Tag Archives: WLRWT

Filthy Withlacoochee and Little Rivers 2024-11-07

Update 2024-11-10: Filthy Sugar Creek and Withlacoochee River 2024-11-08.

Valdosta Utilities got bad results for the Withlacoochee River at GA 133 for Wednesday, and WWALS got much worse for Thursday. Plus the Little River at Troupville Boat Ramp (also GA 133) tested about as bad for Thursday.

Valdosta reported seven sewage spills, two ongoing. All but one of those spill sites has spilled before. One of the ongoing is at the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant, so bad news. The other ongoing is at Wainwright Drive, site of numerous previous spills, now with two (2) manholes spewing sewage.

The good news for Valdosta is that with the Little River sky-high E. coli reading being about as high as the one for the Withlacoochee River, not all of the contamination can be coming from Valdosta, because the Little River is not downstream from Valdosta.

The foot of rain on Valdosta from the fringe of Hurricane Rafael that caused all this has also raised the Withlacoochee River into Action or Minor Flood Stages, and the Alapaha River at Statenville is heading for Action Stage.

So if you want to paddle, motor, fish, or swim this weekend, I’d avoid the Little, Withlacoochee, or Alapaha Rivers. Better luck with the Suwannee or Santa Fe Rivers, or the Ichetucknee if any park entrances are open there.

Remember, many parks and put-ins remain closed after Hurricane Helene. So check before you go.

[Filthy Withlacoochee and Little Rivers 2024-11-07 Also flooding after a foot of rain]
Filthy Withlacoochee and Little Rivers 2024-11-07 Also flooding after a foot of rain

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Manholes spewing sewage into One Mile Branch at Wainwright Drive, Valdosta, GA 2024-11-08

Update 2024-11-08: Filthy Withlacoochee and Little Rivers 2024-11-07.

Scotti Jay wrote today, “Day 2 of the sewage fountain on Wainright Dr. One Mile Branch that flows to Sugar Creek>Withlacoochee River>Suwannee River>Gulf of Mexico. Approaching 72 hours since the heavy rains and no warning signs installed by the city. No public notice. Nothing…”

[Manholes spewing sewage into One Mile Branch, Wainwright Drive Valdosta, GA, second day, 2024-11-08]
Manholes spewing sewage into One Mile Branch, Wainwright Drive Valdosta, GA, second day, 2024-11-08

He’s referring to the foot of rain that fell on Valdosta Wednesday and Thursday, 6-7 November 2024, causing flooding and bridge and school closures.

Valdosta City Schools posted on Thursday morning a list of streets closed, as did the City of Valdosta, Lowndes County Schools, and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

WWALS posted yesterday about yet another ongoing sewage spill at Knob Hill Road: pictures and video.

Only today do we finally get a report by the City about seven sewage spills, two still ongoing, including at Wainwright Drive. Why couldn’t the City let everyone know about sewage spills as soon as they knew? Warning people not to drive into flood waters is important, but why is telling people about contaminated waterways not as urgent?

As Scotti asks, why no sewer spill warning signs?

Why has that manhole at Wainwright Drive not been fixed yet? We were complaining about it back in 2021 and before. The same location (and many of the others of this time) spilled Hurricane Debby.

The builder put in another, higher, manhole. But they did not remove the old one. And in these videos you can see both manholes still spewing sewage.

These are not criticisms of Valdosta Utilities or its Director. They are questions for the City Manager, Mayor, and Council, about their priorities.

Here’s a playlist of the videos Sara Squires Jones took today:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-Qz6Ljyu3iNBI2tsx_3kqHD3&si=x91G0JX49wonCNeb Continue reading →

Valdosta reports seven sewage spills, two ongoing 2024-11-08

Update 2024-11-12: Valdosta sewage spills contained after flash flood 2024-11-11.

Update 2024-11-08: Manholes spewing sewage into One Mile Branch at Wainwright Drive, Valdosta, GA 2024-11-08.

