Thrice rescheduled because of water levels and weather, the Dead River Sink Hike drew a small but attentive crowd to listen to Practicing Geologist Dennis Price and see the Dead River Confluence, the Dead River, and the Dead River Sink, with cypress, tupelo, oaks, pines, and beautyberry along the way, on a warm November day.
![[Jennings Bluff Landing, Dead River Confluence, Dead River Sink, Banners]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-11-07--dead-river-sink-pictures/many.jpg)
Jennings Bluff Landing, Dead River Confluence, Dead River Sink, Banners
The public is invited to the Quarterly Meeting of the WWALS Board, where we will be discussing the Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, BIG Little River Paddle Race, Songwriting Contest, cleanups, outings, water quality testing, opposition to mines, water withdrawals, coal ash, and wood pellet plants, promotion of solar power, water trails, and Troupville River Camp, and of course finances.
We will be meeting online by zoom, so you don’t even have to go anywhere.
When: 8-10 AM, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Where:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89308028204?pwd=VmwyMzVTMVR6WGJxbUFUSlFXWFRWQT09
ZOOM Meeting ID: 893 0802 8204 Password: 392346
One tap mobile: +19294362866,,89308028204#,,,,,,0#,,392346#
Dial In: +1 929 436 2866 Meeting ID: 893 0802 8204 Meeting Password: 392346
Event: facebook
Agenda: Please have a copy of the Agenda so you can follow along.
WWALS advocates for the entire 10,000 square mile Suwannee River Basin, in Georgia and Florida, including the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Alapahoochee, Little times two, New times two, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers, and all their creeks, springs, sinks, ponds, and swamps, such as Grand Bay, Banks Lake and the Okefenokee Swamp.
Much of the work of WWALS is done by committees of members, and many of them have some good results to report. If you’d like to join a committee, please fill out the application.
![[WWALS Logo]](/pictures/2019-11-21--wwals-logo-santa-fe/WWALS-Logo-Reworded-0001.jpg){kind=logo}
The board itself does most of its business online via email, but it’s good to have these gatherings once a quarter.
The current board members, officers, and staff are listed on the Board web page. Continue reading
Update 2022-01-14: Bad US 84 Wednesday, good Withlacoochee River Thursday 2022-01-13.
Water quality is not looking good upstream on the Little or Withlacoochee Rivers. But not much sign of contamination downstream Thursday. I’d avoid those rivers upstream for a few days.
Downstream, chances are the E. coli will get diluted before it reaches the state line. But of course we can only go by the test results we have. I would paddle downstream this weekend, but you have to make your own decisions.
WWALS tester Elizabeth Brunner got too-high results at Folsom Bridge on the Little River and Hagan Bridge on the Withlacoochee River, both on GA 122. There was much rain upstream Sunday at Sylvester and Moultrie, and probably Tifton, so what Elizabeth found may have washed down from far upstream.
Ashburn had a 40,000 gallon sewage spill Monday, which showed up today in the daily GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report. The Ashburn spill went into Hat Creek, which runs into the Alapaha River. Elizabeth’s third GA 122 test site, Lakeland Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, was OK. This is not unusual: Ashburn is so far upstream we’ve never detected effects of one of its spills downstream.
Valdosta got a bad result at GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River for Monday. That could have been something washing downstream, or it could be the notorious suspected dumper. All three of US 41, GA 133, and US 84 tested OK for Wednesday.
WWALS testers Michael and Jacob Bachrach got OK results at Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State Line Boat Ramps for Thursday.
And WWALS tester Gus Cleary got OK for Cleary Bluff, downstream of Allen Ramp, for Wednesday. Continue reading
Update 2025-07-04: Turner Bridge, Suwannee River –Ken Sulak 2025-07-01.
Update 2022-01-15: Video: Turner Bridge to FL 6, Suwannee River 2021-12-16.
Here is a column about Lally columns, by Dr. Ken Sulak, USGS, Retired, now researching bridge and history in the Suwannee River Basin.
Some of you may have ideas, comments, speculations on the several enigmas presented by the gone—but not forgotten by me—old Turner Bridge that spanned the upper Suwannee River from ~1900-1951.
![[Lally columns, 13:52:06, 30.5246480, -82.7277260]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-12-16--roline-fl-6-suwannee-pictures/20211216_135206.jpg)
Lally columns, left (east) bank, Suwannee River, Columbia County, Florida, 3:52:06, 30.5246480, -82.7277260. Photo: John S. Quarterman, 2021-12-16.Important in its time, seemingly never photographed???, but long forgotten except by a few folks in their 90s-100s. If you know any such North Florida old timers that have stories to tell, memories of any of the old ferries and bridge, and maybe old bridge photos—let me know. Having been on the trail of all the historical fords, ferries, bridges and trestles over the Suwannee River & it major tributaries, 1820-1960, I am now up to 164 individually owned or operated crossings at 64 distinct sites. Many mysteries remain, lots to learn, much has already been lost as the old timers pass along. Got to get the overall story pieced together and written up and documented with photos before I go senile or end my stay on this excellent planet.
Continue reading
Update 2022-01-05: Turner Bridge mysteries –Ken Sulak 2021-12-16.
Nine of us paddled the Suwannee River from Roline to Cypress Creek South Launch at FL 6, mostly to see the remains of Turner Bridge, at the invitation of Dr. Ken Sulak, USGS, Retired, now researching bridge and history in the Suwannee River Basin. We saw a small gator, some dead top cypress trees, many health ones, and tupelo, pines, and oaks, as well a birds and a few fish. Mike Byerly discovered a small creek below Turner Bridge. Karst outcrops became more frequent the farther downstream we went. There was a shoal with waves for half a mile or so. An enjoyable warm winter day paddle.
