This brief mention in a Florida state-wide bi-monthly environmental review newspaper is mostly right as far as it goes. Many more people and some personnel changes at the city of Valdosta were involved.
![[Valdosta Lee Street Detention Pond Trash Trap and Florida Specifier article]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-03--florida-specifier-trash-valdosta/many.jpg)
Valdosta Lee Street Detention Pond Trash Trap and Florida Specifier article
Florida Specifier, April-May 2023, Valdosta trapping trash from entering waterways, Continue reading
The plaintiffs’ case is based on the Lowndes County Commission not agreeing with county staff’s recommendation to approve the rezoning, as well as “evidence supporting their petition and codes relating to the Unified Development Land Code.”
Maybe this is the “enhanced facade” that Dollar General offered in the Public Hearing after which the County Commission denied the rezoning, on January 1, 2023.
![[Enhanced facade, plat, and future development, VDT and actual stormwater by WWALS]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-03--lcc-dollar-general-lawsuit/many.jpg)
Enhanced facade, plat, and future development, VDT and actual stormwater by WWALS
Also the plaintiffs say all the public comments were “generalized and speculative”. Huh, I sure thought I heard a bunch of quite specific public comments. The letter WWALS sent to the Commission before that Public Hearing was quite specific, for example, in saying the allegation that the closest effect on nearby property owners would be on their residences was hogwash, given that stormwater from the subject site runs west under GA 122 onto neighboring property much closer than that residence.
There was speculation in various comments, but it was based on easily documented history of Dollar General and of property development in Lowndes County.
After a story by a Valdosta Daily Times reporter, that local organ of record weighed in with an editorial supporting the citizens. Continue reading
Here are some videos I took of the main trashjam from the WWALS Cleanup below Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River 2023-04-08.
It’s not all gone, but boats can pass by now. We had to leave much trash there due to time, and there is more in other spots up and down the river.
![[Collage @ Cleanup below Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River 2023-04-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-08--kf-cleanup-withlacoochee-river-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ Cleanup below Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River 2023-04-08
Thanks again especially to Josh Tison who reported the big trash jam blocking the river and brought a crew with chainsaws to deal with it, and to Russell Allen McBride for leading this WWALS outing, as well as to everyone else who came and helped.
Here is a WWALS video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-Qz_O7f4LVH2mZY2mJ2F9PGa Continue reading
Update 2023-05-16: Rivers and mining: WWALS comments on Suwannee-Satilla Draft Regional Water Plan 2023-05-15.
The comment deadline is coming up in less than two weeks for the Georgia Regional Water Plans.
Here is the notice:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/GADNR/bulletins/35828a6
The draft plans are here:
https://waterplanning.georgia.gov/regional-water-plans
The Suwannee-Satilla draft plan is here:
https://waterplanning.georgia.gov/suwannee-satilla-regional-water-plan
Send comments to: water.planning@dnr.ga.gov
For more information, please contact Clete Barton at (470) 251-4769 or Clete.Barton@dnr.ga.gov
The Suwannee-Satilla Regional Planning Council (SSRWPC) is meeting a few days after the deadline, May 24th, in Tifton.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Update 2023-05-04: Videos: Cleanup below Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River 2023-04-08.
Josh Tison reported the Withlacoochee River blocked by a trash jam. He and Marla Tison and Bobby Higgs came out to help clear it, with chainsaws, on Yet Another Cleanup Knights Ferry to Nankin, Withlacoochee River, 2023-04-08.
An alligator jumped off the target trash jam just after I nosed my boat into it. Russell Allen McBride and Josh Tison walked on it. It was covered with trash, as were many other spots along the river.
The combination of trash brands again indicates it came from Valdosta: Cookout, Bojangles, and Jackson Hewitt, for example.
All this floating Valdosta trash is in Brooks County, because the county line between Brooks and Lowndes County is the east bank of the Withlacoochee River. And three Brooks County people came with their motor boat and chainsaws to clean up some of it.
![[Collage, Cleanup, KF to Nankin, 2023-04-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-08--kf-cleanup-withlacoochee-river-pictures/many.jpg)
Collage, Cleanup, KF to Nankin, 2023-04-08
Russell Allen McBride remarked, “As the leader of this outing it was sad that I had to have everyone leave several of the trash spots to have room and time for the main one.”