Received via email at 11:11 AM this morning: “Although most of the discharge is primarily stormwater, residents are urged to avoid contact with rivers, creeks, streams, or tributaries until further notice.”

[Seven sewage spills, two ongoing, Valdosta, GA, including the Withlacoochee WWTP 2024-11-08]
Seven sewage spills, two ongoing, Valdosta, GA, including the Withlacoochee WWTP 2024-11-08

WWALS has some evidence that there is substantial E. coli in the water. Stay tuned for that.

Meanwhile, it looks like adding another catch basin at Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) would have been a good idea after all.

And I’d like to know, why did the City of Valdosta only inform the public about these spills more than a day after they started?

This is not a criticism of the Valdosta Utilities Department or its Director, who I continue to maintain is doing much more than his predecessors.

This is a question for the City Manager, Mayor, and Council.

Valdosta City Schools informed the public quickly about road closures. (Nevermind why Schools and not Public Works or the City’s Public Information Officer.)

Why did the City not inform the public as quickly about sewage getting into the waterways?

Everybody knows there are spills. WWALS already posted pictures and video of the Knob Hill Road spill. But we didn’t know about all of them.

So, tell us, top of the Valdosta City government, why didn’t you inform everyone?

If it’s appropriate today to warn people to stay away from the waterways, why wasn’t that appropriate yesterday?

Will you inform the public next time?

There will be a next time. Sure, this flash flood as a side effect of Hurricane Rafael is unusual. But so was Cat 2 Hurricane Helene. And Hurricane Debby before that. And Hurricane Idalia before that.

None of us can pretend any of that won’t happen again, or worse. The City of Valdosta can keep us all better informed.

City of Valdosta Experiences Significant Rain Event and Flooding, Resulting in Overwhelmed Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Systems

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More Knob Hill Road sewage spills, Three Mile Branch, Valdosta 2024-11-07

Update 2024-11-08: Valdosta reports seven sewage spills, two ongoing 2024-11-08.

After many previously at the same location, this morning at 8:15 AM Richard A. Stalvey reported about 215 and 300 Knob Hill Road: “Heavy sewage spills at above addresses in Worthington Woods. I let the city know a few minutes ago.”

[More Knob Hill Road sewage spills 2024-11-07, Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River, Valdosta, GA]
More Knob Hill Road sewage spills 2024-11-07, Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River, Valdosta, GA

This afternoon he sent this video of sewage spewing out of a manhole and running into a ditch which goes to Three Mile Branch in Langdale Park and on to the Withlacoochee River.

If you see or smell a spill, or a flooded road or other concern, please send it to us and report it on Valdosta Click-n-Fix.
https://wwals.net/report/
https://www.valdostacity.com/report-a-concern

Probably there are other spills due to the foot of rain on Valdosta last night.

Notice Continue reading →

Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-02 2024-11-16

Update 2024-11-15: Rescheduled to 2024-12-23 2024-11-23 due to water too high and contaminated at previous date after the flash flood. Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.

Update 2024-11-15: Changed to November 16, 2024, due to schedule conflicts.

Join us, walking between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.

Hurricane Helene blew down many trees, so we should find plenty of deadfalls.

Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can help by photographing, pulling limbs out of the way, or just being there.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
 
The water level is well below our recommended low level for paddling, but if you do want to put in a kayak or canoe, you might try sliding it down the sand slope under the GA 133 bridge.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-02, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp]
Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-02, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp

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Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council meeting in Valdosta 2024-11-21

Update 2024-12-06: Videos: Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council meeting in Valdosta 2024-11-21.

Near Franks Creek and the Little River, not far from the Withlacoochee River.

SUWANNEE-SATILLA

REGIONAL WATER PLANNING COUNCIL MEETING

Announcement Date: October 22, 2024

[Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council 2024-11-21 at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, Georgia]
Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council 2024-11-21 at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, Georgia

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

The Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council

will hold a council meeting at the following date, time and location:

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Registration: 10:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Meeting: 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Note: This Meeting may be attended In-Person or Virtually via the MS Teams Link with Call-In Information Provided Below

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (Berrien Hall Classroom 229)

4089 Val Tech Road Valdosta, GA 31602

If you are planning to attend the meeting Continue reading →

Pictures: Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26

The water level was not too low on the Little River, but it was too low on the Withlacoochee River for the WWALS jon boat with outboard. So, there was no chainsawing.

