Acting Valdosta City Manager Richard Hardy called me yesterday. This is unusual, although he does usually answer his phone if I call him.
![[Valdosta Acting City Manager Richard Hardy and City Engineer Ben O'Dowd 2023-03-25]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-11--seeclickfix/many.jpg)
Valdosta Acting City Manager Richard Hardy and City Engineer Ben O’Dowd 2023-03-25
Even more unusual was his news: the city may be moving ahead on keeping trash out of creeks.
First some background.
Recent adventures in Click ‘n’ Fix include this one, Continue reading
The first of four Public Meetings about updates to Alachua County Flood Insurance Maps is tomorrow, April 12, 2023.
Thanks to WWALS Development Director Veronica Oakler for spotting this news item.
![[Alachua County Flood Map 2023-04-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-12--flood-insurance-rate-maps/2023-04-11--alachua-county-flood-map.jpg)
Alachua County Flood Map 2023-04-11
Alachua County, Headlines, April 6, 2023, Flood Insurance Rate Maps Update Public Meetings
Periodically, the Department of Homeland Security provides funding to FEMA to reissue the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and execute new detailed studies in selected areas. The FIRM is used by insurance brokers and housing lenders to determine the risk of flooding and to set the premium for flood insurance. New FIRM maps are being developed for Alachua County and surrounding communities. The Santa Fe Watershed Flood Risk Project covering most of the North and Northwestern portion of the County is available for public review. FEMA has started a public comment and appeals period that ends on April 30, 2023.
Four information meetings are being held on April 12, April 13, April 17, and April 18, 2023, at Alachua County Public Works Ready Room (5620 N.W. 120th Lane, Gainesville) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those wishing to appeal or comment about the FIRM maps can obtain information on how to do so at this meeting.
Those who would like to look up their property and view the current FIRM maps and the proposed changes should visit the Continue reading
Update 2023-04-13: More materials: Hamilton County Planning Commission on Nutrien phosphate mine permit renewal 2023-03-28.
Update 2023-04-12: The County Commission meeting will be April 18th.
The Nutrien Phosphate Mine in Hamilton County, Florida,
is up for renewal by the Hamilton Board of County Commissioners
on Tuesday, April 28 18, 2023, at 6 PM.
There will be a Public Hearing.
Since time to speak will be limited, best to send written comments in advance.
The renewal request has already been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board (PNZ), on March 28, 2023. PNZ recommends renewal with some conditions.
Private landowners, a number of whose property is inside the mine boundary, object that some of Nutrien’s plans for disposal of waste such as clay will adversely affect those landowners’ businesses as well as wildlife and waters.
Dennis J. Price, P.G., of Hamilton County filed a page of questions.
Bienville Outdoors filed a a request to find other options for settling areas.
Maybe you would like to comment on effects of this mine on the Suwannee River, Swift Creek, the Floridan Aquifer, or public health.
![[Private landowners, Clay flows, aerial: Nutrien Phosphate Mine, Hamilton County, FL]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-28--hamco-planning-packet/many.jpg)
Private landowners, Clay flows, aerial: Nutrien Phosphate Mine, Hamilton County, FL
On the WWALS website are Continue reading
Yesterday was actually Florida Gopher Tortoise Day, but as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says, “you can celebrate gopher tortoises by making your yard tortoise friendly and participating in our new recognition program.”
Georgians, you won’t get a sign, but you can also make your yards gopher-friendly for Gopherus polyphemus.
Gopher Tortoise Friendly Yard Recognition Program
![[Gopher tortoise in human habitat --FFWCC]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-10--gopher-tortoise-day/6893501454_bbe28cdf8a_o.jpg)
Gopher tortoise in human habitat –FFWCC
Last month the SRWMD board approved buying the Camp and Abel Tract on the Suwannee River in Hamilton County.
Tomorrow morning, April 11, 2023, at 9 AM, SRWMD will approve an additional resolution for a slightly higher amount to cover costs of the transaction.
And SRWMD will consider buying Waldo Tree Farm, which is near the Santa Fe River in Alachua County.
You can attend in person at SRWMD HQ, 9225 Co Rd 49, Live Oak, FL 32060.
Or online:
GoTo Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7498156259411455319
Public Comment Form Link: www.MySuwanneeRiver.com/Comments.
The entire board packet is on the WWALS website.
Here are a few excerpts. Continue reading
Update 2023-05-30: Pictures: Portage Big Shoals, Paddle Little Shoals, Suwannee River 2023-05-20.
Join us as we portage around Big Shoals, the biggest rapids in Florida, and paddle through Little Shoals on the Suwannee River.
Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price of Hamilton County will lead us past the lally columns of Old Godwin Bridge. Two thirds of a mile later, we will take out just before Big Shoals, and portage a quarter mile through the woods. Paddlers in good health should be able to do this. We do not recommend it for small children. We will be portaging: if you want to paddle through Big Shoals, do it on a different trip.
Then we’ll paddle past several creeks, including Bell Springs Run and Falling Creek.
