Tag Archives: Hurricane Helene

Rescheduled: Ichetucknee to Santa Fe Rivers 2025-04-05

Update 2025-05-11: Pictures: Ichetucknee River in the State Park 2025-04-05.

Rescheduled again to April 5, 2025, because of river closure: they were still cleaning Hurricane Helene debris out of the river through the previous date.

We apologize for the inconvenience. We are also disappointed. But neither we nor the park control hurricanes, and the park does not control the schedule of Tallahassee or the contractors for removing hurricane debris.

Join us on a leisurely paddle on the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers, starting at Ichetucknee Springs State Park North Entrance, past many springs, taking out at the US 129 Boat Ramp.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, April 5, 2024

Put In: Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North Entrance, 8294 SW Elim Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038.

GPS: 29.986107, -82.760109

[Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-04-05, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp]
Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-04-05, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp

Continue reading →

Malia Thomas of WTXL TV at closed Gornto Road bridge over Sugar Creek 2024-12-20

Update 2024-12-21: Clean Alapaha River, OK Withlacoochee River, Filthy Sugar Creek 2024-12-19.

Malia Thomas tried to cram two or three stories into her WTXL TV report about Valdosta closing the Gornto Road bridge over Sugar Creek. She asked me about all of the effects of the bridge closure, contamination of Sugar Creek, sewage spills, Valdosta municipal bonds for water and sewer projects, how those are all related, and what caused them. A for effort to Malia.

[Malia Thomas, WTXL TV, Gornto Road closed @ Sugar Creek 2024-12-20, Valdosta $67 M water & sewer bonds, Report sewage sights or smells]
Malia Thomas, WTXL TV, Gornto Road closed @ Sugar Creek 2024-12-20, Valdosta $67 M water & sewer bonds, Report sewage sights or smells

Among other things I said on-camera: to help find the source of the ongoing contamination in Sugar Creek, if anyone sees or smells sewage near Sugar Creek, One Mile Branch, or Hightower Creek, please let us know:
https://wwals.net/report/

And contact Valdosta Utilities:
https://www.valdostacity.com/utilities

After excerpts from the WTXL story, I’ve included the Valdosta press releases about the bridge closure and businesses remaining open.

Malia Thomas, WTXL TV, December 20, 2024, Recent flood damage prompts repairs to Gornto Road bridge in Valdosta:
Valdosta works to repair Gornto Road after flood erosion compromises Earl Wetherington Bridge.

…

  • Heavy flooding from Hurricane Helene caused erosion under the Earl Wetherington Bridge on Gornto Road in Valdosta.
Continue reading →

Langdale Park back open 2024-12-17

Much to my surprise, when I checked Langdale Park Tuesday, it was open, down to Langdale Park Boat Ramp on the Withlacoochee River, on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

This was fast recovery after Hurricane Helene had had the access, Hyta Mederer Road, covered with downed trees starting about a third of the way in.

[Langdale Park back open 2024-12-17, After Hurricane Helene, All other VLPRA parks open]
Langdale Park back open 2024-12-17, After Hurricane Helene, All other VLPRA parks open

That was December 17, 2024. I was there again yesterday, Thursday, December 19, to collect a water quality sample, and took a few more pictures. Continue reading →

Hurricane Helene Damage, Langdale Park and Country Club Road at Three Mile Branch 2024-12-02

Update 2024-12-20: Langdale Park back open 2024-12-17.

On my way to collect some water quality samples, I looked in at Langdale Park towards the Withlacoochee River and Country Club Road at Three Mile Branch, both in Valdosta.

Nope, no driving in those places.

[Langdale Park still inacessible, Country Club Road closed 2024-12-05, Withlacoochee River, Three Mile Branch]
Langdale Park still inacessible, Country Club Road closed 2024-12-05, Withlacoochee River, Three Mile Branch

No doubt there are higher priorities for Lowndes County Public Works and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA). Continue reading →

Retrieving PFAS samplers, Mud Swamp Creek 2024-10-29, Withlacoochee River 2024-11-23

Update 2024-11-30: Bad Sugar Creek, clean Withlacoochee River 2024-11-26.

Hurricane Helene destroyed three out of four PFAS samplers, and kept us from retrieving the fourth until long after time.

