Category Archives: Weather

Clean Withlacoochee River after Hurricane Helene, but much flooding and storm damage 2024-10-02

Update 2024-10-06: Clean Withlacoochee River, but some stretches flooding, and more rains coming 2024-10-04.

Valdosta’s Wednesday water quality samples show the Withlacoochee River clean after Hurricane Helene. Valdosta’s Wednesday a week ago samples corroborate clean before Helene, matching WWALS testing.

There are no new WWALS test results, because none of us have had electricity, which is needed to incubate the samples at 95 F for 24 hours. Two WWALS testers have power back, so maybe some new results soon.

The weather report is sunny for the next week, although you never know what might blow in off the Gulf or the Atlantic.

Many national, state, and local parks are closed, especially on rivers.
https://wwals.net/?p=65987

Upstream rainfall now running downstream is causing widespread river flooding. See separate report on the Alapaha River.
https://wwals.net/?p=65990

If you can, please stay home until the power and road situations are better.

Afterwards, there will be plenty of more opportunities for pleasant paddles and chainsaw cleanups. Continue reading →

Hurricane Helene Sewage Spills 2024-09-27

Update 2024-10-06: Corrected location of Valdosta Ponderosa Lift Station (1001 Ponderosa Drive).

Update 2024-10-04: Clean Withlacoochee River after Hurricane Helene, but much flooding and storm damage 2024-10-02.

Tifton spilled 1.375 million gallons of raw sewage during Hurricane Helene, 950,000 into a creek that goes to the Little River, and the rest into creeks that go to the New River above the Withlacoochee River.

Sycamore spilled 350 gallons above Hat Creek, above the Alapaha River.

According to Valdosta Utilities Director Jason Barnes, Valdosta spilled 9,000 gallons due to a tree falling on a lift station, above Knights Creek, which goes to Mud Swamp Creek, the Alapahoochee River, and the Alapaha River. He said he has reported it to GA-EPD. Perhaps it will appear Monday in the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report.

[Tifton spilled 1.375,000 gallons, Sycamore 350, during Hurricane Helene. Valdosta spilled 9,000 gallons, tree on lift station.]
Tifton spilled 1.375,000 gallons, Sycamore 350, during Hurricane Helene. Valdosta spilled 9,000 gallons, tree on lift station.

I would avoid the directly-affected creeks. But these are all so far upstream of their rivers that the rivers were probably not much affected.

But you might check with Reed-Bingham State Park for their latest lake contamina tion report before swimming there. Continue reading →

Alapaha River Flooding 2024-10-03

Update 2024-10-04: Clean Withlacoochee River after Hurricane Helene, but much flooding and storm damage 2024-10-02.

The Alapaha River already flooded at Irwinville, Georgia and is back down. It is still in Minor Flood at Alapaha and Lakeland. If you are near the Alapaha River between US 82 and US 84, you may want to consider heading for higher ground. However, at Lakeland the river has crested and is dropping.

The river soon will be in flood at Statenville, Georgia, and Jennings, Florida. However, all of the bridges are still open.

[Alapaha River Flooding, Alapaha and Lakeland 2024-10-03, Soon at Naylor and Statenville, Then Jennings]
Alapaha River Flooding, Alapaha and Lakeland 2024-10-03, Soon at Naylor and Statenville, Then Jennings

You can see all the Alapaha River gauges at a glance on the WWALS web page Alapaha River water levels. Continue reading →

What parks are closed? 2024-10-03

Many national, state, and local parks and related facilities are closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Some were already closed due to Hurricane Debby.

Assume it’s closed unless you have other information.

[What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.]
What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.
Pictured: damage at Stephen Foster Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida. Photo: SFCSSP

Georgia

Many parks are closed all over Georgia. Here we list only the ones in or near the Suwannee River Basin.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Continue reading →

WWALS Boats 2024-09-30

In case you’ve wondered where the WWALS jon boat sleeps between chainsaw cleanups, it has a nice nest in some woods with a boat cover.

