Tag Archives: testing

Work in progress at Lakeland Boat Ramp 2023-06-20

Update 2023-06-27: Good Alapaha River 2023-06-25.

Thanks to GA-DNR for silt fences and turbidity curtains during their upgrade of Lakeland Boat Ramp, and for that upgrade.

Also thanks to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR) for officially adopting the name Lakeland Boat Ramp as decided back in 2018 by the Lakeland County Commission, as well as Berrien Beach Boat Ramp, also decided in 2018 by the Berrien County Commission, both for the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail. This naming development is specifically thanks to WWALS tester Kimberly Tanner and GA-DNR Boating Access Coordinator Jeff E. Bishop.

[At-water ARWT sign, silt fences and turbidity curtain, Lakeland Boat Ramp, 2023-06-20]
At-water ARWT sign, silt fences and turbidity curtain, Lakeland Boat Ramp, 2023-06-20

When I took these pictures, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Statenville Gauge read about 7.17 feet (83.27′ NAVD88). Today, Saturday, June 24th, the Alapaha River is almost seven feet higher, at 14.01′ (90.11′ NAVD88), into Action Stage.

So don’t be surprised if GA-DNR’s plan to start work May 30 and end about July 26 gets extended a bit. Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-06-22

Update 2023-06-24: Valdosta sewage into One Mile Branch 2023-06-21.

The Withlacoochee River good for Thursday at three locations upstream and down, also the Little River at Troupville Boat Ramp.

This is despite quite a bit of rain in the past few days. Most likely the first flush is over. That’s where the various animal and human uses of the woods as a latrine get flushed into waterways when hard rain first starts. Now what we’re mostly seeing is simply rainwater runoff.

[Chart, River, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-22]
Chart, River, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-22

Of course there could still be sewage spills. However, no new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida. We would most likely be seeing E. coli from them if they had happened.

So I would be good with swimming, fishing, and boating on the Withlacoochee River this weekend.

Except of course that Continue reading →

Very bad upstream Withlacoochee River 2023-06-15

Update 2023-06-23: Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-06-22.

The Withlacoochee River tested very bad upstream for Thursday, from Franklinville Road to US 41. Surprisingly, downstream at Clyattville-Nankin Boat Ramp it tested good, and also on the Little River at Troupville Boat Ramp.

I can only guess either the contamination has not yet washed down that far, or maybe enough rain has come down to dilute the contamination.

Even more rain is expected.

I wouldn’t swim, fish, or boat in the Withlacoochee River this weekend.

What is that contamination? Well, it’s not coming from the City of Valdosta, since Franklinville is upstream of Valdosta, and US 41 is upstream of most of that city.

We need to buy some more DNA test kits to find out, but likely scenarios include upstream cattle and hog farms (there are some), chicken manure used as fertilizer, and first flush, as in when rains come after a long dry spell the results of animals using the woods as a latrine wash into waterways.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-15]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-15

No new sewage spills have been reported Continue reading →

Clean Rivers 2023-06-08

Update 2023-06-16: Very bad upstream Withlacoochee River 2023-06-15.

The Withlacoochee River and Little Rivers tested good for Thursday, and the Alapaha River for Tuesday. Unless it rains, happy swimming, boating, and fishing this weekend.

Or join us tomorrow on the Suwannee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2023-06-10.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map, 2023-06-08]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map, 2023-06-08

No new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Monday upstream and for Friday a week ago downstream. Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River, bad Sheboggy on Alapaha River 2023-06-01

Update 2023-06-09: Clean Rivers 2023-06-08.

The Withlacoochee River tested good for Thursday, and the Little River good enough. Rain is predicted, but if you can get in before that, happy swimming, boating, and fishing this weekend.

Or join us tomorrow evening at the Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-01]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-06-01

However, the Alapaha River at Sheboggy Boat Ramp tested bad for Monday. With worse a mile or so upstream below the City of Alapaha sewage settling ponds.

No new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Wednesday upstream and for last Friday downstream. Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-05-25

Update 2023-06-02: Clean Withlacoochee River, bad Sheboggy on Alapaha River 2023-06-01.

All clear for the Withlacoochee River for the weekend.

Happy swimming, boating, and fishing!

[Chart, River, Swim Guide 2023-05-25]
Chart, River, Swim Guide 2023-05-25

No rain is predicted for the weekend.

No new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

Or join us at the Florida Folk Festival, at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida, on the banks of the Suwannee River.

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Continue reading →

Bad Franklinville, Withlacoochee River, and Troupville, Little River 2023-05-18

Update 2023-06-24: Work in progress at Lakeland Boat Ramp 2023-06-20.

Update 2023-05-26: Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-05-25.

Update 2023-05-20: Alapaha River tested clean, thanks to WWALS tester Kimberly Tanner.

Two unusual places tested bad for Thursday, after big rains upstream from them: Troupville Boat Ramp on the Little River, and Franklinville Landing on the Withlacoochee River. And there was more rain Friday upstream of Troupville.

Oddly, downstream tests on the Withlacoochee were clean.

No new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

So I’d avoid the Little River this weekend, and go downstream on the Withlacoochee River.

Or join us tomorrow on the Suwannee River to portage Big Shoals.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-05-18]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-05-18

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Monday upstream and Wednesday week before last downstream. The Valdosta Monday upstream results were good, after bad Friday results for US 41 and GA 133, as we expected due to the rain back then. Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River, but raining now 2023-05-11

Update 2023-05-19: Bad Franklinville, Withlacoochee River, and Troupville, Little River 2023-05-18.

WWALS tests were clean for Thursday on the Withlacoochee River.

No new sewage spills have been reported. in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

However, it is raining now, and rain is predicted through Monday.

So probably the rivers are OK right now, but rain is likely to wash contamination into them.

[Chart, River, Swim Guide 2023-05-11]
Chart, River, Swim Guide 2023-05-11

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Monday upstream and Wednesday a week ago downstream. They all showed clean at those times, corroborating last week’s WWALS results. Continue reading →

Southern Georgia Black Chambers welcomes WWALS Watershed Coalition 2023-04-27

Here’s what they wrote:

We are excited to welcome our new member, WWALS Watershed Coalition, to the Southern Georgia Black Chambers! Their vision is to promote a healthy watershed with clean water that is swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. WWALS is an educational nonprofit charity that advocates for the conservation and stewardship of various river watersheds throughout South Georgia and North Florida. Join us in supporting WWALS and their efforts towards environmental monitoring and citizen activities in the area. Learn more about WWALS Watershed Coalition is Suwannee Riverkeeper and their work at www.wwals.net.

[Southern Georgia Black Chambers welcomes WWALS]
Southern Georgia Black Chambers welcomes WWALS

“Thank You! We are excited to join and work on projects together,” wrote WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman.

And please come to Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park Beach, 11AM to 3 PM, Saturday, June 17, 2023, for food, activities for children, and boating with stunt adults!
https://wwals.net/?p=61855 Continue reading →

Clean Withlacoochee River 2023-05-04

Update 2023-05-12: Clean Withlacoochee River, but raining now 2023-05-11.

WWALS tests were clean for Thursday on the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers.

No rain is predicted.

The only sewage spill reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida was a small one in High Springs, Florida, that probably did not affect the Santa Fe River.

Happy boating, fishing, and swimming this weekend.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-05-04]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide Map 2023-05-04

The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for last Friday upstream and down. They show bad at GA 133 and US 84, and we have no new results for those sites. Continue reading →