Tag Archives: conservation

Mayday Landing ARWT Signs 2025-02-26

Update 2025-04-01: Installed: Troupville Boat Ramp water trail signs 2025-04-01.

Thanks again to Echols County Manager Alan Levesque and Road Crew, the signs are planted for Mayday Landing on the Alapaha River.

[Mayday Landing, Alapaha River, ARWT Signs Planted 2025-02-26, At-Water and Road: Thanks, Alan Levesque & Echols County Road Crew]
Mayday Landing, Alapaha River, ARWT Signs Planted 2025-02-26, At-Water and Road: Thanks, Alan Levesque & Echols County Road Crew

Both the road signs and the at-water signs were paid for (80%) by a generous grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR). The signs were made by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), but the state could not plant the signs, because Howell Road is not a state or federal road. But the county could, and Echols County did.

Like the Statenville Boat Ramp signs, I delivered the Mayday signs to Echols County at a Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Update meeting the day before.

Mayday Landing is at 749 Howell Road, Stockton, GA 31649. It is on the left bank, the east side of the Alapaha River, south of Howell Road, north of the railroad bridge, in Echols County.

It is towards the middle of the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail.
https://wwals.net/maps/alapaha-water-trail/ Continue reading →

Pictures: Georgia House Committee meeting on Okefenokee Bills 2025-03-03

Numerous people spoke to support the Okefenokee Swamp against mining too near it, about two bills before a subcommittee of the Georgia House Natural Resources and Environment Committee (GA HNRE), on March 3, 2025.

[Speakers on Okefenokee Bills, GA HNRE Comm. 2025-03-03, No action by Crossover Day, But already introduced for 2026]
Speakers on Okefenokee Bills, GA HNRE Comm. 2025-03-03, No action by Crossover Day, But already introduced for 2026

Unfortunately, that was just a hearing, and the Committee did not vote on those bills in any later meeting, either. Which means they did not get a chance for a vote by the full House before Crossover Day. Crossover Day was Thursday, March 6, 2025, after which any bills that passed in one house crossed over to the other house for their consideration.

The good news is that it is a two-year session, so these bills are already introduced for next year: HB 561 and HB 562. Continue reading →

WKFL PIEC Panel and RTCW 2025-02-21

Every year, the fifteen Waterkeepers of Florida gather at the law-student-run Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) at the Levin School of Law of the University of Florida, in Gainesville.

[Waterkeepers Florida, Panel at PIEC, UFL, Gainesville, FL, Right to Clean Water (RTCW)]
Waterkeepers Florida, Panel at PIEC, UFL, Gainesville, FL, Right to Clean Water (RTCW)

This year we had a panel, about sewage sludge, wetland buffers, the climate water nexus, and I spoke about Right to Clean Water (RTCW).

Waterkeepers Florida is a regional entity composed of all 15 Waterkeeper organizations working in the State of Florida to protect and restore our water resources across over 45,000 square miles of watershed, which is home to over 15 million Floridians. Part scientist, teacher, and legal advocate, Waterkeepers combine firsthand knowledge of their waterways with an unwavering commitment to the rights of their communities and to the rule of law. Whether on the water, in a classroom, or in a courtroom, Waterkeepers speak for the waters they defend – with the backing of their local community and the collective strength of Waterkeeper Alliance. Join Waterkeepers from across the state for a discussion of current and future projects to protect our state’s waterways.
https://www.waterkeepersflorida.org Continue reading →

ARWT signs planted at Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26

Update 2025-03-12: Mayday Landing ARWT Signs 2025-02-26.

Thanks to Echols County Manager Alan Levesque and the Echols County Road Crew for planting the Statenville Boat Ramp signs next to the ramp.

[ARWT signs planted, Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26, Thanks, Alan Levesque, Echols County Manager]
ARWT signs planted, Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26, Thanks, Alan Levesque, Echols County Manager

I delivered them the previous day at an Echols County Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Update meeting. Continue reading →

Pictures: Azalea Festival 2025-03-08

Thanks to Gretchen Quarterman, Elizabeth Brunner, Lisa Adkins-Montisano, Cindy Vedas, Sara Squires Jones, and Scotti Jay Jones for making the WWALS Booth at Azalea Festival a success.

[Azalea Festival, Thanks, Volunteers, One Mile Branch, Valdosta, GA 2025-03-08]
Azalea Festival, Thanks, Volunteers, One Mile Branch, Valdosta, GA 2025-03-08

Volunteers gave out many flyers, especially about the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, coming up this Saturday, March 15.
https://wwals.net/?p=66833

All these pictures are from delivery Friday or at the Festival Saturday. Sunday got rained out. Thanks to Scotti and Sara for delivering the booth back to its abode. Continue reading →

Pictures: Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08

Phil Hubbard and I got 2.6 miles up the Withlacoochee River from the Little River Confluence, so almost 3 miles including the third of a mile down the Little River from Troupville Boat Ramp.