So does the raffle kayak.

[WWALS Jon Boat with Hurricane Helene debris]
WWALS Jon Boat with Hurricane Helene debris

It got a few small pine limbs on it from Hurricane Helene.

Those are gone now, and there is no damage.

[Visible WWALS Jon Boat]
Visible WWALS Jon Boat

The prop guard got broken two outings back. I have ordered two more: one to go on, and one for a spare.

The tarps blew off the boat rack, but the kayaks and canoes are undamaged.

[Kayaks and Canoes; Raffle kayak is top center; Canoe also belongs to WWALS]
Kayaks and Canoes; Raffle kayak is top center; Canoe also belongs to WWALS

The raffle Skimmer 128 Hurricane kayak is top center. One of three WWALS canoes is bottom center; the other two are under steel roofs. My kayak is on the left. Gretchen’s kayaks are on the right.

On the TODO list is to build a better boat rack. We already have the steel roof for it, courtesy of a roofing job after Hurricane Debby.

 -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/

Are the rivers rising? 2024-10-01

Somebody asked: has the Suwannee River crested after Hurricane Helene? Yes, upstream from the Alapaha River (Nobles Ferry Gauge) and downstream from the Santa Fe River (Rock Bluff Gauge). In between (Nobles Ferry to Branford Gauge) it’s still rising, although nowhere near Action Stage.

[Flooding: Little, Withlacoochee, Alapaha Rivers 2024-10-01 Not flooding: Suwannee, Ichetucknee, New, Santa Fe Rivers]
Flooding: Little, Withlacoochee, Alapaha Rivers 2024-10-01 Not flooding: Suwannee, Ichetucknee, New, Santa Fe Rivers

The Santa Fe and New Rivers were mostly unaffected by the storm.

The Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers are or were all in flood upstream, rapidly heading downstream.

So if you must go boating, the Santa Fe River or the Middle Suwannee River are your best bets. But if you can, stay off the roads and let emergency vehicles, road crews, and utilities work.

Details below, taken from the NOAA National Water Prediction Service. NOAA is the first option in River water levels in the Suwannee River Basin 2024-08-07. Continue reading →

Probably clean rivers before Hurricane Helene, but please stay home 2024-09-25

Update 2024-10-04: Hurricane Helene Sewage Spills 2024-09-27.

Please stay home and let emergency responders, electric utilities, and road crews work.

The rivers were probably clean before Hurricane Helene. And even that unprecedented storm may not have caused many sewage spills, since rainfall many places was not as much as in previous hurricanes. But wind was extreme, and damage is widespread.

I called Valdosta Utilities Director Jason Barnes this morning and asked if he knew of any spills. “No, we’re good,” he said. Since rain on Valdosta was less than in previous hurricanes, that makes sense.

No new sewage spills were reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida. But once again, Ashburn, Georgia, reported late, showing up in the September 23 GA-EPD Sewage Spills Reportbelow.

With the hurricane rains, some contamination may have washed into the rivers. And there may have been sewage spills elsewhere not yet reported.

The weather prediction is sunny for the next week.

The rivers are rising. The Withlacoochee River at Skipper Bridge Road above Valdosta is already in Minor Flood, and that water is heading downstream.

Meanwhile, please stay home until the power and road situations are better.

Afterwards, there will be plenty of more opportunities for pleasant paddles and chainsaw cleanups.

[Please stay home after Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26 Rivers may be clean, but let utilities work.]
Please stay home after Hurricane Helene 2024-09-26 Rivers may be clean, but let utilities work.

Continue reading →

Hurricane Helene headed up the Suwannee River Basin 2024-09-26

Hurricane Helene has shifted its likely course to the east, so most of the Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia is in its path.

Since most of us seem to be in the hurricane of the month club, you probably all already know what to do. But a reminder might not hurt.

