Bobby McKenzie reports, “So the trash trap at Lee Street pond is getting an upgrade…”
No doubt everyone agrees with Bobby when he says, “Hope it works!”
![[Looking upstream, Lee St. trash trap construction, --Bobby McKenzie 2023-01-09]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-09--valdosta-lee-street-trash-trap/image_67233281.jpg)
Looking upstream, Lee St. trash trap construction, –Bobby McKenzie 2023-01-09
He elaborates: Continue reading
Update 2023-02-10: Clean rivers before rain 2023-02-09.
Here’s an update between our weekly WWALS water quality reports.
Three more downstream WWALS Withlacoochee River test sites matched the upstream ones for Thursday, February 2nd, as predicted.
However, not as predicted, Valdosta got too-high upstream results for Friday, February 3rd, at GA 133 and US 84 (but not at US 41). So apparently the drizzle of rain that Thursday did wash something into the river. However, Valdosta’s results for Monday at the same sites are all good, so whatever it was, it was short-lived.
And Rochelle, Georgia, got around to reporting another small far-upstream sewage spill in the Alapaha River basin.
![[Chart, Withlacoochee River, Swim Guide, 2023-02-02]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-06--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Withlacoochee River, Swim Guide, 2023-02-02
The additional downstream sites I sampled last Thursday were the Continue reading
After two hours of speakers in the Public Hearing, the Brooks County Commission this Monday denied the Special Exception for Morven Solar, 3:1:1.
![[Speakers, Decision: Morven Solar @ Brooks County Commission 2023-02-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-06--brooks-county-morven-solar-videos/many.jpg)
Speakers, Decision: Morven Solar @ Brooks County Commission 2023-02-06
Commissioner Myra Exum, after saying that whatever the Commissioners did they would be wrong, Continue reading
Update 2023-02-08: Morven Solar denied @ Brooks County Commission 2023-02-06.
Before this evening’s Brooks County Commission decision on a Special Exception for Morven Solar, WWALS wrote asking for three conditions.
![[Letter and Map --WWALS to Brooks County Commission about Morven Solar 2023-02-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-06--wwals-to-brooks-county-morven-solar/many.jpg)
Letter and Map –WWALS to Brooks County Commission about Morven Solar 2023-02-06
The meeting is 5PM tonight, Monday, February 6, 2023, at Brooks County Courthouse, East Screven Street, Quitman, GA, 31643.
See also Videos: Morven Solar at Brooks County Planning Commission 2023-01-19.
Here is the WWALS letter, sent to the Brooks County Commission as PDF. Continue reading
Update 2023-02-08: Morven Solar denied @ Brooks County Commission 2023-02-06.
Update 2023-02-06: Herbivores, sediment basins, silt fences for Morven Solar –WWALS to Brooks County Commission 2023-02-06.
These WWALS videos show the Public Hearing that was the only agenda item at the Brooks County Planning Commission, January 19, 2023.
![[Movie: Rules for Speaking --Pat Sharpe, Chair (30M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-01-19--morven-solar-videos/big/MVI_0337.jpg)
Movie: Rules for Speaking –Pat Sharpe, Chair (30M)
The Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions.
The actual decision on the Special Exception will be made tonight at 5PM by the Brooks County Commission at Brooks County Courthouse, East Screven Street, Quitman, GA, 31643.
There is no agenda for tonight’s meeting on the county’s website, WWALS has still not received agenda nor board packet in response to our open records request of January 30, 2023.
Here’s a LAKE video playlist:
Videos: Morven Solar at Brooks County Planning Commission 2023-01-19
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).
Below are links to each WWALS video of each speaker. Except for some camera glitches, these videos show the entire meeting.
See also the agenda, the board packet, the pictures of the sites of Morven Solar, and Report: Conditions wanted on Morven Solar by Brooks County Planning Commission 2023-01-20.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Expedition leader Will Hart says about tomorrow’s paddle from Allen Ramp to Suwannee River State Park on the Withlacoochee River,
“Water levels are higher now than expected when the outing was planned. All of the springs and shoals will be under water at this level, however we are still on to paddle. The river will also be a bit murky with some floating debris due to runoff from the woods. At these levels it is considered “not for beginners” due to the current and fast flow.
“It will also be a little strenuous paddling up the last 1/4 mile at the Suwannee River confluence at this level.”
If you don’t want to try that last quarter mile upstream part, there is an earlier takeout available.
![[Withlacoochee River with Melvin Shoals downstream. Photo: John S. Quarterman 2023-02-03]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023/2023-02-04--update-allen-ramp-srsp-withlacoochee/20230202_171446.jpg)
Withlacoochee River with Melvin Shoals downstream. Photo: John S. Quarterman 2023-02-03
Follow this link for the rest of the outing details:
https://wwals.net/?p=60888
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Update 2023-02-03: High and fast: Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River 2023-02-04.
