Update 2024-11-22: Cleaner Withlacoochee River 2024-11-21.
We have asked for their Friday and Monday results, and we will post them when we get them.
![[Madison Health Lifts Withlacoochee River Health Advisory 2024-10-20]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-20--madison-doh-lifts-advisory/igmany.jpg)
Madison Health Lifts Withlacoochee River Health Advisory 2024-10-20
November 20, 2024
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Madison, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Madison County (DOH-Madison) is lifting the advisory for high bacterial levels in the Withlacoochee River.
Tests completed on 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 2024-11-20: Madison Health lifts Health Advisory for Withlacoochee River 2024-11-20.
It’s best to avoid the Withlacoochee River for a few more days at least, with it still in Action Stage around Valdosta, and not coming down fast, plus still questionable water quality results.
We have rescheduled to next week our Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.
Better luck with the Suwannee or Santa Fe Rivers, or the Ichetucknee if any park entrances are open there.
Remember, many parks and put-ins remain closed after Hurricane Helene. So check before you go.
Water quality has improved for the Withlacoochee River, although Fecal coliform was still high at GA 133 and US 84 as well as One Mile Branch (Valdosta Utilities), and State Line (Madison Health).
Meanwhile, Valdosta Utilities reported E. coli and Fecal coliform still too high on Sugar Creek at Gornto Road and increased to extremely high on Hightower Creek at St. Augustine Road.
While no new sewage spills were reported in Georgia or Florida, it’s a little hard to believe there is no sewer spill on Hightower Creek with 42,500 cfu/100mL E. coli (42 times the 1,000 alert limit), Continue reading
Update 2024-11-16: Withlacoochee River and Two Mile Branch better, Hightower and Sugar Creeks very bad 2024-11-14.
Water quality was bad for the Withlacoochee River at Sullivan Launch for Tuesday in results from Madison Department of Health.
Bad for One Mile Branch and Sugar Creek in results from the City of Valdosta for Wednesday and from WWALS tester Scotti Jay.
And bad for the Alapaha River at Sheboggy for Sunday in results from WWALS tester Heather Brasell.
Plus the Withlacoochee River is still in Action Stage around Valdosta, and not coming down fast.
So it’s best to avoid the Withlacoochee River for a few more days at least. Probably the Alapaha River, as well.
Better luck with the Suwannee or Santa Fe Rivers, or the Ichetucknee if any park entrances are open there.
Remember, many parks and put-ins remain closed after Hurricane Helene. So check before you go.
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida.
Valdosta’s flash flood spills finally showed up today in the GA-EPD Sewage Spills Report. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-14: Bad Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek, One Mile Branch and Alapaha River 2024-11-13.
I don’t know why it took them a week to do this.
November 13, 2024
Florida
HEALTH
Contact:
Lisa Hayes
Lisa.Hayes@flhealth.gov
850-879-0683
Madison, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Madison County (DOH-Madison) has issued a health advisory to residents and visitors near the Withlacoochee River in North Florida due to a wastewater overflow in the City of Valdosta, Georgia, that resulted in E.coli levels exceeding the 235 MPN/100ml threshold. It is recommended that residents and visitors avoid coming in contact with the impacted water, such as swimming or fishing.
DOH-Madison, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Suwannee River Water Management District are working together to assess and closely monitor the situation. As these assessments continue, we will provide updates to the public.
DOH plans to conduct sampling and testing this week along the Withlacoochee River.
Until further information is known regarding possible bacterial contamination of the river, residents and visitors in the area are urged to take precautions when in contact with the Withlacoochee River.
Water contaminated with elevated fecal bacteria presents several health risks to humans. Microbes normally found with fecal bacteria could cause gastrointestinal issues and other conditions.
Anyone who comes in contact with the river water should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking. Children and older adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to disease, so every precaution should be taken if in contact with the river water.
For more information about the potential health effects of wastewater overflow, contact DOH- Madison at 850-973-5000 or visit Madison.FloridaHealth.gov.
### Continue reading
Update 2024-11-11: Roads closed after Valdosta flash flood 2024-11-10..
Apparently it’s washing downstream. WWALS tester Russ Tatum got much better E. coli results for Saturday for Holly Point on the Withlacoochee River, near the Suwannee River.
Still best to avoid the Withlacoochee River for a few more days at least. Also, the Withlacoochee and the Alapaha are in Action Stage, so too high anyway.
Better luck with the Suwannee or Santa Fe Rivers, or the Ichetucknee if any park entrances are open there.
Remember, many parks and put-ins remain closed after Hurricane Helene. So check before you go.
Or join us Saturday for the Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-16. Which may involve boating if the river level doesn’t go back down by then.
![[Cleaner downstream Withlacoochee River 2024-11-09 After Valdosta flash flood]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-09--wq/many.jpg)
Cleaner downstream Withlacoochee River 2024-11-09 After Valdosta flash flood
Unlike his result for Friday of 1,033, Russ Tatum’s result for Saturday at Holly Point was 4 + 4 + 2 = 10 / 3 = 3.3 * 100 = 333.3 cfu/100mL. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-12: Valdosta sewage spills contained after flash flood 2024-11-11.
Update 2024-11-08: Manholes spewing sewage into One Mile Branch at Wainwright Drive, Valdosta, GA 2024-11-08.
Received via email at 11:11 AM this morning: “Although most of the discharge is primarily stormwater, residents are urged to avoid contact with rivers, creeks, streams, or tributaries until further notice.”
