I still see EPA’s new Clean Water Rule
as a good thing, since it protects drinking water,
paddling, and fishing, while opponents remain quite vague about
what might be wrong with it.
After last year’s comment period, U.S. EPA has posted a prepublication version of its final Clean Water Rule.
Katie Shepherd, L.A. Times, 27 May 2015, Under new EPA rule, Clean Water Act protections will cover all active tributaries, Continue reading
Like Kinder Morgan and its Palmetto Project through southeast Georgia, Spectra Energy, also of Houston, acts entitled to gouge its Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline through southwest Georgia, taking local lands, causing widespread environmental destruction, and risking leaks and explosions local and state taxes would have to pay for. Come hear about the fight so far against this invader and some ideas on what to do next, 7PM Thursday May 21st in Savannah. WWALS President John S. Quarterman and an affected landowner will speak.
State and local taxes will end up paying to clean up any leaks or explosions
from either pipeline: both Spectra Energy from Houston, half owner of Sabal Trail,
and Kinder Morgan from Houston, behind the Palmetto Project,
tell the SEC every year they don’t have enough insurance to cover
major incidents.
Push Back the Pipeline,
recently convinced Georgia Governor Nathan Deal
to oppose the Palmetto pipeline,
and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, too.
Maybe they can help persuade both to oppose Sabal Trail.
Connect Savannah, today, (also on Push Back the Pipeline), Georgia’s Other Unwanted and Unneeded Pipeline,
When: Thu., May 21, 7 p.m.
Phone: 912-961-6190
Price: Free
Where: First Presbyterian Church
520 Washington Ave Savannah-Eastside
912-354-7615
www.fpc.presbychurch.netThe Palmetto Pipeline is not the only pipeline project in Georgia Continue reading
Sunny with a light breeze, not too hot, not too cold,
water low and a bit slow, but a fine time was had by all,
at the
BIG Little River Paddle Race Saturday 16 May 2015 in Reed Bingham State Park.
Well, Dwight Griner did clock in slower than the previous two years,
but the low water probably caused that, and he still won again.
WWALS thanks Friends of Reed Bingham (FORB), the sponsors, the volunteers who helped, and especially the paddlers. Here we see race organizer Bret Wagenhorst calling out the names of the winners, with Treasurer Gretchen Quarterman handing out the prizes; Ambassador Dave Hetzel also said a few words about WWALS.
Valdosta,
May 15th, 2015 — Three sponsors have signed up for the third annual
BIG Little River Paddle Race on Saturday, May 16, 2015: Tifton
Rotary Club, Cook
Medical Center, and Bret
Wagenhorst, MD. You can register at the event tomorrow morning.
Last year also saw paddlers from as away as New York and Pennsylvania
and even a couple from Germany. Come have a grand time paddling with
friends, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters.
Bring your canoe or kayak or rent one at Reed Bingham State Park for this fundraiser for Friends of Reed Bingham State Park and WWALS Watershed Coalition. The course runs Continue reading
Update 2015-05-17: Upcoming events.
Memorial Day Monday, Gwyneth Moody of Georgia River Network will be down from Athens to see some sights on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). You are invited to boat among the birds at 9AM on Lake Lewis with WWALS and Gwyneth, to discuss the ARWT over lunch at Puerta vel Sol in Nashville, GA, and then to paddle upstream on the Alapaha River from Berrien Beach at GA 168. Continue reading
WWALS will be among five organizations discussing environmental issues a the monthly Lowndes County Democratic Party (LCDP) meeting 6PM Monday June 1st 2015, at the Lowndes County Board of Elections, 2808 North Oak Street, Valdosta, GA.
Stopping Valdosta wastewater spills and restarting the Alapaha River Water Trail
are among the topics WWALS President John S. Quarterman plans to mention.
Solar power, the Sabal Trail pipeline, and fossil fuel divestment
will also come up.
Anyone can speak from the audience, so please come and join the discussion.
Other panelists, topics, and details in the LCDP post. Please join the facebook event.
-jsq
WWALS has long opposed the unnecessary, environmentally destructive,
and hazardous Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline,
see for example
the 3 April 2015 front page Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
Now Sabal Trail has sued a landowner in a WWALS watershed county.
Everyone who can, please attend the hearing or send letters.
When: 9:30 AM 28 May 2015 Continue reading
Yet more documentation on why gouging a pipeline under the Withlacoochee River, or through this Valdosta Limesink area anywhere, would be a bad idea:
In most watersheds (river basins) in Florida the interactions between ground water and surface water typically result in a single dynamic flow system. This direct hydraulic linkage results from numerous karst features (such as sinkholes, conduit systems in the underlying limestone, and springs) that facilitate the exchange of water between the surface and subsurface (fig. 1). Unique problems can arise in protecting water quality in karst areas because of the direct and rapid transport of recharge through conduits to the subsurface and through resurgence by springs. In some areas, recharge from unknown drainage pathways to areas of discharge may contribute to chemical and biological contamination of water supplies. Such contamination in karst areas has been documented by many studies.
Yes, it says Florida, but the geology doesn’t stop at the state line, as USGS spelled out in a 1999 study of the Withlacoochee River. It works like this in Georgia, too: Continue reading
Photo: Jeff Burlew, via Tallahassee Democrat.
Thanks to Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson of Our Santa Fe River (pictured in blue shirts on left) and many others, a pro-fracking anti-open-records bill failed in the Florida legislature yesterday. WWALS helped persuade both its Florida counties, Madison and Hamilton, to pass anti-fracking resolutions, like so many other Florida counties did as OSFR tirelessly travelled the state. Bills in the Florida House and Senate to ban fracking outright did not pass. But neither did the fracking industry’s bill that would have exempt it from disclosure of its toxic chemicals, and would have prohibited local governments from banning fracking. No doubt the fossil fuel industry will be back next year with a Florida pro-fracking bill, but so will the opponents, with bills to ban fracking. And in another year, maybe Florida will catch on that when the Georgia legislature unanimously approved a solar financing bill, it’s time for the Sunshine State to put fracking behind it and get on with clean, safe, renewable sun, wind, and water power.
Orlando Sentinel, 29 April 2015, Florida fracking bill won’t pass this year, Continue reading
The Tifton newspaper carried the
press release Sunday April 26th
about the May 16th BIG Little River Paddle Race
at Reed Bingham State Park.
You can register online. Continue reading
