These figures tell the story of springsheds in a coastal lowland karst plain such as much of the Suwannee River Basin. Maybe you already know all this, but if you don’t, these pictures may help make sense of Springsheds and Water Withdrawal Permits in the Suwannee River Basin.
A spring is fed from a ground-water basin.
This figure for Florida water withdrawal permits in the Suwannee River springsheds shows by far the largest blue dots for the biggest withdrawal permits in Hamilton County at the location of the PCS Phosphate mine.
Thanks to Continue reading
Is this what you want Bradford, Union, and other counties in Florida to look like?
I wonder what effect this phosphate mine had on the much lowered water level of White Springs, or the Suwannee River?
The PCS Phosphate mine in Hamilton County near White Springs and Jasper spread under our Southwings plane while surveying the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline 22 October 2016. On board were Southwings pilot Roy Zimmer, photographer Dominick Gheesling, Jim Tatum of Our Santa Fe River, and John S. Quarterman of WWALS. Here are pictures by Jim Tatum, a few videos by John S. Quarterman, and a Google map showing the locations. Continue reading
The Georgia legislature
did nothing but appoint a study committee,
but you can see why they should do more, in these
WWALS videos of the coal ash meeting in Valdosta
that was organized by Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL).
Thanks to Rev. Floyd Rose for the venue at Academy of Excellence on Lee Street.
The Valdosta Daily Times covered this meeting, but did not mention the local landfill, which was a major topic of my presentation, as you can see in my slides. The Mayor of Valdosta disclaims any control over that landfill and the Lowndes County Commission expressed no interest. Nevermind both city and county governments have Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PDF)
Valdosta, Georgia; March 28, 2017 — It’s a full agenda tonight about Water, Agriculture, and Forestry with in a public meeting at Valdosta State University, hosted by WWALS Watershed Coalition.
When:
6-8PM Tuesday March 28, 2017
Where:
UC Theater, UC Center, Valdosta State University
1215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698
Event: facebook
Host:
WWALS Watershed Coalition
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member as Suwannee Riverkeeper®
Agenda:
Getting out on the rivers (5 minutes each):
Science and practice (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A each): Continue reading
Environment Florida filed a lawsuit 9 March 2017 against Pilgrim’s Pride
about “effluents” into the Suwannee River, alleging a violation of a
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(“NPDES”) permit, which is also a violation of the
Clean Water Act (CWA).
Here is PDF of that legal complaint, sent to us by the plaintiff’s
attorney.
Suwannee Riverkeeper is always glad to see legal action going on that we don’t have to do. Here are a few notes.
Pilgrim’s Pride goes to some trouble to treat and disinfect their wastewater at its plant on US 90 west of Live Oak in Suwannee County, and then:
- The wastewater discharged into the Suwannee River is also called the Plant’s “effluent.”
- Outfall D-001 is an 18-inch diameter steel pipe that extends approximately 20 feet from the shore and discharges into the Suwannee River.
- During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the pipe is not always completely submerged.
- During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the Plant’s effluent discharging from the pipe can be seen.
And the complaint alleges the effluent is not entirely clean.
What about the waste that is not liquid? Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PDF)
Valdosta, Georgia; March 23, 2017 — Suwannee Riverkeeper invites you to discuss Water, Agriculture, and Forestry with forestry and agriculture experts and WWALS board and committee members in a public meeting at Valdosta State University.
When: 6-8PM Tuesday March 28, 2017
Where:
UC Theater, UC Center, Valdosta State University
1215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698
Event: facebook
Host:
WWALS Watershed Coalition
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member as Suwannee Riverkeeper®
Topics:
including but not limited to:
About: WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) advocates for Continue reading
Continuing after the recent public meetings,
WWALS and others talked about coal ash at the
Valdosta City Council March 9th,
with
a puzzling response from the Mayor,
and at the
Lowndes County Commission March 14th,
with
an interruption by the Chairman
and no other response.
Both city and county
have had the same members on the board of the
Deep South Solid Waste Management Authority (WMA) since 2005,
so presumably they have more control than they want to admit
over the local privatized landfill with its coal ash, PCBs,
and Superfund wastewater.
Remember, that landfill is a quarter mile uphill from the Withlacoochee River and in a Floridan Aquifer recharge zone.
WWALS Executive Directory Gretchen Quarterman spoke at both meetings. WWALS member Bill Worstell spoke at the Valdosta City Council meeting, as did J.D. Rice. (Meanwhile, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and one other spoke to the Valdosta City Council about sewage.)
Here are LAKE videos of each speaker, with a few notes, followed by a video playlist. Continue reading
Interesting questions about Gum Springs,
seen in this picture only 3,000 feet across
Marion Oaks Golf Course from Sabal Trail:
Picture: Jim Tatum for WWALS on
Southwings flight 2017-02-07.
Follow this link for the interactive google map, or it’s also embedded below. Continue reading
Good questions by Janet Barrow. Who has answers?
Janet Barrow
March 13, 2017 at 4:55 pmLook at the first photo — “Sabal Trail north from I-75 to the Withlacoochee (south) River.” This shows the hydrostatic discharge point for Spread 5 (at least the site they reported that they will use) and the withdrawal point for Spread 6. Coordinates are: 28°52’47.99″N, 82°5’39.69″W
Thanks to Mark Skogman’s long lens on the Southwings flight for WWALS, we can zoom in on that spot.
Janet Barrow
Continue reading
March 13, 2017 at 5:07 pm