It was drizzly and it rained on Floyds Island, but everybody enjoyed it anyway.
![[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11, Suwannee River, and Middle Fork]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/gretchen/2024-11-10--floyds-island/fbmany.jpg)
Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11, Suwannee River, and Middle Fork
Thanks to Brack Barker for leading this Floyds Island Campout, 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Thanks to Gretchen Quarterman for these pictures.
Not many gators were visible, but there was a tree full of wood storks. Continue reading
Update 2024-12-09: Virtual public meeting about the minor proposed expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge 2024-12-09.
This is still my bottom line:
“If we’re not going to protect the Okefenokee,” said John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper, “what are we going to protect?”
Joe Hopkins knows how to turn a pithy quote, but people are working on economic development in the counties surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp; see below.
Rose Schnabel, WUFT, November 16, 2024, Georgia’s biggest wildlife refuge is poised for expansion. Here’s why it matters in Florida.
![[What it means to Florida, Okefenokee NWR Expansion, Rose Schnabel, WUFT 2024-11-14]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-16--okefenokee-nwr-expansion/fbmany.jpg)
What it means to Florida, Okefenokee NWR Expansion, Rose Schnabel, WUFT 2024-11-14
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the largest in Georgia. (Courtesy of Michael Lusk)
Florida’s water levels, rare plants and ancient fish are among the natural resources that could be protected by a proposed expansion to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is within the Okefenokee Swamp: a blackwater bog almost half the size of Rhode Island that feeds the Suwannee and St. Marys Rivers.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed expansion, announced earlier this month, would extend the refuge’s borders by 22,000 acres. The deadline for public comment is Dec. 9.
Continue reading
Update 2024-12-09: Virtual public meeting about the minor proposed expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge 2024-12-09.
Update 2024-11-16: Why Okefenokee NWR expansion matters in Florida –Rose Schnabel, WUFT 2024-11-16.
Chip Campbell, formerly of Okefenokee Expeditions Adventures, summed it up so everyone could understand, the
proposed expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge:
nobody has to sell land.
According to https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee, “The public has until November 18, 2024 to submit input via email to Okefenokee@fws.gov”
![[Nobody has to sell land with Okefenokee NWR expansion, Public Meeting, Folkston, GA 2024-11-12]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-12--okefenokee-nwr-expansion-meeting/fbmany.jpg)
Nobody has to sell land with Okefenokee NWR expansion, Public Meeting, Folkston, GA 2024-11-12
To paraphrase Chip’s paraphrase: the Refuge expansion is aspirational. With it, if someone wants to sell to the Refuge they can. Without it, they can’t.
The expansion does nothing to affect the strip mine application. The miners could choose to sell or donate the land before any permit. They could mine and later donate or sell the land. Or neither. But without the expansion, there is no mechanism for their land to join the Refuge.
Addressing the dozen or so people from Charlton and the other counties surrounding the Refuge, Chip said they could sell or take out a conservation easement, or not, if they are within the expansion boundary. Nobody is making them do anything. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-13: Pictures: Public Meeting about Okefenokee NWR expansion 2024-11-12.
The Public Meeting for the proposed expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been changed to Tuesday, November 12, 2024, still from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Charlton County Annex Auditorium, 68 Kingsland Drive, Folkston, Georgia, according to https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee
Here’s a facebook event to remind you:
https://www.facebook.com/events/556272616789217/
This part is unchanged: “The public has until November 18, 2024 to submit input via email to Okefenokee@fws.gov”
![[Okefenokee NWR Expansion Public Meeting 2024-11-12, Maybe including proposed TiO2 mine site]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-24--okefenokee-nwr-expansion-changes/fbmany.jpg)
Okefenokee NWR Expansion Public Meeting 2024-11-12, Maybe including proposed TiO2 mine site
Also, the same day the proposed expansion was announced, the miners said they had not been contacted.
Russ Bynum, AP, October 18, 2024, Proposed Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge expansion could lead to buyout of mining project, Continue reading
Update 2024-10-24: The date of the public meeting is now Nov. 12, changed from the originally published date of Oct. 29.
