Update 2024-05-26: Pictures: Florida Folk Festival Saturday 2024-05-25.
Gretchen Quarterman took a few pictures Friday at the Florida Folk Festival.
Come on down Saturday and Sunday to the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park on the Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida. Continue reading
Update 2024-05-25: Florida Folk Festival Friday 2024-05-24.
WWALS will be back again with a booth at the Florida Folk Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.
The festival is a three-day celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique.
Come talk to us about Right to Clean Water, BMAPs, opposing a strip mine permit too near the Okefenokee Swamp, sewage, trash, and other advocacy as well as outings and water trails.
And of course our own WWALS River Revue, coming up Saturday, September 7, 2024, including the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2024/
When: 6:30 PM, Friday, May 24, 2024, through 6 PM, Sunday, May 26, 2024
Put In: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida, on the banks of the Suwannee River.
Continue readingWe saw many creeks, a few birds, some karst caves, many sandy beaches, and a deadfall, on the Suwannee River from CR 6 to Cone Bridge Ramp, Saturday, May 4, 2019. We started in Hamilton County, Florida, and ended up in Columbia County.
Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this expedition, and to everyone else who paddled.
The river was at about 51.26 NAVD88 on the White Springs gauge.
There are more pictures below. Continue reading
Update 2024-10-18: Proposed Okefenokee NWR expansion to include TiO2 miners’ land and more 2024-10-18.
There is one slight catch: buying the land will be very expensive. There is probably only one organization that can afford it.
Although the lawsuits likely to ensue as soon as the permits are issued may reduce the price.
Nonetheless, merely buying the land would encourage more mining permit applications. There needs to be legislation to prohibit such mines anywhere near the Okefenokee Swamp.
Also, I don’t know what questioning he is referring to.
Dwight Davis, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 23, 2024, If you can’t beat the mines, buy the land,
The mining permit for Trail Ridge near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has evolved into a contentious debate. Though initially a civil discourse on ecological preservation, recent opposition has taken a harsh tone, unfairly questioning the integrity of state officials involved in the decision-making process. Amid this, crucial facts have been overlooked.
![[If you can't beat the mines, buy the land --Dwight Davis, Okefenokee Swamp, GA-EPD, GA-DNR]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-04-23--okefenokee-tpm-buy-the-land/many.jpg)
If you can’t beat the mines, buy the land –Dwight Davis, Okefenokee Swamp, GA-EPD, GA-DNRHaving served on the board of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for 14 years, including as its past chairman, I’ve engaged with various stakeholders, including environmental groups, local elected officials and the mining company, Twin Pines, that is seeking permits to mine for minerals near the treasured Okefenokee swamp. Despite the board having no direct influence over the permit decision, we closely monitored the process.
Opponents of mining proudly claim they want to save the Okefenokee, but so does the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, which is Continue reading
Phil Hubbard, longtime WWALS paddle outings leader, on March 11, 2024, told us why he started a series of chainsaw cleanups two years ago.
He and his son paddled down the Withlacoochee River and encountered more than 20 deadfalls they had to portage. That was Father’s Day, June 19, 2016. He didn’t even know Langdale Park existed before then. They got to Troupville Boat Ramp on the Little River after dark. He joined WWALS to find a way to deal with the deadfalls.
![[Video: Chainsaw Outings, --Phil Hubbard, WWALS Webinar, 2024-04-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-04-11--chainsaw-cleanups-wwals-webinar-video/many.jpg)
Video: Chainsaw Outings, –Phil Hubbard, WWALS Webinar, 2024-04-11
We have done 21 chainsaw cleanups on the Withlacoochee River, including during the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle this year. Phil thinks with a few more at low water, it will be good. The stretch from Langdale Park down past Sugar Creek, around the Little River Confluence and up to Troupville Boat Ramp will be a nice paddle that anybody can do.
Here is the zoom video of this WWALS Webinar about Chainsaw Cleanups by Phil Hubbard:
https://youtu.be/DhjtzsBncOw?si=0zgQX6L04vllB7jV
WWALS also did two chainsaw cleanups on the Suwannee River and one on the Little River. Here are all the ones we can remember: Continue reading
High Springs, Florida had a 1,500-gallon sewage spill from about midnight, Wednesday, April 24, until 7AM the same day. It was far from the Santa Fe River and probably had no effect on the river.
“Incident Description: Bypass ball valve in discharge pipe vault union separated and pumped out from there. Residents in area mentioned smelling something around midnight the previous night but never reported it till maintenance showed up at 0700 and called us to report it. We were able to shut the pumps off and close a valve after the vault to isolate the station.”
“ Clean-up Actions: Applied lime, Signs posted”
![[High Springs 1,500-gallon, Sewage Spill 2024-04-24, 23301 NW 186th Ave., aka NE Railroad Ave.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-04-24--high-springs-spill/fbmany.jpg)
High Springs 1,500-gallon, Sewage Spill 2024-04-24, 23301 NW 186th Ave., aka NE Railroad Ave.
