For years, Alabama has been posting sewage spill reports online, like Florida and, since last December, Georgia. And Alabama has joined Florida in publishing a map of recent spills.
![[Al-adem-sso-map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-09-05--adem-sso-map/al-adem-sso-map.jpg)
Al-adem-sso-map
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) Reported to ADEM by NPDES Permitted Facilities
Thanks to Lewis Hays, Watershed Compliance Program, GA-EPD, for the tip.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Nestlé is still not on the agenda for the SRWMD Board Meeting, 3PM, Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at SRWMD HQ in Live Oak, FL. Don’t let that stop you from asking SRWMD not to let Nestlé withdraw more water from Ginnie Springs on the Santa Fe River, and maybe they should revisit Nestlé’s permit to withdraw at Madison Blue Spring on the Withlacoochee River.
![[Location Map, Pilgrim's Pride Project, 2-121-219095-6]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-09-10--srwmd-packet/September-2019-Board-Package-0049.jpg)
Location Map, Pilgrim’s Pride Project, 2-121-219095-6
But a water permit involving new wells for Pilgrim’s Pride is on the agenda. Also on the agenda are as are four permits for agricultural withdrawal, two in the Ichetucknee Springshed. Here are the relevant maps from the SRWMD Board Packet. Continue reading
It may be useful to keep tabs on last year’s USACE expansion application of the PCS (now Nutrien) phosphate mine in Hamilton County, FL.
Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SAJ-1984-04652 (MOD-JPF), Published Oct. 15, 2018, Expiration date: 11/14/2018
Here are the rest of the maps from that document. Continue reading
Join us for a Full Moon paddle and star gazing at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This is a leisurely paddle around the refuge that lies in the Grand Bay–Banks Lake ecosystem. This will also be nine days before the Fall Equinox, so day and night will be almost as equal as they ever get.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 14, 2019
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
And a light!
It’s going to be dark.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
![[Almost]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-07-16--banks-lake-moon/20190716_200806.jpg)
Photo: John S. Quarterman, sun setting at
Banks Lake, July 16, 2019.
Thanks, OSFR President Mike Roth, for the invitation. Jim Tatum, OSFR, 31 August 2019, Suwannee RiverKeeper Quarterman is Guest at OSFR Board Meeting,
![[Suwannee RiverKeeper Quarterman is Guest at OSFR Board Meeting]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-08--suwrk-osfr-board/Quartermanboardaug.jpg)
Suwannee RiverKeeper Quarterman is Guest at OSFR Board Meeting; Photo: Jim Tatum for OSFR
Guest speaker at the August OSFR board meeting was Suwannee RiverKeeper John Quarterman from Georgia.
John gave a detailed run-down of the benefits and responsibilities of a riverkeeper, of which there are around 350 scattered around the globe.
What does John do?
Actually he does quite a bit. A brief search ended up on the WaterKeeper Alliance website which had Continue reading
Update 2019-09-07: Link to signup.
Volunteers for testing, you can get trained at this chemical and Bacteriological water testing training for Georgia Adopt-A-Stream standards by our local trainers. Already-trained trainers, here’s your chance to get a refresher to extend your certification for another year.
Yes, we can test in Florida and put the results in the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream database. For results to be actionable in Florida does require additional Florida training.
When: 9AM, Saturday, September 14, 2019
Where: SGRC, 327 W Savannah Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601
![[Julie, rope, Bobby, bucket]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/gretchen/2018-09-16--wwals-adopt-a-stream/IMG_9157.jpg)
Photo: John S. Quarterman, Julie Shutters, rope, Bobby McKenzie, bucket, Onemile Branch in Drexel Park, Valdosta, GA, 2018-09-16
If you want to get trained, please sign up so we will know how many are coming.
Please be prepared to start testing regularly after you are trained.
Thanks to Julie Shutters of Golden Triangle RC&D for previous trainings. Since we got local trainers trained back in May, they will be conducting this training: Continue reading
RT carried a surprisingly long objection to Nestlé’s water withdrawals from Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, interviewed via skype from London on Wednesday, posted Thursday.
![[No need for water in plastic bottles]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-29--rt-nestle-suwrk/noneed.jpg)
No need for water in plastic bottles
Remember to send your comment to the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) asking them to deny Nestlé’s request to withdraw more water from the Santa Fe River at Ginnie Springs.
RT, YouTube, 29 August 2019, Nestle seeks to extract millions of liters of water from Florida’s ‘fragile’ Santa Fe river, Continue reading
Clearcutting of upland forests, due process failures at the public hearing, spot zoning, violations of local ordinances, and failure to adhere to the Brooks County’s own Comprehensive Plan are among the grounds on which landowners are going to sue to overturn the Commission’s unanimous decision at the beginning of August to approve a Special Exception for NextEra Energy of Juno Beach, Florida, to build a 150 megawatt solar farm on wooded wetlands.
Here is the press release from their attorney, Jonathan Perry Waters of Macon, Georgia (see also PDF).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2019
LANDOWNERS CHALLENGE SOLAR EXCEPTION
Quitman, Georgia— August 29, 2019 — On Monday of this week, Brooks County Superior Court Judge Richard Cowart signed a Sanction for a Writ of Certiorari allowing a group of landowners in Brooks County to file a petition in the Superior Court of the County challenging the granting of a Special Exception Zoning permit by the Brooks County Board of Commissioners to Quitman II Solar, LLC to construct a 1,700 acre solar site in the an Agricultural Zoned area of the County. Quitman II Solar, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy, of Juno Beach, Florida.
Continue reading
Excellent comments from Okefenokee Swamp Park, requesting at least three public hearings by the Army Corps, plus independent research, in addition to a full Environmental Impact Statement. When I received them from Dr. Clark last night, he asked me to circulate them widely; see also PDF.
Continue readingThousands of college students will come by the WWALS booth today on the front lawn of Valdosta at The Happening 2019.
When: 1PM to 4PM, Thursday, August 29, 2019
Where: VSU front lawn, 1500 N Patterson St, Valdosta, GA 31698.
Event: facebook Continue reading
![[Location Map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-15--pcs-phosphate-usace/p16021coll7_8308-0006.jpg)
![[Movie: No jury trial, but unanimous approval (1110M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-05--brooks-co-nextera-solar-ii/20190805_193345.jpg)
![[About OSP]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-22--okefenokee-swamp-park-tpm-usace-comments/2019-OSP-Twin-Pines-Mineral-Mining-Permit-Application-Comments-0001.jpg)
![[Gretchen and Sara]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-29--vsu-happening/69641967_2244225789037472_534127471574908928_n.jpg)