Come help WWALS celebrate spring with 30,000 of our south Georgia and north Florida friends, at the WWALS booth at the Azalea Festival in Valdosta, Georgia, all day this Saturday and Sunday in Drexel Park.
Come talk to us about our outings and advocacy (yes, including Valdosta trash and sewage), our Water Trails, the pictures for sale Gretchen took of our rivers, notecards, stickers, hats, t-shirts, plus a kayak raffle. Continue reading
Update 2024-03-09: Clean rivers and creek 2024-03-06.
Update 2024-03-03: Now with Alapaha River at Lakeland and Naylor and Santa Fe River at U.S. 27, all also clean.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers and Franks Creek.
Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results through Monday are good.
There has been very little rain for a week. Rain is predicted for today, Saturday, and Sunday, but probably not very much.
The rivers are down to good paddling levels, and it’s not cold. So bring rain gear, and happy paddling, fishing, and maybe swimming this weekend.
Join us tomorrow, Saturday morning, at Langdale Park Boat Ramp for the Fifth Annual Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, Withlacoochee River.
![[Chart, Clean Rivers and Franks Creek, Map 2024-02-28]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-28--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Clean Rivers and Franks Creek, Map 2024-02-28
No sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida in the past week.
But four were reported in Georgia.
Remember Valdosta’s two small 100-gallon sewage spills on February 20, at Three Mile Branch from Knob Hill Road, and into One Mile Branch from Boone Drive @ Baytree Road, which drains into Sugar Creek, then to the Withlacoochee River?
Well, Valdosta had another spill at 215 Knob Hill Road, 1,500 gallons each from there and from two overflow sites nearby. Yes, that drains into Three Mile Branch which goes into the Withlacoochee River along the route of the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle. But 4,500 gallons should be small enough to be diluted and washed away by now.
Ashburn last Wednesday had yet another spill, 1,500 gallons from its MLK Lift Station into Ashburn Branch, which runs into the Little River. Continue reading
Update 2024-03-01: Clean rivers and creek 2024-02-28.
Update 2024-02-28: Three small Valdosta spills into Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River 2024-02-27.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, and Suwannee Rivers, and Franks Creek.
Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results through Monday are good. Although I recently remarked that Valdosta was better lately about posting its results in a timely manner, Valdosta’s Wednesday results are still not posted.
The rain predicted for yesterday turned out to be a drizzle. No more rain is predicted for a week.
So if you like high, fast, and cold water, this weekend is good for paddling. Maybe fishing. Swimming with a wetsuit.
However, the Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers are up from previous upstream rains. The Santa Fe River is coming back down. The Suwannee was never especially high. I’d recommend the Ichetucknee, Suwannee, or Santa Fe Rivers for this weekend, or Banks Lake this evening. Continue reading
Update 2024-02-24: Clean Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers and Franks Creek 2024-02-21.
With this new testing lab, will Valdosta resume testing downstream at Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State LIne on the Withlacoochee River, and a US 84 on Okapilco Creek?
Meanwhile, with the current head of Utilities, Valdosta is more timely in posting its upstream water quality results.
![[WWTP in WLRWT and Valdosta Utilities]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-05--wwtp-testing-lab/igmany.jpg)
WWTP in WLRWT and Valdosta Utilities
Received yesterday.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 2024
CONTACT: Sharah’ Denton, Community Relations & Marketing Manager
Telephone: (229) 259-3548
sdenton@valdostacity.comRibbon Cutting Ceremony for Withlacoochee Lab Facility
The City of Valdosta is pleased to announce the inauguration of its new Withlacoochee (WPCP) Lab Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for March 5 at 10 am. The event will take place at the plant’s location, 3182 Wetherington Lane.
Continue reading
Update 2024-02-24: Clean Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers and Franks Creek 2024-02-21.
Update 2024-02-22: Valdosta Boone Drive and Knob Hill small sewage spills 2024-02-20.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers, and Franks Creek.
Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results through Wednesday are good.
Rain is predicted for this weekend, through Saturday. But if there is not much rain, paddling Sunday should be OK. If you like high water, since the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers are up from previous upstream rains. The Santa Fe River is coming back down. The Suwannee was never especially high.
WWALS has two outings coming up on Saturday, February 24, 2024: the morning paddle from Knights Ferry to Nankin on the Withlacoochee River, and the evening Full Snow Moon paddle on Banks Lake.
And of course don’t forget that Saturday, March 2, is the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle from Langdale Park to Troupville on the Withlacoochee River. That one is free, thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power.