Due to predicted cold weather Saturday, please gather an hour later, at 9 AM.
![[Melvin Shoals, Allen Ramp, Ellaville Landing --Will Hart 2023-02-02]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-02--melvin-shoals/many.jpg)
Melvin Shoals, Allen Ramp, Ellaville Landing –Will Hart 2023-02-02
Water levels are high, so Melvin Shoals is underwater. But if you don’t want to run the shoals, expedition leader Will Hart is offering an early takeout just upstream at Ellaville Landing, on Twin Rivers State Forest land.
Double Door Spring is an awesome thing to see for those who haven’t seen this part of the wild and beautiful Withlacoochee River. We will pass numerous rocky shoals requiring some skills so this outing may not be appropriate for beginners and young children. There are many other clear springs to explore.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:30 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, February 4, 2023
Put In: Allen Ramp, 2726 SW 64th Way Jasper, FL 32052, in Hamilton County, Florida.
Just to see if Russell Allen McBride had changed his mind since December, I asked him again as he waded in to clean out the Sugar Creek WaterGoat: if Valdosta finally buys more trash traps like they’ve been promising for many months, will he clean them out?
Answer: not unless the city makes that his full time job.
![[Russell waist-deep in the trash]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-01-26--water-goat-sugar-creek/20230126_160545.jpg)
Russell waist-deep in the trash
He also mentioned that the recent big rain washed some trash over the current WaterGoat, so Valdosta needs a better model for this location, which is on Sugar Creek just upstream from the Withlacoochee River.
See the video
on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/941601463886544
Or on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/y5Zi8es3nLI
Video by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., 2023-01-26
For much more about the trash situation, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/trash Continue reading
Knight Bridge and Rocky Ford Bridge appear in some century-old maps in Georgia Archives.
![[Knight Bridge 1917 and remaining posts 2022]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/1917--lowndes-co-ga-soil-survey-map/many.jpg)
Knight Bridge 1917 and remaining posts 2022
At the top left you can see a road going to the site of Spain Ferry.
Another road reaches the river downstream from there. Current aerial maps show that road is still there in the woods, although the path of the river seems to have shifted west somewhat at that point.
Then there’s Knight Bridge, near where Knights Ferry Boat Ramp is now.
Notice that the old road to Knight Bridge jags south before it gets to the river.
In this current map you can see that old road still there in the woods. Continue reading
Update 2023-03-03: Clean Rivers 2023-03-02.
Update 2023-03-03: Early takeout for Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle: DeLoach Private Boat Ramp 2023-03-03.
Update 2023-03-01: Boats provided by State Line River Outfitters at Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle 2023-03-04.
Update 2023-02-22: Good water levels for Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle 2023-02-22.
Update 2023-02-16: River Low, Action, and Flood Stages 2023-02-16.
Update 2023-02-15: Paddling in the treetops 2023-02-13 and for real two years ago 2021-02-27 2023-02-13. Don’t worry: the water level should come back down before this year’s paddle date.
Valdosta, Georgia, January 30, 2021 — Join us March 4th for this annual eleven-mile river paddle, past the future site of Troupville River Camp and Nature Park, along the west side of the most populous city in the Suwannee River Basin, past Valdosta’s clean outfall of its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant, with many creeks, oaks, cypresses, pines, fish, turtles, and maybe an alligator, down to Spook Bridge, so scary it has its own movie.
“Come on down to where I used to fish as a child, and with my children!” said Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter. ”This event allows our residents to come out and explore the natural beauties of Lowndes County while enjoying our waterways.”
“I am excited to partner once again with WWALS, plus this time with Lowndes County, to show people our fabulous blackwater rivers, only a few miles from City Hall and VSU,” said Valdosta Mayor Scott James. “After the largest infrastructure project and single largest financial commitment in the history of our City was made toward a completely modern sewer system, we are now exploring the next phase toward beautifying our area waterways. Council and City staff will be addressing the most cost effective way to educate our citizens and eliminate the trash littering our streets that eventually makes into our creeks and rivers. The fight will begin with further education of our friends and neighbors combined with additional focus from City staff and volunteers. I invite everyone to come out and join us for a day of fellowship on the river!”
“Welcome to this one of our many paddles,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. “We have at least one daytime river paddle a month, in Florida or Georgia, plus an evening Full Moon paddle at Banks Lake, near Lakeland, GA. If you’re ill in any way, please stay home.”
![[Paddlers on the Withlacoochee River, Photo: John S. Quarterman 2022-02-19]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-04--mayor-chairmans-paddle/20220219_131303.jpg)
Paddlers on the Withlacoochee River, Photo: John S. Quarterman 2022-02-19
Come as early as 8 AM, Saturday, March 3, 2023, to Troupville Boat Ramp, Continue reading