The address given was 23301 NW 186th Ave, High Springs, FL 32643, with coordinates 29.82482649, -82.59387311.
Google Maps says that is on NE Railroad Ave. at Plantation Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, near US 27. Continue reading
Here are the WWALS comments sent to GA-EPD yesterday against the proposed titanium dioxide mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp.
Thanks to all who also sent comments to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) during the 60-day comment period.
Next, we wait for GA-EPD to read all the comments. Supposedly they have to reply to all questions in those comments.
Most likely then GA-EPD will issue the actual permits. Then lawsuits start flying.
If I am not mistaken, you can still send comments to TwinPines.Comment@dnr.ga.gov. They won’t be considered part of the 60-day comment period, but they will go into the public record, retrievable via an open records request, and usable in lawsuits.
See also PDF. Continue reading
Update 2024-05-01: Video: Chainsaw Cleanups –Phil Hubbard, WWALS Webinar 2024-04-11.
Phil Hubbard, longtime WWALS paddle outings leader, will tell us why he started a series of chainsaw cleanups two years ago.
Does everybody have to saw on a chainsaw cleanup? What else can people do? Who else has been involved? What did we not expect?
Important points, such as: How to order pizza with a chainsaw, and how to tattoo your chainsaw bar. Also: maybe wrap up before dark.
Have we finally accomplished the initial goals after 17 or 18 chainsaw cleanups?
Have they all been on two stretches of the Withlacoochee River? Nope, also downstream on the Withlacoochee and on the Suwannee River. Where to chainsaw cleanup next: maybe on the Santa Fe River in Florida, or the Alapaha River or the Little River.
This webinar will be by zoom, noon-1 PM, Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Register in advance with zoom for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdeyqrT4rH91Y0CaBM7TxVd2WoIblH5Vj
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
WWALS Board President Sara Jay Jones will give a brief introduction, Phil will speak for about 45 minutes, and we will have questions and answers.
“I think I’m the only one who has been on every chainsaw cleanup, Continue reading
Update 2024-05-17: Cancelled due to predicted thunderstorms; to be be rescheduled later.
Join us on an 11.4-mile paddle on the Suwannee River from Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge.
Both ramps are down dirt roads that are usually well maintained. There could be one small section of shoals to paddle over if the river is low but this paddle is appropriate for all levels. Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. We’ll probably stop along Prospect Church at Hunter Creek for a lunch break.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:15 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2024
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.
Note the antique
lally columns, which are pillars for a former bridge,
made of steel columns filled with concrete.
![[Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-05-18--turner-bridge-cone-bridge-suwannee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18
Update 2024-03-22: Rescheduled because of weather prediction to Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Update 2024-03-19: Okefenokee webinar, resolutions, bills, Suwannee River paddle 2024-03-19.
This 14-mile paddle is not recommended for beginners due to high water level and currents.
Just outside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge we will launch from Griffis Fish Camp landing. The dirt road to the landing will probably be underwater so bring wheels if you have them to transport your kayak from the camp to the water.
The launch fee is $2.00 per boat, self-pay exact change, at the site. Everyone must wear a PFD at all times on the water. Have a bow line/rope for your kayak. It’s a good idea to bring a change of clothes, just in case.
There are only a few places we can stop for breaks and lunch and we’ll take advantage of those.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Sunday, March 24, 2024
Put In: Griffis Fish Camp Landing, 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, Georgia.
GPS: 30.7845, -82.446333
![[Suwannee River Wilderness Paddle, Griffis to Fargo, 2024-03-23]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-23--suwannee-river-griffis-fargo/many.jpg)
Suwannee River Wilderness Paddle, Griffis to Fargo, 2024-03-23
![[WWALS Booth at, Florida Folk Festival 2024-04-24, Come down to White Springs, FL, Saturday and Sunday]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/gretchen/2024-05-24--florida-folk-festival-friday/fbmany.jpg)
![[WWALS at Florida Folk Festival, Friday - Sunday, May 24-26, 2024, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center SP, White Springs, Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-05-24--florida-folk-festival/fbmany.jpg)
![[Cypress Creek South (CR 6) to Cone Bridge, 2019-05-04, Creeks, karst, and a deadfall on the Suwannee River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-05-04--cypress-creek-cone-bridge-suwannee-river/fbmany.jpg)
![[Application deficiencies in TPM TiO2 mining permits: Modeling, mercury, spills, slimes, Florida --WWALS to GA-EPD 2024-04-09]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-04-09--wwals-ga-epd-twin-pines-okefenokee/many.jpg)
![[WWALS Chainsaw Cleanups, Phil Hubbard, WWALS Webinar 2024-04-11, Withlacoochee River, Suwannee River, and soon others]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-04-11--chainsaw-cleanups-wwals-webinar/fbmany.jpg)