![[Seven sewage spills, two ongoing, Valdosta, GA, including the Withlacoochee WWTP 2024-11-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-08--valdosta-spills/many.jpg)
Seven sewage spills, two ongoing, Valdosta, GA, including the Withlacoochee WWTP 2024-11-08
WWALS has some evidence that there is substantial E. coli in the water. Stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile, it looks like adding another catch basin at Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) would have been a good idea after all.
And I’d like to know, why did the City of Valdosta only inform the public about these spills more than a day after they started?
This is not a criticism of the Valdosta Utilities Department or its Director, who I continue to maintain is doing much more than his predecessors.
This is a question for the City Manager, Mayor, and Council.
Valdosta City Schools informed the public quickly about road closures. (Nevermind why Schools and not Public Works or the City’s Public Information Officer.)
Why did the City not inform the public as quickly about sewage getting into the waterways?
Everybody knows there are spills. WWALS already posted pictures and video of the Knob Hill Road spill. But we didn’t know about all of them.
So, tell us, top of the Valdosta City government, why didn’t you inform everyone?
If it’s appropriate today to warn people to stay away from the waterways, why wasn’t that appropriate yesterday?
Will you inform the public next time?
There will be a next time. Sure, this flash flood as a side effect of Hurricane Rafael is unusual. But so was Cat 2 Hurricane Helene. And Hurricane Debby before that. And Hurricane Idalia before that.
None of us can pretend any of that won’t happen again, or worse. The City of Valdosta can keep us all better informed.
City of Valdosta Experiences Significant Rain Event and Flooding, Resulting in Overwhelmed Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Systems
Continue reading
Update 2024-11-08: Valdosta reports seven sewage spills, two ongoing 2024-11-08.
After many previously at the same location, this morning at 8:15 AM Richard A. Stalvey reported about 215 and 300 Knob Hill Road: “Heavy sewage spills at above addresses in Worthington Woods. I let the city know a few minutes ago.”
![[More Knob Hill Road sewage spills 2024-11-07, Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River, Valdosta, GA]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-07--knob-hill-spills-valdosta/fbmany.jpg)
More Knob Hill Road sewage spills 2024-11-07, Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River, Valdosta, GA
This afternoon he sent this video of sewage spewing out of a manhole and running into a ditch which goes to Three Mile Branch in Langdale Park and on to the Withlacoochee River.
If you see or smell a spill, or a flooded road or other concern, please send it to us and report it on Valdosta Click-n-Fix.
https://wwals.net/report/
https://www.valdostacity.com/report-a-concern
Probably there are other spills due to the foot of rain on Valdosta last night.
Notice Continue reading
Update 2024-10-20: Clean Withlacoochee River 2024-10-18.
The Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers tested clean for E. coli.
The weather report is sunny and cool for the next week, although you never know what might blow in off the Gulf or the Atlantic.
Many national, state, and local parks are still closed, especially on rivers. We did not hold the Banks Lake Full Hunters Moon paddle Thursday, because Banks Lake is closed indefinitely due to unstable trees.
The Santa Fe River is in Action Stage upstream and in flood at TREPO, and the Lower Suwannee River is in Action Stage from Rock Bluff to Manatee Springs.
The Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers are all back to paddleable levels.
Happy paddling, motoring, fishing, or swimming this weekend, if you can find a place to put in and take out, and be careful.
Afterwards, there will be plenty of more opportunities for pleasant paddles and chainsaw cleanups.
![[Clean Little, Withlacoochee, Alapaha Rivers 2024-10-17 Dirty Franks Creek 2024-10-16]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-17--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Little, Withlacoochee, Alapaha Rivers 2024-10-17 Dirty Franks Creek 2024-10-16
No new sewage spills were reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida. by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), or in Georgia by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD).
John S. Quarterman tested three rivers on GA 122. Continue reading
Update 2024-10-18: Clean rivers, dirty Franks Creek 2024-10-17.
WWALS tester Heather Brasell got good water quality for Sunday at two upstream Alapaha River locations.
Valdosta posted, better late than never, its Wednesday results for the Withlacoochee River at GA 133 and US 84, and they were good.
There has been no rain for almost a week, and none is predicted for the next ten days.
The upper and lower Santa Fe River, the lower Suwannee River, and the Alapaha River at Statenville are still in Action Stage (or flood for the Santa Fe at TREPO).
Beware that many parks and public access points are still closed. Avoid getting in the way of ongoing recovery after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Other than that, happy paddling, motoring, fishing, and swimming this week and the coming weekend.
![[Clean Alapaha River and no rain 2024-10-16 Valdosta results corroborate clean Withlacoochee River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-13--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Alapaha River and no rain 2024-10-16 Valdosta results corroborate clean Withlacoochee River
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) updates its Sewage Spills Report on weekdays, and the same for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)’s Public Notice of Pollution (PNP), and neither have reported any new sewage spills since Friday. Continue reading
![[Filthy Hightower and Sugar Creeks Better Withlacoochee River 2024-11-14 OK Two Mile Branch Good Franks Creek]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-14--wq/many.jpg)
![[Bad Withlacoochee River 2024-11-12 Bad Sugar Creek 2024-11-13 Bad One Mile Branch 2024-11-13 Bad Alapaha River 2024-11-10]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-13--wq/many.jpg)
![[DOH-Madison Health Advisory Near Withlacoochee River 2024-11-13 due to a wastewater overflow in the City of Valdosta, Georgia]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-13--doh-madison-health-advisory/many.jpg)