With now three trash traps and more promised, Valdosta is starting Continue reading
Update 2023-06-16: Cancelled: Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park, Little River, Reed Bingham State Park Beach, 2023-06-17
Food and activities for children will be provided by Fannie Gibbs and Macedonia Community Foundation and Jenard S. Asthma Foundation.
WWALS will provide boats for new paddlers at this gathering of people from Brooks, Cook, and Tift Counties, Georgia, and beyond in celebration of Juneteenth.
![[Boating and family fun at Juneteenth 2021]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-06-17--juneteenth/many.jpg)
Boating and family fun at Juneteenth 2021
WWALS will provide stunt adults to go with any children 16 or under so they can boat, in case their parents don’t want to paddle. Continue reading
Live on the air now!
As soon as I mentioned we had hired a Development Director, Scott James invited Veronica Oakler on his radio show, 92.1 FM, this morning, 6-8:15 AM, live from Jasper, Florida.
Listen: talk921.com.
Veronica lives in Madison, so it was a short trip across the Withlacoochee River to Jasper.
![[Veronica Oakler on Scott James Radio 2023-04-28]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-28--talk921fm-cohost-veronica-oakler/many.jpg)
Veronica Oakler on Scott James Radio 2023-04-28
Event: facebook:
More about Veronica: Continue reading
https://www.facebook.com/events/754268986238088/
Update 2023-08-27: Pictures: Sullivan Launch to Florida Campsites, Withlacoochee River 2023-07-15.
Join us for a leisurely paddle by second magnitude Hardee Spring and other springs, as well as Fennels Funnel, a sinkhole leading to the extensive M2 Blue cave system, and Chitty Bend East Distributary, where some of the Withlacoochee River runs into the woods into some swallets.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2:30 PM, Saturday, July 15, 2023
Put In: Sullivan Launch, The first public access point in Florida to the blackwater Withlacoochee River, Sullivan launch is a narrow concrete launch with free parking and a picnic area, but no picnic tables. It is in the Sullivan Tract of Twin Rivers State Park. From Pinetta, Madison County, FL, travel east on CR 150; turn right at the bridge and follow road to the launch south of the river bridge. Downstream it’s 8.8 miles or about 4.4 miles to paddle to Florida Campsites Ramp. First thing you’ll see is the twisted remains of the old Bellville Bridge, and on the right bank the Pinetta gauge.
GPS: 30.595667, -83.26
![[Hardee Spring, 2015-10-24]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-07-15--withlacoochee-springs-slough/KIMG2746.jpg)
Hardee Spring, 2015-10-24 on the WWALS
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
Update 2023-05-14: Pictures: turtle rescue 2023-04-24.
Valdosta Community Protections Manager Anetra Riley yesterday told WWALS that City Marshalls have sent notices to all parking lot owners in Valdosta that they must follow city ordinances and place trash cans in their parking lots. Not just under the roofs at the store entrances: strategically placed, as the ordinance says.
![[Community Protections Manager Anetra Riley and trash cans in parking lot]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-24--trash-tour-with-turtle/many.jpg)
Community Protections Manager Anetra Riley and trash cans in parking lot
Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and Two Mile Branch neighbor Katherine Ball were pleased to hear this new ordinance enforcement initiative. This ordinance enforcement is one of many levels WWALS continues to advocate to fix the trash problem.
Anetra Riley also told us that something long promised by the Mayor on his radio show has finally happened: Continue reading
Update 2023-04-29: Nankin filthy, Withlacoochee River 2023-04-27.
WWALS tests were clean for Thursday on the Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers.
Rain is predicted, but not much.
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
Happy boating, swimming, and fishing this weekend!
The most recent results we have from Valdosta are for Monday upstream and Wednesday week before last downstream. They generally Continue reading
![[Comment deadline 2023-05-15]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-15--ga-draft-regional-water-plants/big/2023-05-15--comment-deadline.jpg)
![[Chart, River, Swim Guide Map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-20--wq/many.jpg)