Please welcome Kimberly Godden Tanner, who was one of several new members elected to the WWALS Board at the July Annual Members Meeting.
Here’s what Kim Tanner wrote about herself, including her experience in water quality testing.
Maybe you, like her, would like to do water quality testing
for WWALS.
If so,
please fill out the application form.
https://forms.gle/Qe4gdPgisUDBKUAQ7
Kimberly Tanner (post 3, 2023-2024)
Continue reading
Update 2023-10-26: Pictures: Langdale Park Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2023-10-20.
Update 2023-10-19: Mostly on land: Langdale Park Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2023-10-20.
Join us for a WWALS paddle cleanup during United Way Day of Caring.
Outings leader Russell Allen McBride will scout the Withlacoochee River upstream and down from Langdale Park Boat Ramp, and will let us know the exact route at the outing.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 1 PM, Friday, October 20, 2023
Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602, in Lowndes County.
GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395, -83.32395
![[Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2022-11-03, Withlacoochee River upstream and down 2022-11-13, and Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail sign]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-10-20--langdale-park-withlacoochee-river-cleanup/many.jpg)
Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2022-11-03,
Withlacoochee River upstream and down 2022-11-13, and Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail sign
Thanks to “friendly, bubbly” Meredith Crosby for leading this outing, to Rebecca Galardo for reporting on it, to Tony Galardo for taking her out in the Lanier EMA boat to do that, thanks to James Barnes, Lanier County Code Enforcement, for unlocking the boats, and thanks to Lanier County for letting WWALS rent the boats to paddlers for free.
![[WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-01--banks-lake-full-sturgeon-moon-lanier-advocate/many.jpg)
WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate
Plus of course thanks to everyone who paddled on the Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, 2023-08-01. The next full moon paddle is at the end of August: Banks Lake Full Blue Supermoon Paddle 2023-08-30.
For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings
Rebecca Galardo, Lanier County Advocate, Banks Lake paddling event held August 1, Continue reading
Update 2023-09-12: Clinch County Resolution against strip mine, for Okefenokee Swamp 2023-09-11.
In addition to its usual business of roads and taxes, the Clinch County Commission discussed with Suwannee Riverkeeper outings, boat ramps, and a proposed resolution against the strip mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp.
![[Collage @ Clinch County Commission 2023-08-07]](https://wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-07--clinch-county-commission/many.jpg)
Collage @ Clinch County Commission 2023-08-07
For the boat ramp, Clinch County can apply to the GA-DNR Recreational Trails Program, Nonmotorized. Andrew Schock, writing for the landowner, The Conservation Fund, sent a letter saying that among the half a dozen possibilities he favors Drawdy Mill Landing on Drawdy Mill Road, which is about half way between Griffis Fish Camp and Fargo Boat Ramp.
For the
resolution supporting the Okefenokee Swamp and the Suwannee River against the proposed strip mine,
the Commissioners chose to take another month to read it thoroughly,
with a vote next month, which should be 6PM, Monday, September 4, 2023.
The resolutions already passed by other cities and counties,
including
the one passed last week by Echols County,
are
on the WWALS website.
For more about that mine, see
https://wwals.net/issues/titanium-mining
Thanks to Chairman Henry Moylan and the Commissioners for their hospitality, to Clinch County Administrator Jaclyn James for ongoing communications, and to WWALS member Etta Lee for talking to Commissioners and for being at the meeting; also for dinner.
Below are pictures, videos by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange of the relevant agenda item, and links to documents.
Here is a WWALS video playlist of the relevant LAKE videos.
For the entire meeting, see the LAKE blog post, Videos: Boat Ramps, Okefenokee Swamp, LMIG, Taxes @ Clinch County Commission 2023-08-07.
Continue readingUpdate 2023-08-18: Rivers clean again 2023-08-17.
Valdosta reported bad water quality at US 41 for Friday, and for there, GA 133, and US 84 for Monday.
I’d avoid that stretch of the Withlacoochee River until better results are reported by Valdosta or by WWALS. WWALS will sample again Thursday, as usual.
![[Bad upstream Withlacoochee River water quality 2023-08-07]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-07--vld-wq/many.jpg)
Bad upstream Withlacoochee River water quality 2023-08-07
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
There was spotty rain last weekend and before, but what is washing into the Withlacoochee River? More testing is needed to determine that. WWALS is looking into that.
