Tag Archives: Gretchen Quarterman

Pictures: Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park Beach, Little River 2026-06-20

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More than 20 boatloads of new paddlers went on Reed Bingham State Park Lake, in Juneteenth, June 20, 2026, by Macedonia Community Foundation and WWALS.

Thanks to Fannie Marie Gibbs for the idea. She was indisposed and could not come. Her grandchildren Andre and Aisha Gibbs and friends and relatives brought the food and the games for children.

WWALS supplied the boats and the stunt adults to paddle with children whose parents don’t want to get in a boat: Andrew Reinlieb, Gretchen Quarterman, Scotti Jay, and John S. Quarterman, plus Kimberly Godden Tanner signing people in.

[Juneteenth with new boaters, Reed Bingham State Park Beach, Little River 2026-06-20, And food!]
Juneteenth with new boaters, Reed Bingham State Park Beach, Little River 2026-06-20, And food!

People seemed to like it. I took the first boatload out soon after the 11 AM start time, and more boatloads of new paddlers were still going well after the nominal 3 PM end time, even after 4 PM.

Georgia State Parks raised the parking rate from to $10. Sorry about that. Other than that, there was no charge.

June 19, 2027, is on a Saturday, so that’s the most likely next time for this Juneteenth celebration.

If you want to know about Juneteenth the event, try this:

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/juneteenth Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River 2026-06-18

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The Withlacoochee River tested clean in the results we have for this week.

No new sewage spills were reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

According to the results we have, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, if you can find some time between the rains.

Maybe you’d like to join WWALS for Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park Beach, Little River 2026-06-20.

https://wwals.net/?p=70133

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

[Clean Withlacoochee River, 2026-06-18, Water levels up, Much rain predicted]
Clean Withlacoochee River, 2026-06-18, Water levels up, Much rain predicted

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 →

Clean Alapaha, Withlacoochee, Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-10

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Update 2026-06-19: Clean Withlacoochee River 2026-06-18.

Even better news! The Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers tested even better this week.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

According to the results we have, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating.

Maybe you’d like to join WWALS for Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River 2026-06-13.

https://wwals.net/?p=70464

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

[Clean Alapaha 2026-06-07, Withlacoochee 2026-06-08, Santa Fe 2026-06-10, Happy paddling & swimming]
Clean Alapaha 2026-06-07, Withlacoochee 2026-06-08, Santa Fe 2026-06-10, Happy paddling & swimming

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 →

Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-03

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Update 2026-06-12: Clean Alapaha, Withlacoochee, Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-10.

Good news! The Withlacoochee River tested much better this week at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results. And it again tested good at US 84, both for Monday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating. The rivers are up, so you should find all that easier to do.

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

[Clean Withlacoochee & Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-03, No new sewage spills: Happy, paddling, swimming, & fishing]
Clean Withlacoochee & Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-03, No new sewage spills: Happy, paddling, swimming, & fishing

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 →

Clean Batterbee Branch, Santa Fe River, Withlacoochee downstream, Filthy Withlacoochee upstream 2026-05-27

Update 2026-06-06: Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-03.

The Withlacoochee River tested even worse this week at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results. Yet it again tested good at US 84, both for Wednesday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

Meanwhile upstream from the Withlacoochee River and Cat Creek in Berrien County, Georgia, Tish Hall got pretty good results for Tuesday for Batterbee Branch at Shiloh Road, Ray City.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted this weekend.

Or join us tomorrow, for Alapahoochee River Cleanup 2026-05-30.

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

[Clean Batterbee Branch 2026-05-26, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-27, Withlacoochee clean downstream, Filthy upstream 2026-05-27]
Clean Batterbee Branch 2026-05-26, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-27, Withlacoochee clean downstream, Filthy upstream 2026-05-27

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 →

Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18 clean downstream and Santa Fe River clean 2026-05-20

Update 2026-05-29: Clean Batterbee Branch, Santa Fe River, Withlacoochee downstream, Filthy Withlacoochee upstream 2026-05-27.

The Withlacoochee River once again tested bad at GA 133 in Valdosta Utilities results, but good at US 84, both for Monday.