We stopped at a cluster of big deadfalls at the top of Riverhill Drive, as sunset approached, so we could get back to Troupville Boat Ramp before dark.

That’s 2.3 miles more than the previous WWALS chainsaw cleanup on this stretch, four days before.

And a bit more than a mile to go up to Sugar Creek.

[2.6 miles done, One mile to go, Withlacoochee River Upstream, Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08]
2.6 miles done, One mile to go, Withlacoochee River Upstream, Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08

The only casualty was one Husqvarna 24-inch chainsaw bar; I did salvage the chain. Fortunately, we had another bar. That’s the chainsaw paid for by the grant from Wild Green Future.

Which also paid for the 9.9 hp outboard motor. Which worked fine this time, except when we ran it into something going pretty fast and choked it down. Then it did not want to start.

But Phil tried something new: take off the cowling and put water on the ignition module to cool it. That worked! Back in action. Continue reading →

Another Clean up One Mile Branch at Azalea City Trail, Valdosta, GA 2025-03-16

Update 2025-04-15 Rescheduled due to impending thunderstorms. Another Clean up One Mile Branch at Azalea City Trail, Valdosta, GA 2025-04-26.

Come clean up trash along Azalea City Trail in Valdosta. Start near the notorious Wainwright Drive manhole on Sugar Creek, and go upstream and downstream.

When: 10 AM, Sunday, March 16, 2025

Put In: Wainwright Drive between Baytree Drive and Brookhaven Drive, and maybe also downstream, in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.

GPS: 30.84287, -83.30113

[Azalea City Trail Cleanup 2025-03-16, Start at Wainwright Drive, One Mile Branch]
Azalea City Trail Cleanup 2025-03-16, Start at Wainwright Drive, One Mile Branch

Continue reading →

Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08

Update 2025-03-09: Pictures: Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08.

Join us between the Little River Confluence and Sugar Creek on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.

When: Gather 12 PM, launch 12:30 PM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 8, 2025

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08, Troupville Boat Ramp, Upstream to Sugar Creek]
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08, Troupville Boat Ramp, Upstream to Sugar Creek

Continue reading →

Modifications, Spectrum Energy pellet mill permit application, Adel, Cook County, GA 2025-03-05

Spectrum Energy has gotten some modifications to its pellet mill Air Quality application, partly due to comments during previous comment periods.

This latest comment period expires April 7, 2025.

[Modifications, Spectrum Energy pellet mill permit application, Adel, Cook County, GA @ GA-EPD 2025-03-05]
Modifications, Spectrum Energy pellet mill permit application, Adel, Cook County, GA @ GA-EPD 2025-03-05

NOTICE OF DRAFT SYNTHETIC MINOR AND SIP OPERATING PERMITS AND PERMIT MODIFICATIONS

GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION

AIR PROTECTION BRANCH

4244 INTERNATIONAL PARKWAY, SUITE 120, ATLANTA, GA 30354

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division announces its intent to issue initial Synthetic Minor Operating Permits, Synthetic Minor Modifications, and Major Source SIP Permits for the following facilities. The deadlines for submitting comments are specified for each facility.

MAJOR SOURCE SIP PERMITS

COOK COUNTY

Facility Name: Spectrum Energy Georgia, LLC

Application No: 29318

Facility Address: 801 Cook Street, Adel, 31620

EPD Notice Type: Proposed Permit

Description of Operation: Pellet Mill

Reason for Application: To construct and operate a greenfield wood pellet manufacturing facility. This application is a consolidated, smaller-scope version of the facility’s previous E-permit application.

Comment period expires on: April 07, 2025

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Continue reading →

Lower Suwannee Art & Nature Festival, Suwannee, FL 2025-03-08

We just heard about this one today. Since WWALS already has a booth at a big festival this weekend, it’s difficult to do another one.

But if you can get to Suwannee, Florida, this Saturday, please do head for Glen Dyals Park, 21354 SE Hwy 349, Suwannee, FL 32692.

If you’re a WWALS member, we can probably supply you with some WWALS materials.

[Lower Suwannee Art & Nature Festival 2025-03-08, Glen Dyals Park, Suwannee, Florida]
Lower Suwannee Art & Nature Festival 2025-03-08, Glen Dyals Park, Suwannee, Florida

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1484291172239666 Continue reading →