While taking pictures of Valdosta’s trash traps, I found a turtle in distress in the Lee Street detention pond trash trap above One Mile Branch.
![[Turtle upside down in trash trap, rightside, culverts, Lee Street detention pond 2023-04-24]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-24--trash-tour-with-turtle/turtle.jpg)
Turtle upside down in trash trap, rightside, culverts, Lee Street detention pond 2023-04-24
That turtle did not look right. Continue reading
Please ask the Florida Governor to veto the part of the budget bill that could end up with preemption of local fertilizer bans.
You can use this handy Waterkeepers Florida form to do that: https://waterkeepersflorida.good.do/stopthefertilizerpreemption/
![[Veto fertilizer ban preemption]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-13--veto-fertilizer-preemption/2023-05-13--veto-fertilizer-preemption.jpg)
Who would benefit by the bill? Phosphate mines.
As everyone knows, fertilizer nitrates leaching through the soil into our springs and rivers is the main cause of the algae blooms that crowd out native vegetation and starve fish and manatees in the Suwannee River Basin. The state’s Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) won’t solve that problem. Counties and cities can pass ordinances to address the problem, but not so easily the relevant part of this bill becomes law.
The relevant part of line item 146 of SB 2500 reads: Continue reading
Update 2023-05-16: Rivers and mining: WWALS comments on Suwannee-Satilla Draft Regional Water Plan 2023-05-15.
We have an agenda for the May 24, 2023, meeting of the Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Commission (SSRWPC) in Tifton, Georgia.
Note the SRWMD presentation about Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs), as in the ongoing SRWMD peer review of the Upper and Middle Suwannee River MFLs.
SSRWPC will also be discussing their Lake Beatrice water storage and Alapaha River replenishment scheme, which has assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Don’t wait until the SSRWPC meeting to get your comments in on their Georgia Regional Water Plan by May 15, 2023.
Received this morning in response to a WWALS request, Cliff Lewis wrote:
Agenda for the upcoming meeting is below. See you then. Continue reading
The city of Seattle will include a program for fish passage around its dams on the Skagit River, as part of a settlement with the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe of a case on behalf of the tribe and of salmon that live in the river.
That program was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as part of the city’s license renewal request for those hydroelectric dams. These are strange times indeed, when FERC becomes the guarantor of river rights.
![[Washington dam removal is controversial but may be the best chance for salmon, earth.com 2019-08-20 https://www.earth.com/news/washington-dam-removal-salmon/]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-02--seattle-settles/Washington-dam-removal-is-controversial-but-may-be-the-best-chance-for-salmon-960x640.jpg)
Washington dam removal is controversial but may be the best chance for salmon, earth.com 2019-08-20
There are at least two ways of approaching such cases on rights: rights of nature itself (fish, rivers, etc.), or rights of humans.
Human rights are the subject of the Florida citizen petition for a state constitutional amendment for Rights to Clean and Healthy Water.
Florida registered voters, please sign that petition:
https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/
And then please get your friends and relatives to sign it.
This Seattle case used both approaches, according to the Continue reading
Update 2023-05-05: Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-05-04.
High Springs, Alachua County, Florida, had another small sewage spill, mostly vacuumed up. It probably did not affect the Santa Fe River, but High Springs needs to get a grip.
![[Public Notice and Map of High Springs Plaza Sewage Spill 2023-05-04]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-04--high-springs-sewage-spill/many.jpg)
Public Notice and Map of High Springs Plaza Sewage Spill 2023-05-04
Pollution Notice Continue reading
Update 2023-05-01: Agenda: Upper and Middle Suwannee River MFL webinar and followon WebBoard meetings 2023-05-02 2023-05-02.
SRWMD is having a third Upper & Middle Suwannee River MFL meeting, 1 PM, May 2, 2023, via webinar.
This meeting is not listed on the District’s corresponding web page. And it is not listed in the calendar the meeting notice refers to.
The notice apparently is only posted as Notice: 27066509 in the Florida Administrative Code & Florida Administrative Register.
Ditto for the series of followon WebBoard meetings.
The Suwannee River Water Management District announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: May 2, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Continue reading
Update 2023-08-27: Pictures: Sullivan Launch to Florida Campsites, Withlacoochee River 2023-07-15.
Join us for a leisurely paddle by second magnitude Hardee Spring and other springs, as well as Fennels Funnel, a sinkhole leading to the extensive M2 Blue cave system, and Chitty Bend East Distributary, where some of the Withlacoochee River runs into the woods into some swallets.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2:30 PM, Saturday, July 15, 2023
Put In: Sullivan Launch, The first public access point in Florida to the blackwater Withlacoochee River, Sullivan launch is a narrow concrete launch with free parking and a picnic area, but no picnic tables. It is in the Sullivan Tract of Twin Rivers State Park. From Pinetta, Madison County, FL, travel east on CR 150; turn right at the bridge and follow road to the launch south of the river bridge. Downstream it’s 8.8 miles or about 4.4 miles to paddle to Florida Campsites Ramp. First thing you’ll see is the twisted remains of the old Bellville Bridge, and on the right bank the Pinetta gauge.
GPS: 30.595667, -83.26
![[Hardee Spring, 2015-10-24]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-07-15--withlacoochee-springs-slough/KIMG2746.jpg)
Hardee Spring, 2015-10-24 on the WWALS
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
Received around midnight.
![[Notice and Map @ NCFRPC 2023-04-27]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-27--ncfrpc-agenda/many.jpg)
Notice and Map @ NCFRPC 2023-04-27
Council Members, Interested Persons, and News Media,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.
Please be advised that there will be a Hybrid Meeting in-Person at Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Suwannee Room, 213 Southwest Commerce Boulevard, Lake City, Florida, and via Communications Media Technology for the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Continue reading
Update 2023-04-21: Clean WIthlacoochee River 2023-04-20.
Update 2023-04-18: Naylor Beach and Boat Ramp in Swim Guide 2023-04-18.
Happy swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend!
![[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-04-13]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-13--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-04-13
All WWALS water quality test results for Thursday show clean from E. coli for the Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers. Crawford Branch at Skipper Bridge Road was a bit higher, but well within the 410 one-time test limit.
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
Rain is predicted for Sunday morning, but probably not enough to wash much contamination into the rivers. 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
![[The attendees: Sheri Almer and Cliff Lewis of GA-EPD, Emory Gawlik and Shayne Wood of GDM Smith, Council Mac McCall, Chair Scott Downing, Foreground Bert Early of Georgia Forestry, Elizabeth Backe of SGRC, Emily Ducker and Sean King of SRWMD --John S. Quarterman Suwannee Riverkeeper]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-14--ssrwpc-videos/20230314_103332.jpg)
![[2023-03-15 MFL meeting]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-02--srwmd-mfl-upper-middle-suwanneevi/2023-03-15--mfl-meeting.jpg)