WWALS got even better results for Wednesday downstream in Florida, four miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

WWALS also got excellent results for the Santa Fe River, also for Wednesday.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia, although we now have an amount for last week’s Tifton spill; see below.

I’d still avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted this weekend.

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

[Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18, clean downstream and clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-20]
Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18, clean downstream and clean Santa Fe River 2026-05-20

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 →

Withlacoochee filthy upstream; Santa Fe River clean 2026-05-14

Update 2026-05-22: Withlacoochee River dirty upstream 2026-05-18 clean downstream and Santa Fe River clean 2026-05-20.

More results have come in since Friday’s report.

WWALS got even worse results upstream on the Withlacoochee River for Thursday at Franklinville Road, which is upstream from Cat Creek and Valdosta.

That looks even more like first flush, when a big rain washes the woods wildlife have been using as a latrine.

Meanwhile, WWALS got clean results for Thursday on the Santa Fe River.

I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

And considering Colquitt and Brooks Counties, Georgia, got a lot of rain that could wash contamination into Okapilco Creek, I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River in Georgia.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted for Sunday.

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

[Withlacoochee filthy upstream, Above Valdosta & Cat Creek, Santa Fe River clean, 2026-05-14]
Withlacoochee filthy upstream, Above Valdosta & Cat Creek, Santa Fe River clean, 2026-05-14

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 →

Dirty Withlacoochee River upstream, clean downstream 2026-05-14

Update 2026-05-17: Withlacoochee filthy upstream; Santa Fe River clean 2026-05-14.

WWALS got bad results upstream on the Withlacoochee River for Wednesday and Thursday at Langdale Park and Staten Road, even though Valdosta Utilities got OK results for Monday downstream at GA 133 and US 84.

WWALS got clean results for Thursday in Florida on the Withlacoochee near the Suwannee.

That pattern looks like first flush, when a big rain washes the woods wildlife have been using as a latrine.

No new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida, but Tifton had one in Georgia; see below.

I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River upstream of the Little River Confluence.

And considering Colquitt and Brooks Counties, Georgia, got a lot of rain that could wash contamination into Okapilco Creek, I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River in Georgia.

So at your own risk, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating, where-ever you can find enough water, and if you can avoid the rains predicted for Sunday.

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

[Dirty Withlacoochee River upstream, clean downstream, 2026-05-14, After recent rains, Paddle at your own risk]
Dirty Withlacoochee River upstream, clean downstream, 2026-05-14, After recent rains, Paddle at your own risk

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 →

Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival 2025-05-24

Last year at the Florida Folk Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.

The festival is a three-day celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique.

We’ll be back this year, Friday through Sunday, May 22-23, 2026, on the banks of the Suwannee River.

https://wwals.net/?p=70272

[Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, FL 2026-05-23-24]
Pictures: WWALS Booth at Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, FL 2026-05-23-24

Thanks to Michael Bachrach, Gee Edwards, Mark Coppage, and Gretchen Quarterman for talking to people about Right to Clean Water, BMAPs, opposing a strip mine permit too near the Okefenokee Swamp, sewage, trash, and other advocacy as well as outings and water trails.

And of course our own WWALS River Revue, which last year was September 6, 2025, including the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

This year it’s 5-9 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the 4-H Club in Lake Park, Georgia.

https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026/

For more Continue reading →

Withlacoochee River filthy upstream, clean downstream 2026-04-23

Update 2026-04-30: Pretty clean Sugar Creek 2026-04-23 and Batterbee Branch and Withlacoochee River 2026-04-27.

Valdosta Utilities got an even higher E. coli number for Monday at GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) on the Withlacoochee River, but a good result at US 84 that same day.

WWALS results downstream in Florida for Thursday were cleanest.

We also have good water quality results for Thursday for reported standing water in a drainage easement at Gornto Road near Sugar Creek in Valdosta.

Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend, if you can find any water.

It might rain, but not enough to wash much contamination into the river. Maybe it will at least dampen some wildfires.

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

[Withlacoochee River filthy upstream 2026-04-20, clean downstream, Plus a drainage easement 2026-04-23]
Withlacoochee River filthy upstream 2026-04-20, clean downstream, Plus a drainage easement 2026-04-23

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 →