We’ve been waiting for the Withlacoochee River to get down to a level where we can do a walking chainsaw cleanup. With no rain in sight, it will be plenty low next Saturday, so that will be the time.

[Water too low for jon boat outboard, Withlacoochee River, Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26]
Water too low for jon boat outboard, Withlacoochee River, Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26

Thanks to TJ Johnson for driving an hour from Live Oak to get there with chainsaws to lead this expedition, and for helping haul the jon boat back upstream on muscle and trolling motor batteries after the outboard did not restart after Trashy Shoals. Continue reading →

New Troupville town historic marker on GA 133 just west of the Withlacoochee River 2024-10-23

It’s back: the Georgia Historical Society marker for the town of Troupville.

It’s on the north side of GA-133 (St. Augustine Road), west of I-75 exit 18, just east of the Withlacoochee River.

[Troupville Town Site Historical Marker 2024, Georgia Historical Society, Plus UDC marker]
Troupville Town Site Historical Marker 2024, Georgia Historical Society, Plus UDC marker

TROUPVILLE

The settlement of Troupville once existed near here, about four miles northwest of present-day Valdosta. The town was named Troupville in honor of George M. Troup, governor of Georgia from 1823 to 1827. In 1833, the county seat of Lowndes County moved from Franklinville to Troupville, which was incorporated in 1837 and continued as county seat until 1860. When the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, running from Savannah toward Pensacola, surveyed for right-of-way in the area, the proposed route bypassed Troupville. Lowndes County established the new town of Valdosta on the new railroad line. Shortly after train operations began in 1860 the county seat transferred to Valdosta. Early residents of the town include the Ayer, Briggs, Ellis, Griffin, Hall, Howell, Jones, Morgan, Smith, and Treadwell families, many of whom are buried at the nearby Troupville Cemetery.

092-2

Re-erected by the Georgia Historical Society in 2024

1961

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Upstream Withlacoochee River from Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene 2024-10-26

Update 2024-10-27: Pictures.

Kayaks and canoes and jon boats are invited to join the WWALS jon boat with 9.9hp outboard seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect. After Hurricane Helene, there are probably new ones. We will go as far up as we can and have time for with sawing, maybe to the GA 133 Bridge, the I-75 Bridge, or even Sugar Creek.

Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can collect trash, photograph, video, pull limbs out of the way, or just paddle.

First we will jaunt downstream past the cleaned-water Outflow of Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant and Spring Branch to pick up a couple of PFAS water sample collection devices we planted on September 14. If they’re still there after the hurricane.

If you’re paddling, you can just turn left at the Little River Confluence and go on up the Withlacoochee River.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, October 26, 2024

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Upstream Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26, From Troupville Boat Ramp, After Hurricane Helene]
Upstream Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26, From Troupville Boat Ramp, After Hurricane Helene

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WWALS Booth at Brooks County Skillet Festival 2024-10-19

It was busy and fun, one of the few festivals that did not cancel after Hurricane Helene: the Brooks County Skillet Festival in Quitman, Georgia, on Okapilco Creek, which runs into the Withlacoochee River.

[WWALS Booth at Brooks County Skillet Festival 2024-10-19 Praying Mantis. Stop the Mine (Okefenokee).]
WWALS Booth at Brooks County Skillet Festival 2024-10-19 Praying Mantis. Stop the Mine (Okefenokee).

Featuring Gretchen’s Praying Mantis.

Thanks to Michael Bachrach and Gee Edwards for helping.

Honorable Mention to Cindy Vedas for attempting to get there.

Special Award to Elleanor Williams for being the new poster child for Stop the Mine too close to the Okefenokee Swamp.
https://wwals.net/issues/titanium-mining

For more events and outings, see:
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