, paddle 9.5 miles down the Suwannee River from SCFSP through the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the Narrows, and the Sill to Griffis, to camp overnight again.
Each night, build a campfire and start cooking.
When: Arrive 4 PM, Friday, December 8, 2023, sunset 5:26 PM.
Gather 9 AM, Saturday, December 9, 2023, launch 9:30 AM, sunset 5:26 PM
Sunday, December 10, 2023, wake up and head on home.
Campground: Griffis Fish Camp, 10333 Ga Highway 177 Fargo, Georgia 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel 10 miles northeast; Griffis Fish Camp is on left, in Clinch County.
Campground GPS: 30.78246, -82.443594
Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park, in Charlton County.
Put In GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333
![[Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp, Griffis Fish Camp, Campfire Cooking]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-12-08--griffis-fish-camp-suwannee/fbmany.jpg)
Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp, Griffis Fish Camp, Campfire Cooking
Update 2023-11-18: Pictures: Arriving Floyd’s Island, Okefenokee Swamp 2023-11-04.
Update 2023-09-06:
The park limits reservations on Floyd’s Island to 20 people.
To reserve your spot, RSVP on the meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/withlacoochee-alapaha-suwannee-rivers-wwals-outings/events/295388408/
You will also need to pay for your 20th of the reservation fee through the eventbrite ticket you will find on the meetup.
Update 2023-09-05: Floyd’s Island is reserved for WWALS for this outing.
Update 2023-08-14: SCFSP campsite is closed for renovations from November 1, 2023, until January 2025. But you can still pre-camp at Griffis Fish Camp if you reserve early.
Join us (pending a reservation for the island) to paddle 9 miles upstream in the Okefenokee for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island, which is the most remote place in Georgia: the farthest from any road, with very dark sky.
This primitive campout is a remote wilderness experience in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, appropriate for any level but be sure that you’re comfortable paddling your loaded kayak 9 miles against a current to get to the island. There is only one rest stop on the trail, Minnie’s Lake Platform at the 4 mile mark.
Coming back on Sunday the current will be with us all the way, making for an easy trip out on the most scenic trail in the swamp with plenty of wildlife viewing.
There is a portapotty at Minnie’s Lake and another at Floyd’s Island. No potable water, bring everything you need for two days. There is plenty of room for any type tent or hammock. The historic Floyd’s Cabin is also open.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, Saturday, November 4, 2023, overnight and return Sunday
Put In:
Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp (SCFSP), 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.
Plan accordingly to arrive on time, phone service is mostly nonexistent once you leave Fargo, Ga. and drive the 17 miles to Stephen C. Foster State Park.
![[Ready at SCFSP John S. Quarterman 2022-11-19, at Floyd's Island --Gretchen Quarterman 2022-11-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-11-04--floyds-island-camping-okefenokee/many.jpg)
Ready at SCFSP John S. Quarterman 2022-11-19, at Floyd’s Island –Gretchen Quarterman 2022-11-06
![[FB: WWALS #GAGives 2023]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-11-02--day-of-giving/fbmany.jpg)
![[Baratunde Thurston in the Okefenokee Swamp and Rev. Antoine Nixon at the Suwannee Canal on PBS 2023-09-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-09-06--pbs-suwannee/many.jpg)
![[Hurricane Watch in more Georgia Counties, High winds at Cedar Key, Hurricane Idalia, 2023-08-30 06:00]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-30--hurricane-idalia-landing-florida-expanding-georgia/many.jpg)