[Hurricane Helene heading to Suwannee River Basin 2024-09-26. Be prepared. Evacuate if near water.]
Hurricane Helene heading to Suwannee River Basin 2024-09-26. Be prepared. Evacuate if near water.
Map by National Hurricane Center.

According to NBC News, Helene is a Category 4 hurricane now, which means maximum sustained wind speeds of 130 miles per hour or more. Landfall is expected in a few hours, maybe as a Cat 3 (111-129 mph).

It may even be a Cat 2 (96-110 mph) well into Georgia. Even a Cat 1 (74-95 mph) is no joke, and for much of Helene’s inland path would be unprecedented.

If your county or city has an evacuation order, please pay attention. There was already flooding yesterday in Ben Hill County, Georgia, which is well more than 100 miles from the Gulf.

Even if it doesn’t, if you live near a river or a coast, heading uphill would be prudent. Continue reading →

Clean Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers 2024-09-19

Update 2024-09-28: Probably clean rivers before Hurricane Helene, but please stay home 2024-09-25.

The Withlacoochee River tested clean for Wednesday, and the Alapaha River for Thursday. Valdosta got high results for Franks Creek at Inner Perimeter, upstream of Mud Swamp Creek, the Alapahoochee River, and the Alapaha River.

No new sewage spills were reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida. However, Ashburn, Georgia, showed up in today’s GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report as having a 30,000-gallon raw sewage spill on August 24. See below.

There was some rain this week, but very scattered, so probably not much contamination washed into the river. As always, we can merely report what test results we have. Actual conditions may vary.

The weather prediction is sunny for the next five days.

Most rivers are back to normal water levels, even the Ichetucknee River. The only gauges still in Action Stage are for the Santa Fe River at Three Rivers Estates and Worthington Spirngs, and the New River (of the Santa Fe) at Lake Butler, and the Suwannee River above Gopher River Confluence.

So happy fishing, swimming, and boating this weekend.

Maybe join us tomorrow for Red Roberts Little River Chainsaw Cleanup, 2024-09-21. You do not have to use a saw. You can come take pictures, collect trash, or pull limbs out of the way. Kayaks and canoes welcome, to accompany the WWALS jon boat and 9.9 hp outboard.

[Clean Rivers: Withlacoochee 2024-09-18, Alapaha 2024-09-19, but Ashburn Sewage Spill 2024-08-24]
Clean Rivers: Withlacoochee 2024-09-18, Alapaha 2024-09-19, but Ashburn Sewage Spill 2024-08-24

Continue reading →

Chemours spilled wastewater from Trail Ridge Mine into Bradford County, FL 2024-09-14

Update 2025-02-23: Chemours Trail Ridge South Mine Process Water Spill 2025-02-16.

Chemours had another spill into the Santa Fe River Basin from its Trail Ridge South titanium dioxide (TiO2) Mine. They say this one was very small.

It took a different path than the one on January 30, 2024, but it also eventually drains into the Santa Fe River.

This spill was north of Camp Road, west of Treat Road, actually in Clay County, on land owned by the State of Florida, draining into Bradford County.

The spill was reported at coordinates 29.89094873, -82.04341783, puts it at the top of Double Run Branch 03110206003356, on land in Clay County owned by Armory Board State of Florida.

[Tailings Spills from Chemours Trail Ridge South Mine in Clay County into Bradford County, Santa Fe River]
Tailings Spills from Chemours Trail Ridge South Mine in Clay County into Bradford County, Santa Fe River

That drains west into Bradford County, through land owned by SRWMD and Rayonier Forest Resources, LP, into Double Run Creek, which goes through land owned by Schoeffel Enterprises LLC and Harry W. and Mary Ann Kyle, before it drains through more Rayonier and SRWMD land into the Santa Fe Swamp Conservation Area into the Santa Fe River.

Here is the report we received from FDEP at 5:11 PM, Monday, September 14, 2024. Continue reading →