Tag Archives: Suwannee River Water Trail

Additional Project Drawings for Chemours application to mine on SRWMD land –USACE 2025-01-02

I got these additional figures indicate that Chemours wants to mine right up to Double Run Creek, upstream from the Santa Fe River.

I got them by following up on the Chemours application to the Army Corps for a permit to mine TiO2 on SRWMD land,

Additional Project Drawings, Chemours application to USACE to mine on SRWMD land –SWCA 2025-01-02

Chemours can’t continue mining without this permit, which it must get from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), because of the successful lawsuit by Miami Waterkeeper, St. Johns Riverkeeper, et al., to revoke the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) takeover of federal Clean Water Act permit applications.

See the third page of the USACE application form:

This project was originally review[sic] and approved by the USACE in 2020 pending the issuance of the State Water Quality Certification. Prior to USACE receiving the State Water Quality Certification, the EPA approved Florida’s State 404 Program, which became effective on Dec. 22, 2020, and all USACE pending permits were transferred to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for processing.

This project was subsequently reviewed, and Phase 1 was approved on June 6, 2022, under the FDEP State 404 Program, Permit no. ST404_137482-022. A portion of the Phase 1 approved impacts have been completed. The approval of Phase 2 is needed for Chemours to continue mining operations without any disruptions. Due to the FDEP being divested of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits on Feb 15, 2024, Chemours has requested the USACE review and approve the entire project for compliance consistency.

For that lawsuit, see Continue reading →

Campfire Cooking at Griffis Fish Camp and Suwannee River paddle 2025-12-05-07

Cast-iron camping cooking is fun. You can also use steel, aluminum, or whatever you like. You don’t even have to cook: there will be plenty for everybody.

Plus a paddle from Stephen C. Foster State Park down the Suwannee River, through the Sill, out of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, back to Griffis.

When: Set up camp 4 PM, Friday, December 5, 2025
Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, paddle from Stephen C. Foster SP back to Griffis, Saturday, December 6, 2025
Wake up and leave when ready, Sunday, December 7, 2025

Camp At: Griffis Fish Camp, 10333 Ga Highway 177 Fargo, Georgia 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel 10 miles northeast; Griffis Fish Camp is on left, in Clinch County.
We’ll have a fire Friday and Saturday nights so please bring a bundle of firewood if you can. Especially important for the cooks that know how to campfire cook and need plenty of coals on Saturday. Firewood has gotten pricey so if everybody pitches in it works out great.
Bring your own plates/bowls/utensils/drinks to help reduce waste.

Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Boat Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park, in Charlton County.
Paddlers usually put in down the access road from the ramp.

GPS: 30.78246, -82.443594

Campfire Cooking at Griffis Fish Camp 2025-12-05, Suwannee River paddle, Stephen C. Foster SP 2025-12-06

Continue reading →

The Okefenokee: Charles R. Pendleton on The Trembling Earth, The Times, Valdosta, Ga. 1890-02-08

It was harder to get to Floyd’s Island in the Okfonok back then: several weeks bushwhacking, climbing on water lily roots, through bamboo briars (palmettos) and mosquitoes, on trails made by bears and wildcats.

The author’s tree-cutting camping method would not be allowed in the swamp these days, and his attitude towards native Americans was a product of his times. So was his urge to drain and “root” the swamp to turn it to “valuable account.”

The Okefenokee: C.R. Pendleton on The Trembling Earth, The Times, Valdosta, Ga. 1890-02-08

The Times., VALDOSTA GA., FEB. 8, 1890, THE OKEFENOKEE: CHARLES R. PENDLETON ON “THE TREMBLING EARTH.”

Explanation of the Unknown Land of Georgia—The Constitution’s Hunting Party—Incidents Connected With the Swamp.
From the Atlanta Constitution,
VALDOSTA GA., Feb, 1.—I have been watching with a great deal of interest the discussion in regard to the sale of the Okefenokee Swamp. I have followed, step by step, all the developments in the case. The mistaken opinions of so many people, especially in middle and north Georgia, about this swamp surprises me more than anything else. Those who have written and spoken most seem to know least about it.
EARLY DAYS IN THE SWAMP.

