This is not the historic bridge you can see today at Suwannee Springs.
It’s the one before that. The clue is the columns holding it up. Also the spring wall holding water.
The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) posted this picture December 12, 2025. Continue reading
Update 2025-12-17: Drought Workshop Presentation –SRWMD 2025-12-09.
Every county in the Suwannee River Basin is in drought, according to SRWMD’s own Hydrologic Conditions Report for November 30, 2025 presented in their Board meeting of December 9, 2025.
But not droughty enough for SRWMD to declare even a voluntary Drought Warning, according to the Drought Workshop after the Board meeting. I have sent in a FOIA request for the Workshop slides. Both meetings are in the SRWMD YouTube post for 2025-12-09.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDIIdFqxaY
Meanwhile, here is the SRWMD Hydrologic Conditions Report for November 2025, plus some related information.
Such as SRWMD actually does have “Year-Round Lawn & Landscape Irrigation Measures,” but nobody seems to know about them. And that page does not seem to include agricultural, mining, or water bottling water use. Continue reading
Ken Sulak sent this story today, about rescuing Gulf Sturgeon from the dry bed of the Alapaha River, back in September 2010.
The Alapaha River often goes dry in late summer and fall, because what little water it has after evapotranspiration goes down the Dry River distributary into the Dead River Sink, and only emerges about 19 miles downstream at the Alapaha River Rise and Holton Creek Rise, both on the Suwannee River upstream from the Alapaha River Confluence.
Dug deep into photo files – found a few images from 12-13 Sept 2010 rescue of 4-5 sturgeon stranded in a pool in the otherwise dry Alapaha. I no longer have access to USGS files since the current regime has decided to cutoff all retired emeritus scientists from their stored data. So I could not determine exactly where this was located, exact number of fish rescued, or their lengths. This was a 2-day effort. I will ask Mike Randall to pull up the field logs and see if he can find the relevant data.
![[Sturgeon Rescue from Dry Alapaha River --Kenneth Sulak while at USGS, September 12-13 2010]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2010-09-12--sturgeon-rescue/fbmany.jpg)
Sturgeon Rescue from Dry Alapaha River –Kenneth Sulak while at USGS, September 12-13 2010We drove in on an SRWMD gated entry using one of their ATVs, followed a trail along riverbank, then up the dry river bed by 4-wheel ATV. Mike Randall and I waded into the pool with large landing nets (the smallest net shown here) and also a two-brail seine. After a lot of chasing the fish around we managed to net them all. I was in the water to begin with, but then took photos while the younger guys chased the fish around and managed to capture them. That was not easy. Continue reading
Update 2025-12-17: Drought Workshop Presentation –SRWMD 2025-12-09.
Update 2025-12-14: Hydrologic Conditions Report –SRWMD 2025-11-30.
Maybe you’d like to come to the Workshop on “Drought Conditions and Review of the District’s Water Shortage Process” that the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) is holding. That’s this Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9 AM in Live Oak, after the SRWMD Board meeting.
If I’m not mistaken, a drought declaration by the Suwannee River Water Management District would mean numerous water withdrawal permit holders would have to reduce their withdrawals.
![[Packet: SRWMD Board, Live Oak, FL 2025-12-09, plus Workshop on Drought Conditions]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-12-09--srwmd-board/fbmany.jpg)
Packet: SRWMD Board, Live Oak, FL 2025-12-09, plus Workshop on Drought Conditions
Also, Board agenda item 26. Water Resources Division Updates, will probably include an update on the Water First North Florida billion-dollar aquifer recharge project. It would pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville to wetlands in the Suwannee River Basin, and from there into sinks to recharge Ichetucknee Headspring and maybe others. Limiting water withdrawals would be less expensive and more effective, without risking contaminating our springs and aquifers with PFAS and other chemicals that wastewater treatment does not remove.
Two weeks ago I asked, Why hasn’t SRWMD declared a drought yet?
Already then, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire Suwannee River Basin in both Georgia and Florida was in drought.
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?Southeast
Conditions have only gotten worse since then. Continue reading
The Suwannee Board of County Commissioners agreed to support the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone. Specifically, they support the no wake zone. They expressed no opinion on the personal watercraft ban.
That was yesterday, Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
![[Suwannee County is for the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone, October 7, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-07--suwannee-bocc-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Suwannee County is for the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone, October 7, 2025
You can also write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
Before a dozen people spoke for the zone, and none against, Parks & Recreation Director Alden Rosner presented the FFWC request for input as item 14 in the Suwannee County Commission agenda, which took up pages 88-130 of the board packet. Here’s who was who up front. Continue reading
Update 2025-10-08: The Commissioners agreed to support the no wake zone. Pictures: Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07.
Come on down to Live Oak to speak or be seen in support of the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone.
That’s 5:30 PM today, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
at the Judicial Annex Building, 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida
32064
It’s item 14 the Suwannee County Commission agenda, and it takes up pages 88-130 of the board packet.
Florida Parks “does not oppose,” and FFWC Research and SRWMD recommend more study.
Suwannee County could support more study, or it could say the evidence is already convincing enough.
![[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-07--suwannee-bocc/fbmany.jpg)
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Linda Dicker says:
The petition will be presented by Mr. Alden Rosner, Parks & Recreation Director for Suwannee County. I will not be permitted to present the petition and will be in attendance only to address any questions the commission may have.
It is critical that our community express their support of this petition and let the county commission know that we are passionate about preserving the Ichetucknee. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts to sign in for public comments.
