Tag Archives: river

Videos: Coal Ash meeting in Valdosta @ WWALS 2017-03-01

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 →

WWALS at Wanee 2017-04-20-22

Update 2017-04-18: Yes, WWALS will be at Wanee Wednesday afternoon April 19th for Remembering Butch Trucks, and all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well. Look for the WWALS or Suwannee Riverkeeper banners.

The music festival that started them all, and still one of the biggest: Wanee outside in the spring near the Suwannee River. Come talk to Suwannee Riverkeeper about how you can paddle with us and help advocate for the rivers and the aquifer.

That picture is from a previous festival. We’ll be in a different location at the park, meeting more than 10,000 of our closest friends.

When:

April 20-April 22, 2017

Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
3076 95th Dr, Live Oak, Florida 32060

Event: facebook

What: Wanee, featuring Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, Gov’t Mule, Dark Star Orchestra, Dr. John & the Nite Trippers, Trey Anastasio Band, and more.

If you want to help at the WWALS table, send email to wwalswatershed@gmail.com or call 229-242-0102.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Agenda: Water, Agriculture, and Forestry; public meeting @ VSU 2017-03-28

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.

325x602 Suwannee Streamer, in Suwannee River Basin, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 25 June 2014 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):

  • About WWALS
    —Dave Hetzel, WWALS Ambassador
  • Outings: cleanups and monthly paddles
    —Phil Hubbard, WWALS Outings Committee Chair
  • Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail: signs, landings, and addresses
    —John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper

Science and practice (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A each): Continue reading →

Legal filing about Pilgrim’s Pride effluent into Suwannee River

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). Case 3:17-cv-00272-TJC-JRK, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida 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:

  1. The wastewater discharged into the Suwannee River is also called the Plant’s “effluent.”
  2. Outfall D-001 is an 18-inch diameter steel pipe that extends approximately 20 feet from the shore and discharges into the Suwannee River.
  3. During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the pipe is not always completely submerged.
  4. 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 →

WWALS at Suwannee River Reunion 2017-03-25

Tom and Beatriz at the booth. Last day today! Suwannee River Roots Reunion at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Beatriz and Tom Potter

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Suwannee River

Below Grand Hall at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

This was after sunset at Suwannee Spring Reunion yesterday. We’ll be there today (Friday) and Saturday, too: come on down!

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

At Suwannee Spring Reunion

At Spirit of Suwannee Music Park

We’ll be here Friday and Saturday, too. Details here.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Water, Agriculture, and Forestry: public meeting @ VSU by WWALS 2017-03-28

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: Watersheds (small), Suwannee Riverkeeper

  • Getting out on the rivers:
    • Outings: cleanups and monthly paddles
    • Water Trails: signs, landings, and addresses
    • Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail
    • Alapaha River Water Trail
  • Science and practice:
    • Geology: erosion and runoff
    • Agriculture: pesticides and fertilizer
    • Forestry: Best Management Practices
    • Botany: Invasive species and native species
    • Energy: solar power and pipelines

About: WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) advocates for Continue reading →

Brooks County, Springs Capital of Georgia

Brooks County can boast three springs of a type usually thought to be only in Florida. Of only about six second magnitude springs in Georgia, three are downstream from US 84: Wade or Blue Springs, sadly defunct; McIntyre Spring, large and easily accessible in the right bank emerging from 4610 feet of caverns back under Brooks County; and Arnold Springs, actually three small springs in the left bank.

Movie: Swimming at McIntyre Spring (1.5M)
Picture by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition 9 July 2016,
as are all the other pictures herein not otherwise labeled.

And there are numerous shoals between these springs.

Springs

Continue reading →

Videos: Coal ash at Valdosta City Council and Lowndes County Commission 2017-03-09-14

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 →