Update 2019-12-19: Cleanup finishing at Flying J, Exit 2, I-75, Lowndes County, GA 2019-12-10.
I must compliment Lowndes County Code Enforcement, the Flying J, Dynamis, and Deep South Sanitation, about this cleanup at the Flying J, Exit 2, I-75, Lake Park, Georgia, about a mile from the GA-FL line.
On August 23, 2019, I sent this picture and the location to Lowndes County Code Enforcement:
Code Enforcement Director Mindy Bates responded within the hour: Continue reading
Cook County had the most people I’ve ever seen at one of these meetings in any county! SGRC’s Elizabeth Backe corroborated my remark, noting I had recently been to the Charlton County meeting.
![[Cook County and its four cities]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-09-16--cook-county-comp-plan/20190916_160811.jpg)
Cook County and its four cities
The next meeting will be 3 PM, Monday, October 7, 2019, at the Cook County Commissioners Conference Room, 1200 S Hutchinson Ave., Adel, GA.
The purpose of the first meeting was: “we will review the community vision, goals, issues, and opportunities — for the county and all four cities (Adel, Lenox, Cecil, and Sparks).” All four cities were at the meeting, and each of them spoke at various times. Also unlike most other such meetings in other counties, nobody was sitting up front; everybody was in the audience.
Here is marked up document from the first Workshop: Word, PDF.
As usual, I suggested adding more about rivers and water trails. This additional Opportunity on page 2 I think was my suggestion: Continue reading
Join us at the 38th Annual Hahira Honeybee Festival, at the WWALS booth about water quality testing, water trails, paddle outings, holding polluters accountable, all to make sure that water in our area is swimmable, fishable, drinkable. Come help us spread the water word.
When:
10AM-6PM, Friday, October 4, 2019
9AM-6PM, Saturday, October 5, 2019
Where: West Main Street, Hahira, Georgia
Theme: “Teachers, changing our world one child at a time!”
Volunteer: You can help at the WWALS booth. Sign up on this form or send us email.
Event: facebook
Photo: John S. Quarterman, of Gretchen Quarterman making rain on the Enviroscape for a family, Honeybee 2018.
Thanks for the donation of the EnviroScape,
Savannah Barry
and Nature Coast Biological Station.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Solamerica Energy is building another solar farm in the Alapaha River Basin, leasing from Tycor Farms LLC, 6530 GA 376, Lake Park, Georgia, 31636.
![[Alapaha River Water Trail Map]](https://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/zboa/2019-08-06--zboa-packet/arwt-map.jpg)
Map: John S. Quarterman, from WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail Map.
There seem to be wetlands on the east side of the property, leading to Enoch Creek, then into the Alapahoochee River, into the Alapaha, the Suwannee, and on to the Gulf. However, the likely wetlands seem to be along the eastern edge of the cleared area, so one can guess Continue reading
Come on down to the South Georgia Pride Festival in Saunders Park in Valdosta this Saturday. At the WWALS booth you can play the froggy toss game and talk about our outings and advocacy, including how you can volunteer to help keep our waters clean!
When: Noon-5PM, Saturday, September 21, 2019
Where: John W. Saunders Park, 1151 River Street, Valdosta, Georgia
Event: facebook
Maybe we’ll do water quality tests on Sugar Creek. Continue reading
It was a fun time last year at South Georgia Pride. Join us at Saunders Park again this Saturday!
Maybe Barber Spring will be running. Maybe we’ll do water quality tests on Sugar Creek. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Valdosta, GA, September 16, 2019 — Two outfitters will have boats for free rental; thanks, NWXpeditions and VSU Core! Or bring your own, of course. Again this year, Boy Scouts of America, South Georgia Council, will be there. TNT Hot Dogs will have food, and paddlers each get a ticket for a beer at Georgia Beer Company. “There’s still time for more sponsors to sign up!” said Boomerang mastermind Bobby McKenzie, “And you can wear your Halloween costumes!”