![[Chart, Clean Franks Creek and Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers 2024-02-14, Map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-14--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Clean Franks Creek and Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers 2024-02-14, Map
No sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida in the past week.
But one was reported in Georgia. Ashburn had a spill of 3,000 gallons of raw sewage into Ashburn Branch, which flows into the Little River. Continue reading
Tom Baird, archaeologist of Tallahassee, Florida, gave the second WWALS Webinar, this one about the history and archaeology of the Withlacoochee River in Georgia and Florida.
“Tom talked about arrowpoints, fish weirs, spears, atlatls, mounds, missions, wood mills, and ghost towns, as well as current threats to the Withlacoochee River and archaeological opportunities,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.
![[Paddles Through Time by Tom Baird]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-15--wwals-webinar-tom-baird-videos/fbmany.jpg)
Paddles Through Time by Tom Baird
Tom Baird is an education consultant who has previously worked as a high school teacher, community college instructor (oceanography and microbiology), director of a science and environmental center, supervisor of science (K-12) in Pasco Co., FL, Director of Science (PreK-12) in Pinellas Co. FL, Principal of a math/science/technology magnet high school in Pinellas Co., FL, and director of a National Science Foundation program.
Tom was introduced by WWALS President Sara Jay Jones, who received a copy of Tom’s book during the webinar. Continue reading
Update 2024-02-16: Clean rivers and creek 2024-02-14.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers.
Valdosta’s Monday upstream Withlacoochee River and Three Mile Branch results were too high after the Sunday rain. Thanks to Valdosta Acting Utilities Director Jason Barnes for the Valdosta Wednesday results at GA 133 (OK) and US 84 (bad). He promises those and the US 41 (North Valdosta Road) Wednesday results will be on valdostacity.com website next week.
No rain is predicted for this weekend.
In the past week, no sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
So I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River from US 84 to the state line, but other than that, happy fishing, paddling, and swimming this weekend.
![[Chart, Three Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-07]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-07--wq/igmany.jpg)
Chart, Three Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-07
Or join us tomorrow (Saturday) for Ichetucknee Polar Plunge and Paddle or Sunday for Sugar Creek to Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup. Continue reading
Update 2024-02-09: Three clean rivers 2024-02-07.
We got good results for Wednesday the Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers. Valdosta’s Wednesday upstream Withlacoochee River results concur.
There is prediction of rain on Sunday, but you can get on the water before then.
So happy fishing, paddling, and swimming this weekend.
Or join us today (Saturday) for Finish: Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, 2024-02-03.
![[Chart, Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-01]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-01--wq/igmany.jpg)
Chart, Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-01
For once, there were more spills in Florida than in Georgia, although not all were sewage.
One sewage spill was reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia for last Friday, from Quitman. It first appeared in the Monday, January 29, 2024, GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report, with little detail. Continue reading
You can learn how to help test water quality in the Suwannee River Basin.
WWALS testing trainer Gretchen Quarterman will do the classroom portion of the course by zoom,
followed by hands-on practical training at a waterway with physical distancing.
will teach both chemical and bacterial training in person. There is a classroom portion with demonstration, followed by practical and test for each class. Classroom materials will be provided. The tests are on paper and are to be taken on-site.
This is both Chemical and Bacterial training by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) methods.
Yes, we can and do use this in Florida as well as Georgia, and we have testers based in Florida.
![[WWALS Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Testing Training 2024-02-10]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-10--wq-testing-training/igmany.jpg)
WWALS Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Testing Training 2024-02-10
We currently have testers on the Little, Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Ichetucknee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers.
We need more of those, and also for the Alapahoochee River, as well as Cat Creek, Beatty Branch, Sugar Creek, Okapilco Creek, and others.
For more, see: https://wwals.net/testing/
Sign up: https://forms.gle/37DawiGAJYoyqtPKA Continue reading
Join us on The Spotlight Show on talk921.com at 6 PM, Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and “Diamond” Jim Halter will talk about chainsaw cleanups, the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, the Okefenokee Swamp, the Ichetucknee Springs and River, and the 2024 WWALS River Revue coming up this September.
![[Suwannee Riverkeeper on The Spotlight Show, 6-7 PM, Thursday, February 1, 2024]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-01--spotlight-show-talk92.1-radio/igmany.jpg)
Suwannee Riverkeeper on The Spotlight Show, 6-7 PM, Thursday, February 1, 2024
https://www.facebook.com/events/792834679536648/
-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/
![[WWALS Booth at Azalea Festival 2024-03-09-10, One Mile Branch, Drexel Park, Valdosta, Georgia. Photos: John S. Quarterman 2024-03-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-09--azalea-festival/fbmany.jpg)