![[Roline, Gator, Turner Bridge, Byerly Creek]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-12-16--roline-fl-6-suwannee-pictures/many.jpg)
Roline, Gator, Turner Bridge, Byerly Creek
Ken has written up his findings so far about Turner Bridge. Continue reading
Join us for our first 2022 leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 5 PM, launch 5:30 PM, moonrise 5:41 PM, sunset 5:55 PM, end 7:30 PM, Monday, January 17, 2022
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
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. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.
Safety: Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a PFD. You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset. A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark.
Boats:
Bring your own if you have it.
Thanks to Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
Please ask for boats at least 2 days prior to the event:
on the web form on
https://wwals.net/outings,
or on the facebook event, the meetup,
or call 850-290-2350.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members.
You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net/outings
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join
![[Sunset big sky]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-12-18--banks-lake-full-cold-moon-pictures/20211218_173257.jpg)
Sunset big sky. Photo: John S. Quarterman, 2021-12-18.
Update 2022-02-02: Sprawl in an aquifer recharge zone back on the Lowndes County Commission agenda 2022-02-08.
Update 2022-01-09: Cancelled: Lowndes County Commission Meetings 2022-01-10, so expect expect the contentious Miller Bridge Road subdivision that was withdrawn last time to be back with larger lot sizes at the January 24 and 25 Commission meetings.
The subdivision WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman spoke against at the November Planning Commission meeting was withdrawn before the December Lowndes County Commission meeting.
![[Lowndes County Commission, Rezoning withdrawn temporarily, Aquifer recharge zone]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-12-14--miller-bridge-road-withdrawn/many.jpg)
Lowndes County Commission, Rezoning withdrawn temporarily, Aquifer recharge zone
But the withdrawal letter said they would be back with a new plan by January 5th. The subject property near the Little River is still in an aquifer recharge zone, and far outside any appropriate Character Area in the Comprehensive Plan. Continue reading
Update 2022-01-07: Bad upstream Withlacoochee, Little Rivers, Ashburn Spill Alapaha River 2022-01-06.
Better than last week. Michael and Jacob Bachrach spotted one blob of E. coli at Nankin Boat Ramp, but not at Knights Ferry or State Line on the Withlacoochee River. Gus Cleary tested both Sunday and Wednesday at Cleary Bluff downstream from Allen Ramp, and his results are very good. Elizabeth Brunner saw slightly elevated numbers at GA 122 on the Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers, but all within bounds.
More rain fell since all these tests, and more is expected, so there could be more contamination. Meanwhile, no new sewage spills have been reported.
So far, I’d risk it, if I was wanting to boat on the Withlacoochee River this weekend. Here’s the data, so you can make your own decisions.
Happy New Year, and thanks to the WWALS testers for testing on this holiday weekend.
Thursday’s rain was quite spotty. The only two gauges we follow that got more than half an inch were in Moultrie upstream on Okapilco Creek, and at Folsom Bridge on the Little River between Barney and Adel. Continue reading
Update 2022-01-08: Agenda and zoom parameters.
The public is invited to the WWALS Quarterly Board Meeting, where we will be discussing the Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, the BIG Little River Paddle Race, Songwriting Contest, cleanups, outings, water quality testing, opposition to mines, water withdrawals, coal ash, and pellet plants, promotion of solar power, water trails, and Troupville River Camp, and of course budget and fundraising.
That’s for the entire 10,000 square mile Suwannee River Basin, in Georgia and Florida, including many rivers: four (Alapaha, Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers), six (plus New and Little Rivers flowing into the Withlacoochee), ten (plus Willacoochee, Alapahoochee, and Little Alapaha Rivers flowing into the Alapaha, and Dead River flowing out of it), thirteen (Black River, Little River, and Gopher River flowing into the Suwannee River), or fifteen (Ichetucknee and New River flowing into the Santa Fe River). Plus many creeks, lakes, ponds, and swamps, such as Grand Bay, Banks Lake and the Okefenokee Swamp.
We will be meeting online by zoom, so you don’t even have to go anywhere.
When: 8-10 AM, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Where: Online: the zoom parameters will follow, as will an agenda.
Event: facebook
Much of the work of WWALS is done by committees of members, and many of them have some good results to report. If you’d like to join a committee, please fill out the application.
The board itself does most of its business online via email, but it’s good to have these gatherings once a quarter.
The current board members, officers, and staff are listed on the Board web page.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Update 2022-01-10: Chitty Bend East Distributary, Withlacoochee River –Shirley Kokidko 2022-01-07.
What’s underneath the Mystery: Withlacoochee River Distributary 2021-01-01? The M2 Blue cave system in Madison and Hamilton Counties, explored by Karst Underwater Research (KUR).
There’s a “Gully / Swallet” marked on this KUR map of the M2 caves, very close to where the sinkhole at the end of the distributary. Both maps in this post are credited to KUR. Please follow the links for the rest of KUR’s descriptions, pictures, and videos. Continue reading
![[When, Where, Who]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-01-09--wwals-board/2022-01-09--wwals-quarterly-board-meeting-agenda-no-reports-0001.jpg)
![[Chart, River, Swim Guide]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-01-06--wq/many.jpg)
![[Chart, River, Swim Guide map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-12-30--wq/many.jpg)