You can also write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
What FFWC says it wants from Suwannee County is: Continue reading
Many thanks to Edwin McCook, formerly of SRWMD, who invented the Suwannee River Camps, and Nic Brown, who is in charge of them at Florida Parks, as well as Shell Simmons for assisting.
Even more thanks to Lowndes County, Georgia, Chairman Bill Slaughter and Paul Batts of Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) and his wife Melanie for attending.
![[Suwannee River Camps, on-land tour 2025-09-27, Dowling Park River Camp, Adams Tract River Camp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-27--suwannee-river-camp-on-land-tour/fbmany.jpg)
Suwannee River Camps, on-land tour 2025-09-27, Dowling Park River Camp, Adams Tract River Camp
The visitors got to hear from the experts how Florida does it. Many topics were discussed, from access to finances. Continue reading
After SRWMD Chair Virginia Johns took the oath of office due to being reappointed, the Board at its September 9, 2025, meeting approved the agenda unchanged and then approved the Consent Agenda with the Nutrien White Springs phosphate mine water use permit still in there, for withdrawal of up to 64.1621 million gallons per day (MGD) of groundwater.
Plus, “The executive director may authorize the use of groundwater for back-up mining/dewatering use in excess of 11.0000 mgd in emergency circumstances.”
For comparison, the City of Gainesville is permitted 30.0 mgd by SJRWMD.
This strip mine water use permit was approved despite the fish kill WWALS notified SRWMD of and despite frequent violations of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
I wonder if the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Board or Staff looked at EPA ECHO, which shows Clean Water Act (CWA) Violations Identified in 5 of 12 quarters and 1 Significant Noncompliance, as well as Significant Noncompliance in all 12 quarters of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). It’s true that these EPA ECHO quarters do not seem to include 2025, but such previous results are troubling. This is for PCS PHOSPHATE WHITE SPRINGS, 15843 SE 78TH PL, WHITE SPRINGS, FL 32096, which is the permit holder for NPDES permit FL0000655, which is cited in the SRWMD Board packet on page BCS 66: Continue reading
The SRWMD Board agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, is here:
https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=1706
I sent this letter Monday evening.
![[Please remove Nutrien WUP from Consent Agenda and hold a Public Hearing --WWALS to SRWMD 2025-09-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-08--wwals-srwmd-nutrien-wup-swift-creek/fbmany.jpg)
Please remove Nutrien WUP from Consent Agenda and hold a Public Hearing –WWALS to SRWMD 2025-09-08
September 8, 2025
To: Virginia H. Johns
Board Chair
virginia.johns@srwmd.org
Suwannee River Water Management DistrictCc: Hugh Thomas
Executive DIrector
Hugh.Thomas@srwmd.orgDear SRWMD,
Staff seem unaware of a recent fish kill on Swift Creek, one of the “offsite discharge locations” cited in the Memorandum on the proposed five-year extension of the Nutrien Water Use Permit 2-047-219878. A fish kill is not a natural system “healthy and functioning well.”
That alone should be enough reason to remove that item from the Consent Agenda and to schedule a public hearing on that WUP.
Specifically, on your agenda for Tuesday morning, in this item, Continue reading
Update 2025-09-05: Chemours to blame for flooding rural Santa Fe River Basin? –Grist 2025-09-04.
SRWMD knew the mineral rights were already leased for mining by Chemours when SRWMD bought the Double Run Creek property from Rayonier. SRWMD did not intend to use the property for public access or recreation.
SRWMD writes, “The primary goal of the acquisition was to support Camp Blanding military buffers, while subsequently exploring the opportunity for flood abatement and water resource development projects.”
So why didn’t Armory Board State of Florida buy it, since that’s the entity that owns the rest of Camp Blanding? And what sort of “flood abatement and water resource development projects” were contemplated?
Here’s an excerpt from a reply to Carol Mosley by Troy Roberts, Office Chief, Communications and Outreach, Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD):
To answer your questions, the mining rights for the Double Run Creek property were not available for purchase at the time of acquisition and were not offered as part of the transaction. The rights were previously leased by a third party with the intent that mining operations would continue, which the District was aware of at the time of acquisition. Any subsequent transactions regarding the mining rights would not fall under District jurisdiction.
The primary goal of the acquisition was to support Camp Blanding military buffers, while subsequently exploring the opportunity for flood abatement and water resource development projects. This language is expressly listed in the District’s resolution for the land purchase, which the Board approved. Recreation and public access were not included as primary goals of the acquisition.
The management plan references public access and recreation, only if the opportunities do not interfere with a project. The site is still considered a project area.
Because the property is managed by the Florida Department of Military Affairs, any public access to the property would be initiated and led by that agency. Questions regarding future access and timing should be directed to the Florida Department of Military Affairs, per the management agreement.
If the purchase was to support Camp Blanding, why didn’t Armory Board State of Florida buy it, since that’s the entity that owns the rest of Camp Blanding?
What sort of “flood abatement and water resource development projects” would those be?
And here is Carol Mosley’s followup, sent by her to WWALS with permission to post. Continue reading
![[Site of Stagecoach Road Bridge at Suwannee Springs 2025-12-12, Upstream from Historic 1931 Graffiti Bridge]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-12-12--srwmd-suwannee-springs-bridge/fbmany.jpg)
![[Nutrien water withdrawals approved, Consent Agenda unchanged, Letters from WWALS and OSFR ignored --SRWMD 2025-09-09]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-09--srwmd-nutrien/fbmany.jpg)
![[SRWMD purchased Rayonier tract with mineral rights leased to Chemours for TiO2 mining, SRWMD to Carol Mosley 2025-07-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-11--carol-mosley-srwmd-rayonier-chemours/igmany.jpg)