ACT acquired 429 Santa Fe River acres by Sawdust Spring Preserve 2025-11-10

A big win.

429 acres acquired, Santa Fe River 2025-11-10, Sawdust Spring Preserve, Alachua Conservation Trust

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2025
Alachua Conservation Trust
Sophie Szymula, Communications Coordinator
(352) 373-1078
info @ AlachuaConservationTrust.org

Community-Supported Conservation Victory Along the Santa Fe River

Gainesville, Florida — Following an influx of regional support, a local land trust has acquired 429 acres of land along the Santa Fe River, increasing protection for North Central Florida’s local springs and surrounding upland and bottomland habitats. Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) purchased the Columbia County property with funding from private donors, the River Branch Foundation, the 1923 Fund, and the Nature Conservancy. Over a hundred individual donors contributed $82,000 in April 2025 during the Amazing Give towards the acquisition, along with over a hundred other donors who answered ACT through direct mail and online appeals.

The new acquisition directly surrounds ACT’s existing 139-acre Sawdust Spring Preserve, which is Continue reading →

Bad news from FWC about the Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone 2025-11-10

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On Monday, Linda “Dicker” Weseman forwarded this response from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, denying her proposal for an Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone (SPZ).

About this sad news, she wrote, “To say this project was near and dear to my heart is an understatement. We had an incredible team step up and support this SPZ. From this, many new friendships formed that I cherish. We gave it a heck of a run and, honestly, I would not change a thing.”

She added, “I only hope it paves the way for success for future efforts to preserve the Ichetucknee and other spring runs.”

She is still leading this January 2026 WWALS outing: Ichetucknee Polar Plunge and Paddle to see SPZ 2026-01-10.
https://wwals.net/?p=68835

Bad news from FWC, about SPZ 2025-11-10, Denied: Ichetucknee Springs, Protection Zone

From: “Bryant, Rachel”
Date: November 10, 2025 at 12:32:10 PM EST
To: weseman.pe@gmail.com
Cc: “Atkins, Linville”, “Holcomb, William”, “Cook, Madison B.”
Subject: RE: Ichetucknee spring protection zone request
Ms. Weseman
On July 29, 2025, you submitted a request that the Commission consider the establishment of a Springs Protection Zone that creates a no wake zone as well as restricting the use of personal watercraft on the Ichetucknee from the boundary of Ichetucknee Springs State Park to the confluence at the Santa Fe River, the “lower Ichetucknee”. After review by subject matter experts Continue reading →

Low Suwannee River with spring water 2025-11-15

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Byron Herder sent these pictures Saturday.

Low Suwannee River with spring water 2025-11-15, Alapaha River Rise and new springs –Byron Herder

He wrote, “Suwannee was clear. It’s clear now. I believe it’s mostly spring water now. Def see 3x usual.” Continue reading →

Withlacoochee Trickle, Hagan Bridge Landing @ GA 122 2025-11-17

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I went to see the Withlacoochee Trickle at Hagan Bridge Landing on GA 122 east of Hahira.

You could jump across it.

We need rain.

Withlacoochee Trickle, Hagan Bridge Landing, 2025-11-17, GA 122 east of Hahira, Lowndes County, GA

On the Skipper Bridge Gauge, the level was 122.52 feet NAVD88 (2.22 feet from bottom). Our recommended levels are Lowest boatable: 122.6′, Highest safe: 131′.

You could paddle through the trickle, but I doubt you’d get through much of the 5 river miles to Franklinville Landing without having to climb over or under or chainsaw through deadfalls from Hurricane Helene.

Here’s a video:

https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/1175008301254844

https://youtu.be/G0ZZ95eZi4k Continue reading →

Open the Okefenokee Gates 2025-11-15

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Actually, the Suwannee River Sill Gates are always open.

This was a facebook comment yesterday, “Open the dam in the swamp.”

It was on this WWALS facebook post: Very low water, Fargo Ramp, Suwannee River 2025-11-12 Video by Shirley Kokidko for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS):
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1946665392780126

I’ve also heard from otherwise very knowledgeable Floridians: “When there are big rains, Georgia opens the Okefenokee gates and floods Florida!”

Nope, that doesn’t happen, either.

Open the Okefenokee Gates, Suwannee River Sill, Actually always open, Since around 2000

The Sill itself was an experiment in fire prevention that did not work, and also turned out to be a bad idea, because the Okefenokee Swamp needs fire to regenerate itself.

Here’s video and pictures of the Second and First Gates through the Suwannee River Sill, December 9, 2025.
https://youtube.com/shorts/8LA_PLDqXA0 Continue reading →

Very low water, Fargo Ramp, Suwannee River 2025-11-12

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Update 2025-11-16: Open the Okefenokee Gates 2025-11-15. Actually, they’re always open. And no, there are no datacenters upstream from Fargo.