About 3.5 miles downstream from Big Shoals, we’ll paddle through Little Shoals, which can get up to Class II rapids. Plus there’s another little rapid just before the railroad bridge and the US 41 bridge.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, May 20, 2023
Put In: Big Shoals Tract Launch, From White Springs, travel north on CR 135 to SE 94 Street (Godwin Bridge Road); turn right and follow road to Big Shoals, in Hamilton County, Florida.
![[Big Shoals pictures from 2021-05-19]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-20--big-shoals-suwannee/many.jpg)
Big Shoals pictures from 2021-05-19
Update 2023-04-15: Clean Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers 2023-04-13.
According to all the recent test results we have, the Withlacoochee River is pretty clean from E. coli. However, it’s raining upstream now, and predictions are for more rain tomorrow.
I’m still planning to paddle on Yet Another Cleanup Knights Ferry to Nankin, Withlacoochee River, 2023-04-08. If we’re quick, we may be finished before more than a drizzle falls.
If you want to paddle, swim, or fish this weekend, I’d recommend do it Saturday morning before the rain has much time to wash contamination out of creeks.
![[Chart, River, Swim Guide Map 2023-04-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-06--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, River, Swim Guide Map 2023-04-06
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida since the tiny inland High Springs spill Thursday a week ago.
There is the matter of Valdosta’s followup testing after their February sewage spills, but the only bad results from that were Wednesday and Thursday a week ago, and that was in the Alapaha River basin. Continue reading
Once a year, the Waterkeepers of Florida gather in Gainesville to attend the Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
![[Waterkeepers Florida at PIEC 2023-02-03]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-03--piec-wkfl/2023-02-03--wkfl-at-piec.jpg)
Waterkeepers Florida at PIEC 2023-02-03
Eight out of fifteen ain’t bad. A few more attended the actual Waterkeepers Florida (WKFL) meeting via teleconference.
Waterkeepers Florida asks you to ask Georgia officials to stop a proposed
strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, which is the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys Rivers, and sits above the Floridan Aquifer from which we all drink in south Georgia and most of Florida:
https://wwals.net/?p=61437
For more about Waterkeepers Florida, see:
https://www.waterkeepersflorida.org/
I drove Continue reading
Update 2023-04-20: Ten days until BIG Little River Paddle Event, 2023-04-29.
WWALS charter board member Bret Wagenhorst will guide a tour of the Little River from Red Roberts Landing to Reed Bingham State Park Lake.
Paddlers will learn about natural history of the river, from flora and fauna to aspects of rivers and black water: oxbows, tannic acid, river foam, hairpin curves and breakthroughs, sloughs, silt deposition sides, etc. If more than 8 boats sign up, we will add another tour guide.
The tour will make stops at various locations for short learning experiences. The tour will last at least 1.5 hours, and possibly up to 2.5-3 hours depending on water level, paddle speed, and number of questions. There will be a briefing before and after on land.
Registration is online in advance:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwals-members-only-paddle-with-an-expert-big-little-river-paddle-event-tickets-605920995007
This is a WWALS members-only event.
If you are not a WWALS member, you can become one at the event,
or online:
https://wwals.net/donations
There is no charge for this paddle,
other than a $5 park entrance fee and any boat rental fees to the park.
Please contact the park in advance about any boat rentals.
https://gadnr.org/ReedBingham/Paddling
Paddlers are encouraged to donate to this WWALS fundraiser. Sponsors will be listed on a sign at the event and in social media and other postings.
When: Gather 8 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, April 29, 2023
Put In: Red Roberts Landing, 4727 Rountree Bridge Rd., Adel, GA 31620. Take I-75 exit 41, head west onto Roundtree Bridge Road, then right to stay on Roundtree Bridge Road (CR 251). After 4.7 miles, turn left just before the Little River, into the park entrance at Red Roberts Landing, in Cook County, Georgia.
![[Bret Wagenhorst, paddlers on the Little River, 2022]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-29--blrpe/m2023.jpg)
Bret Wagenhorst, paddlers on the Little River, 2022
Continue reading
Georgia has it, among 23 states, including all states in the southeast, except for Florida.
Looks like it’s coming to Florida: a state constitutional amendment for a Right to Hunt and Fish. Identical bills are speeding through the state House and Senate towards getting this amendment on the 2024 ballot.
![[Ballotpedia, 23 states have Right to Hunt and Fish as of November 2020]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-27--fl-right-hunt-fish/2020-11-01--ballotpedia-right-to-hunt-fish-fl.jpg)
Ballotpedia, 23 states have Right to Hunt and Fish as of November 2020
And what good is a Right to Hunt and Fish without clean water for the fish and wildlife? Floridians, please sign the petition for Right to Clean Water, also intended for the 2024 ballot.
Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida, Tampa Bay Times, March 27, 2023, updated March 29, Hunting, fishing could be enshrined in Florida Constitution under proposal: If approved, the proposal could be on the November 2024 ballot. Continue reading
![[Agenda, Waldo Tree Farm on the Santa Fe River, Camp and Abel Tract on the Suwannee River @ SRWMD Board 2023-04-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-11--srwmd-board/many.jpg)