WWALS at Wanee 2017-04-20-22

Update 2017-04-18: Yes, WWALS will be at Wanee Wednesday afternoon April 19th for Remembering Butch Trucks, and all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well. Look for the WWALS or Suwannee Riverkeeper banners.

The music festival that started them all, and still one of the biggest: Wanee outside in the spring near the Suwannee River. Come talk to Suwannee Riverkeeper about how you can paddle with us and help advocate for the rivers and the aquifer.

That picture is from a previous festival. We’ll be in a different location at the park, meeting more than 10,000 of our closest friends.

When:

April 20-April 22, 2017

Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
3076 95th Dr, Live Oak, Florida 32060

Event: facebook

What: Wanee, featuring Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, Gov’t Mule, Dark Star Orchestra, Dr. John & the Nite Trippers, Trey Anastasio Band, and more.

If you want to help at the WWALS table, send email to wwalswatershed@gmail.com or call 229-242-0102.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Agenda: Water, Agriculture, and Forestry; public meeting @ VSU 2017-03-28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PDF)

Valdosta, Georgia; March 28, 2017 — It’s a full agenda tonight about Water, Agriculture, and Forestry with in a public meeting at Valdosta State University, hosted by WWALS Watershed Coalition.

325x602 Suwannee Streamer, in Suwannee River Basin, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 25 June 2014 When: 6-8PM Tuesday March 28, 2017

Where: UC Theater, UC Center, Valdosta State University
1215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698

Event: facebook

Host: WWALS Watershed Coalition
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member as Suwannee Riverkeeper®

Agenda:

Getting out on the rivers (5 minutes each):

  • About WWALS
    —Dave Hetzel, WWALS Ambassador
  • Outings: cleanups and monthly paddles
    —Phil Hubbard, WWALS Outings Committee Chair
  • Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail: signs, landings, and addresses
    —John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper

Science and practice (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A each): Continue reading →

Legal filing about Pilgrim’s Pride effluent into Suwannee River

Environment Florida filed a lawsuit 9 March 2017 against Pilgrim’s Pride about “effluents” into the Suwannee River, alleging a violation of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit, which is also a violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Case 3:17-cv-00272-TJC-JRK, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida Here is PDF of that legal complaint, sent to us by the plaintiff’s attorney.

Suwannee Riverkeeper is always glad to see legal action going on that we don’t have to do. Here are a few notes.

Pilgrim’s Pride goes to some trouble to treat and disinfect their wastewater at its plant on US 90 west of Live Oak in Suwannee County, and then:

  1. The wastewater discharged into the Suwannee River is also called the Plant’s “effluent.”
  2. Outfall D-001 is an 18-inch diameter steel pipe that extends approximately 20 feet from the shore and discharges into the Suwannee River.
  3. During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the pipe is not always completely submerged.
  4. During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the Plant’s effluent discharging from the pipe can be seen.

And the complaint alleges the effluent is not entirely clean.

What about the waste that is not liquid? Continue reading →

WWALS at Suwannee River Reunion 2017-03-25

Tom and Beatriz at the booth. Last day today! Suwannee River Roots Reunion at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Beatriz and Tom Potter

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!