Shirley Kokidko reported Wednesday from Fargo Ramp on the Suwannee River.

She says it’s as far from the dry bottom of the ramp to the river as from the top to the bottom of the ramp, and you can easily walk across the river.

Very low water, Fargo Ramp 2025-11-12, Suwannee River, and deadfalls

The Fargo Gauge read 1.55 feet (92.55 feet NAVD88) at 3:45 PM Wednesday, November 12, 2025. It’s slightly lower than that now (9:30 AM Saturday).

Here’s a video Shirley took:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/1946665392780126
https://youtu.be/dleioAiFApk

There were no power boat trailers parked, presumably because there’s no water to immerse the trailer. Even if you dragged a power boat into the river, the prop would be on the bottom.

Also, she wrote, “The first blockage after the bridge, there is room on the left to get by. I didn’t go further, too many trees in the river at this low level.”

That’s the blockage we call US 441 Deadfalls on the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail.

She did paddle upstream, and reported there was difficulty even getting past the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, as well as some dragging-low water above that. Continue reading →

Clean Santa Fe River and Withlacoochee downstream; Dirty Hightower and Sugar Creek 2025-11-12

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The Santa Fe River and the Withlacoochee River downstream tested clean for Wednesday.

But WWALS got too-high results at the WaterGoat on Sugar Creek for Monday, and both WWALS and Valdosta Utilities got too-high results upstream on Hightower Creek at St. Augustine Road. In addition, Valdosta Utilities got too high at GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River downstream from Sugar Creek.

These continuing high Sugar Creek results are still mysterious, especially given no rain to wash residue downstream.

No sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in the past week in Georgia or Florida, except a small spill from a force main break Monday in downtown Chiefland, Levy County, Florida.

No rain is expected for the next week.

So I’d avoid Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River near it. Other than that, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend. If you can find enough water to do those things. Maybe far downstream on the Withlacoochee or Suwannee Rivers.

Or join us next Saturday, November 22, for Knights Ferry to Nankin Clean Up, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-22.

This image is an overview. Scroll down for the details.

Clean Santa Fe River and Withlacoochee downstream, Dirty Hightower and Sugar Creek, 2025-11-12

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results rainfall and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading →

Chiefland, FL, force main sewer spill 2025-11-12

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Here’s a new one: Chiefland, Florida, had a sewage spill.

Somebody drilled into a 6-inch force main downtown. That’s nowhere near any waterway. The nearest is Long Pond, which indirectly ends up in Manatee Spring on the Suwannee River, but it is very unlikely any of this sewage got into any of those waterways.

Chiefland, Florida, sewage spill 2025-11-12, Levy County, FL, force main break

This report is from the daily-updated Pollution Notice of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Incident Name: City of Chiefland Force Main Break

Incident Report: On 11/12/2025 at approx. 3:45pm, a fiber boring contractor drilled into our 6-inch force main causing a break. We immediately arrived on scene to assess the situation. We began shutting down lift stations through town as others gathered, pipe, tools, and equipment to repair the break. The wastewater department was assisted by our water department as well. Work began immediately to dig and repair the break. At approx. 5:50pm, a permanent repair was made and stations were being turned back on quickly as personnel watched the repair to ensure no leaks. Once we determined the repair was solid, we lime the hole and partially backfilled to help stabilize the force main through the night. The next morning, fresh fill dirt was hauled in to put the affected area back to normal.

Report Date/Time: 11/14/2025 04:09 PM

Facility Name: Near Huddle House

Continue reading →

Ichetucknee Polar Plunge and Paddle to see SPZ 2026-01-10

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Update 2025-11-19: Bad news from FWC about the Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone 2025-11-10.

Come see what the Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone (SPZ) is about. Swim in the itch head spring. Then join us for a leisurely paddle 4 miles downstream in crystal clear waters with the possibility of seeing manatee, several types of gar and bird species.

Thanks to Linda Dicker, who proposed the SPZ, for leading this expedition, and for arranging takeout at the private TREPO Point Park.

Thanks to WWALS water quality tester Christiaan Ard for assisting leading this outing.

The Ichetucknee River is great paddling in the park. From there down to the Santa Fe River, power boats abound, producing wakes, endangering humans and wildlife, and eroding shorelines. The SPZ would require a No Wake Zone and maybe ban personal watercraft.

You can write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 11 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, January 10, 2026

Put In: Dip in Ichetucknee Headspring, then paddle starting at North Launch Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Ichetucknee S.P. North Entrance, 8294 SW Elim Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038, in Columbia County.

GPS: 29.98292, -82.76053

Ichetucknee Polar Plunge and River Paddle 2026-01-10, to see SPZ, Springs Protection Zone