Here’s a facebook event to remind you:
https://www.facebook.com/events/556272616789217/
Update 2024-10-18: Miner president says he was not contacted.
Here’s one answer to who can afford to buy the land from the miners: the U.S. federal government.
![[Okefenokee NWR Expansion 2024-10-18 Including TiO2 Mine site]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-18--okefenokee-nwr-expansion/many.jpg)
Okefenokee NWR Expansion 2024-10-18 Including TiO2 Mine site
Leslie Hull-Ryde, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 18, 2024, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Seeking Public Input on Proposal for Minor Expansion of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Boundary: Proposal designed to enable voluntary actions to protect hydrological integrity, conserve wetlands and key wildlife habitat, and create fuel reduction zone to help protect neighboring properties.
The Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a proposal that would expand the boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, adding approximately 22,000 acres adjacent to the existing refuge. The Service is seeking public input on the proposal.
If adopted, the proposed minor boundary expansion would enable the Service to work with willing landowners to explore voluntary conservation actions, including potential acquisition, that would further protect the refuge’s globally significant freshwater wetland system and wildlife habitat.
The proposed expansion includes lands currently held by Twin Pines Minerals, LLC as well as a one-mile fuel reduction zone adjacent to the refuge. Continue reading
Many national, state, and local parks and related facilities are closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Some were already closed due to Hurricane Debby.
Assume it’s closed unless you have other information.
![[What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-03--parks-closed/many.jpg)
What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.
Pictured: damage at Stephen Foster Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida. Photo: SFCSSP
Many parks are closed all over Georgia. Here we list only the ones in or near the Suwannee River Basin.
Update 2024-09-13: Brack Barker got a Floyds Island camping permit for Sunday, November 10. Since Monday, November 11, is a federal holiday, Veterans Day, that should work.
Join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.
You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot.
This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.
You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.
Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Sunday, November 10, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Monday, November 11, 2024
Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.
Continue readingUpdate 2024-10-09: Rescheduled due to impending Hurricane Milton. New date: Thursday, November 21, 2024, from noon to 1 PM.
Larry Woodward, Deputy Refuge Manager, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, will give a WWALS Webinar on the Suwannee River’s Water, Wildlife, and Wilderness, and the importance of the 3 National Wildlife Refuges of the Suwannee.
Register in advance with zoom for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdOGtpzIpGdflOUxV423XHOi3TPNlaiSL
WWALS Board President Sara Jay Jones will give a brief introduction, Larry Woodward will speak for about 45 minutes, and we will have questions and answers. Continue reading
Update 2024-09-13: Got a permit for Sunday, November 10. Okefenokee Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02.
Update 2024-09-04: Didn’t get a permit for November 2, so trying for November 9.
Pending a permit, join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.
This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.
You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.
Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Saturday, November 9, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Sunday, November 10, 2024
Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.
Continue reading
This Thursday, join us online at noon by zoom for
Okefenokee Swamp over proposed strip mine —Emily Floore, WWALS Webinar 2024-03-21.
https://wwals.net/?p=64219
This Saturday at 9AM, join us to see what we’re protecting, immediately downstream of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR),
Suwannee River Wilderness Paddle, Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo 2024-03-23.
https://wwals.net/?p=64423
![[Okefenokee webinar, resolutions, bills, Suwannee River paddle]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-19--okefenokee-suwannee/many.jpg)
Okefenokee webinar, resolutions, bills, Suwannee River paddle
Meanwhile, things are heating up against the proposal by Twin Pines Minerals, LLC (TPM) to strip mine for titanium dioxide (TiO2) within three miles of the ONWR.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) issued Continue reading
![[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-02--okefenokee-floyds-island-campout/fbmany.jpg)
![[Rescheduled: Water, Wildlife, and Wilderness: The 3 National Wildlife Refuges of the Suwannee River, Larry Woodward, WWALS Webinar 2024-11-21]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-10--water-wildlife-wilderness-nwrs/fbmany.jpg)