[Hurricane Helene demolished PFAS samplers, Withlacoochee River 2024-11-23, Mud Swamp Creek 2024-10-29]
Hurricane Helene demolished PFAS samplers, Withlacoochee River 2024-11-23, Mud Swamp Creek 2024-10-29

Back on September 14 and 15 we deployed four PFAS samplers, upstream and downstream from two wastewater treatment plants, on the Withlacoochee River and on Mud Swamp Creek.

These are a new design that you leave in the flowing water for 28 days thereabouts, then retrieve, and effectively they were taking a sample a day.

But then came Hurricane Helene.

Thanks to Gee Edwards and Phil Royce for helping on the Withlacoochee River Saturday, after the chainsaw cleanup. Especially thanks to Phil for the tow back when the 9.9 hp outboard quit. We’ll investigate what is its problem this time.

We put the upstream sampler slightly up from Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Outfall.

That was the only one we actually could retrieve. Continue reading →

Pictures: Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23

Update 2024-11-27: Retrieving PFAS samplers, Withlacoochee River 2024-11-23.

We got some big deadfalls and marked one to go back, on the Withlacoochee River after Hurricane Helene Chainsaw Cleanup from Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.

[Got some big ones. Plenty more to do. Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup from Troupville 2024-11-23]
Got some big ones. Plenty more to do. Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup from Troupville 2024-11-23

We didn’t go very far, but that third of a mile is much better now. We got the big log at CiHiG (Cut it Here, I Guess) Deadfall. but there’s another below it that was just sticking out, level with the water, at 120.6 feet NAVD88 Saturday on the US 41 (Valdosta) Withlacoochee River Gauge. We’ll have to go back at lower water to get the lower log. Continue reading →

Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23

Update 2024-11-25: Pictures: Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.

Rescheduled to 2024-12-23 2024-11-23 due to water too high and contaminated at previous date after the flash flood.

Join us between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.

Canoes, kayaks, and other jon boats are welcome to join the WWALS jonboat and outboard. You can also walk along the right bank of the Withlacoochee River.

Hurricane Helene blew down many trees, so we should find plenty of deadfalls.

Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can help by photographing, collecting trash, pulling limbs out of the way, or just being there.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, November 23, 2024

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.
 

[Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-23, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp]
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-23, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp

Continue reading →

Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-02 2024-11-16

Update 2024-11-15: Rescheduled to 2024-12-23 2024-11-23 due to water too high and contaminated at previous date after the flash flood. Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.

Update 2024-11-15: Changed to November 16, 2024, due to schedule conflicts.

Join us, walking between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.

Hurricane Helene blew down many trees, so we should find plenty of deadfalls.

Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can help by photographing, pulling limbs out of the way, or just being there.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, November 2, 2024

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.
 
The water level is well below our recommended low level for paddling, but if you do want to put in a kayak or canoe, you might try sliding it down the sand slope under the GA 133 bridge.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-02, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp]
Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-02, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp

Continue reading →

Langdale Park still closed, Withlacoochee River, Valdosta, GA 2024-10-23

The gate is open, but there is room for improvement on the access road.

[Deadfalls on entry road, 2024:10:23 17:52:25, 30.8860860, -83.3192000]
Deadfalls on entry road, 2024:10:23 17:52:25, 30.8860860, -83.3192000

Those deadfalls from Hurricane Helene are not even halfway down to Langdale Park Boat Ramp.

I will mention them to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) and Lowndes County Public Works, but I doubt this park is high on their priority list. Continue reading →

Banks Lake closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene damage 2024-10-09

We will not be paddling for the Full Hunters Moon is tomorrow, Thursday, October 17, 2024, because Banks Lake is closed.

[Closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene Damage 2024-10-09: Banks Lake Outdoors and Banks Lake NWR]
Closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene Damage 2024-10-09: Banks Lake Outdoors and Banks Lake NWR

Banks Lake Outdoors facebook page, October 9, 2024:

Many of you have seen the massive number of trees down at the lake. Banks Lake Outdoors thankfully made it through Hurricane Helene with minimal damage. Much of the trees have been cleared; however, many upright trees remain unstable. Banks Lake, and the concession, will be closed to visitors until further notice.

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge:

Refuge CLOSED Due to Hurricane Helene Damage

Banks Lake NWR is CLOSED to all public access due to Hurricane Helene storm damage. Refuge staff have conducted initial inspections and clean up, however, conditions are still unsafe for public access. A date for reopening has not been determined. For more information, please contact refuge staff at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge at 912-496-7836.

We look forward to Banks Lake being reopened, and WWALS offers assistance.

Meanwhile, for other WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/