A half dozen years of my boyhood were spent within an hour’s ride of the swamp, and I have sat by the hour and listened to the tales Continue reading →

Calloway Boat Ramp, Gilchrist County, FL, Suwannee River 2025-05-10

Ken Sulak points out a public boat ramp that was not on the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT): Calloway Boat Ramp, a sand-covered concrete ramp owned by Gilchrist County, Florida. Plus a ferry and a cemetery.

Calloway Boat Ramp is downstream from Branford and 2.87 river miles from Sims Landing Ramp. It’s 0.73 miles upstream from Hurst Landing Ramp.

Map: Calloway Boat Ramp in the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT).

It’s at the west end of NW 57th Court, Bell, FL 32619. From Branford, go west on US 27, cross the Suwannee River, turn left on CR 349, left on CR 340, cross the Suwannee River again, left on NW 55th Ave., left on NW 55th St., right on NW 57th Ct., left to stay on NW 57th Ct. to the ramp. Gilchrist County.

Ken, who is an avid historian of bridges and ferries, says Continue reading →

More about Spill from Chemours Trail Ridge South TiO2 mine SE of Starke, FL 2024-01-31

The map in this Chemours followup report about its January 31, 2024, 194,195-gallon wastewater spill seems to indicate the water went south into Double Run Creek, which goes to the Santa Fe River.

More about Spill 2024-01-31, Chemours Trail Ridge South, TiO2 mine SE of Starke, FL, Santa Fe River Basin

The latlong in the map legend, 29.8901015, -82.0506411, is on one branch of Double Run Creek. Continue reading →

Pictures: Okefenokee Outing 2014-11-22

A decade ago, a year after WWALS formed, charter board member Bret Wagenhorst led us from Stephen C. Foster State Park near Fargo, Georgia, up the Suwannee River and its Middle Fork in the Okefenokee Swamp.

We saw birds, fish, gators, and Possumhaw aka Swamp Holly, Ilex decidua.

Okefenokee Swamp Outing, Stephen C. Foster SP, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA 2014-11-22

That phone with its bad lens eventually took a swim in a river and I got a better one. Continue reading →

Okefenokee Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, SCFSP, 2025-11-01-02

Pending reservations, Paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee Swamp for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island. Paddle back the next day.

You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot (clicking Going on the facebook event does not count as an RSVP).

Meetup RSVP will become possible once we get a camping permit.

This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.

You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.

Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Saturday, November 1, 2025
Launch 9 AM, End 1 PM, Sunday, November 2, 2025

Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park, in Charlton County.

GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333

Floyd’s Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp, Suwannee River, Saturday & Sunday, 1-2 Nov. 2025

Continue reading →

Pictures: 2nd Annual Okefenokee Folk Festival, Okefenokee Heritage Center, Waycross, GA 2025-05-03

It was a fun and educational day at the Second Annual Okefenokee Folk Festival.

Thanks to Chris “Turtleman” Adams for inviting us.

Okefenokee Folk Festival, Okefenokee Heritage Center, Waycross, GA, May 5, 2025

It was also Sue Clark Day, referring to the late Sue Clark, who “spearheaded the creation of Southern Forest World and the Okefenokee Heritage Center.”

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko and Gretchen Quarterman for helping at the WWALS booth.

And it was the monthly Waygreen Local Fare Market, run by Gretchen’s friend Connie McDaniel Oliver.

Thanks to Jolie Hoyle, Environmental Education Coordinator, Okefenokee Swamp Park, for lettting me pet the alligator, illustrating what not to do when paddling.

For more Continue reading →

Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2025-07-05

Update 2025-07-11: Pictures: Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River 2025-07-05.

Join us for an 11.2-mile paddle on the upper Suwannee River.

This is beautiful part of the river has one section of small shoals to paddle through. There can also be some tree debris in the river to work our way around.

Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. Both ramps are on long dirt roads that are usually well maintained. Please come on time, the shuttle leaves promptly at 9:30.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:15 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, July 5, 2025

Put In: Turner Bridge Ramp, From White Springs, travel north on SE CR 135; cross over SE CR 6 onto NE 180 Boulevard (Woodpecker Route); travel north to NE 38 Trail; turn right and follow road to ramp, in Hamilton County.

GPS: 30.524333, -82.728167

Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, July 5, 2025