“This is the sort of cross-state-line ecotourism all the local counties say they want to promote, maybe including some friendly Georgia-Florida rivalry,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, “Paddle racing and leisurely paddling on the idyllic blackwater Withlacoochee River. Plenty of water, no deadfalls, plus shoals!”
Gathering at 11AM, Saturday, October 26, 2019, at State Line Ramp in Georgia, we will paddle into Florida, with staggered starts for turnarounds at 1, 2, and 3 miles, then back to where we started.
Tickets are $20 until October 15th, then $30.
Vendor space is free for nonprofits vested in conservation or stewardship of our waters. There is a $20 fee for for-profit vendors, and because it’s a park a selling permit is required. Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for use of State Line Boat Ramp.
Sponsors get their name and logo on a banner, in announcements, and in flyers, with various other perks at different levels of sponsorship.
Everything about WWALS Boomerang 2019 is here:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-26–boomerang/
Update 2021-04-02: Moody AFB NPDES Permit No. GA0020001, which affects not only Beatty Branch in the Withlacoochee River Basin, but also Mission Lake and Grand Bay in the Alapaha River Basin, via “Sanitary, groundwater infiltration, runoff, potable water treatment plant, and vehicle maintenance.”
Did you know Moody Air Force Base had two sewage spills this month? Thanks to GA-EPD, we knew about them, and Moody AFB posted news reports on both of them. One went into Mission Lake, upstream from Grand Bay and the Alapaha River. The other went into Beatty Branch, upstream from Cat Creek and the Withlacoochee River.
23d Wing Public Affairs, News, 7 August 2019, Sewage Spill Notification, Continue reading
Broadcasting 8AM Friday from the steps of the historic Lowndes County Courthouse in downtown Valdosta, Georgia, Scott James and I will discuss the Second Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, when seven finalists will play for you and three judges who will award some of them prizes, at the Salty Snapper this Saturday.
When: 8AM, Friday, August 23, 2019
Where:
Talk 92.1 FM Scott James drive-time radio show.
You can listen on the air, or
through the radio show’s own website, or through several online listening services.
Event: facebook
All about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest:
https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-24–suwannee-riverkeeper-songwriting-contest/ Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Valdosta, GA, August 8, 2019 — Join us for a fun filled day of paddle racing and leisurely paddling on the idyllic blackwater Withlacoochee River. Plenty of water, no deadfalls, plus shoals! We will paddle from State Line Ramp in Georgia, with staggered starts for turnarounds in Florida at 1, 2, and 3 miles, then back to where we started. Tickets are $20 until October 15th, then $30.
“Sign up to race and get a beer for participating!” said Boomerang mastermind Bobby McKenzie. “Thanks to Georgia Beer Company!”
Vendors vested in conservation or stewardship of our waters already signed up include VSU CORE, Boy Scouts, and TNT Hot Dogs. Nonprofit vendors are free, and $20 fee for for-profit vendors.
“This is good ecotourism for Lowndes and Brooks Counties, Georgia, and Hamilton and Madison Counties, Florida,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “Maybe we can get a little friendly state-line rivalry going on!”
McKenzie added, “Also another fun opportunity to wear your Halloween Costumes!”
Sponsors get their name and logo on a banner, in announcements, and in flyers, with various other perks at different levels of sponsorship.
Everything about WWALS Boomerang 2019 is here: Continue reading
![[Trash in gap]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-23--exit-2-flying-j-trash/20190823_091403.jpg)
![[Still more trash]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-23--exit-2-flying-j-trash/20190823_091624.jpg)
![[Froggy Toss]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-09-15--soga-pride/20180915_132415.jpg)
![[Gretchen at the booth]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-09-15--soga-pride/20180915_132408.jpg)
![[Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-26--boomerang/WWALS-Boomerang-Flyer-2019-0001.jpg)
![[Building 769 and Mission Lake]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-06--moody-afb-mission-lake-sewage-spill/Building-769.jpg)
![[Simple Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-10-26--boomerang/WWALS-Boomerang-Flyer-Simple-2019-0001.jpg)