This data about bad Fecal coliform and E. coli appears
on Valdosta’s website
and
we add it to our WWALS
composite spreadsheet of water quality, rainfall, and sewage spills,
as well as to the smartphone app
![[Bad Water Quality, Upstream Withlacoochee River, Swim Guide 2023-08-07]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-07--vld-wq/2023-08-07--map-swim-guide-bad-upstream-withlacoochee-river-swim-guide.jpg)
Bad Water Quality, Upstream Withlacoochee River,
2023-08-07,
Swim Guide
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing
For comparison, here is a map of public landings in the same testing area. Continue reading
Update 2023-08-14: Levy county sand mine petition 2023-08-11.
Going for code changes to prohibit mining in relevant zones seems like a good tactic.
![[Letter, Map to Rainbow Springs, Map to Suwannee River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-07--levy-county-proposed-mining-prohibition/many.jpg)
Letter, Map to Rainbow Springs, Map to Suwannee River
This is a cover letter for a packet of materials sent to the Levy County Commission.
I’m told the packet included the WWALS letter about Levy County 3RT Sand Mine is in Springshed of Rainbow Springs 2023-07-23.
Yaylisis Perera
3991 NE COUNTY ROAD 337
Bronson, FL 32621
yaylisisperera@gmail.com
08/07/2023Levey County Board of County Commissioners
Subject: Serious Impact on Health and Well-being of Our Community Due to Proposed Mine in Residential Area and Prohibition of Mining in Ag/RR and F/RR.
Dear Levy County Board of County Commissioners,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you as a deeply concerned citizen about the well-being and future of our beloved community. The purpose of this letter is to address an issue of utmost importance directly affecting the health and quality of life of those residing in this residential area.
Undoubtedly, the proposal to establish a mine in our community has caused unease and distress among residents. While economic development is vital for the progress of any locality, we cannot ignore the potentially devastating consequences it could have on the health of our fellow citizens.
Throughout this missive, I aim to Continue reading
Update 2023-08-10: Chainsaw cleanup, Outings, Boat Ramps, Okefenokee Swamp –Suwannee Riverkeeper @ Clinch County Commission 2023-08-07.
Thanks to the Echols County Commission for passing this resolution last Thursday, August 3, 2023.
![[Suwannee River and Agenda, Echols County Commission 2023-08-03]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-03--echols-county-okefenokee-resolution/many.jpg)
Suwannee River and Agenda, Echols County Commission 2023-08-03
And thanks to the Echols County citizens who asked the Commission to do that.
Update 2023-08-09: Bad water quality upstream Withlacoochee River 2023-08-07.
Valdosta needs to do what we discussed on WTXL TV last week, and more, related to its chronic sewage problem.
“It’s about finding more problems, doing some testing, finding them so they’ll know what to fix so that’s a good thing,” said John [S.] Quarterman, the Suwa[n]nee Riverkeeper with the WWALS Water Coalition. “And I would think that I’m the one that told them about that grant opportunity in the first place so it’s good to see they’re getting some use out of it.”
![[WTXL Reporter Ariel Schiller, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Knights Creek, Grant for what]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-07-27--valdosta-water-quality-grant-wtxl/many.jpg)
WTXL Reporter Ariel Schiller, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Knights Creek, Grant for what
Ariel Schiller, WTXL, July 27, 2023, City of Valdosta matches Georgia EPD water planning seed grant,
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — The city of Valdosta approved matching funds for a water planning seed grant, the total amount with the grant and matching funds equals $150,000. The WWALS Watershed Coalition says the grant will help them identify more areas that need improvement throughout the city.
Continue reading
Crawford Branch above Valdosta was above the one-time test limit for E. coli, and Sugar Creek which drains most of Valdosta was even higher, above the alert limit, in WWALS sampling for Thursday.
But the Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers tested good.
More WWALS volunteer water quality testers reported this week,
but we are still short-handed.
Maybe you’d like to become a WWALS tester; please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/DzWvJuXqTQi12N6v7
No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
Rain fell hard today, but only briefly, so most of the rivers are probably OK for fishing, swimming and boating this weekend.
Maybe you’d like to join us tomorrow morning on Yes Another Cleanup Knights Ferry to Nankin, Withlacoochee River 2023-08-05. Continue reading
Update 2023-10-07: Pictures: Hahira Honeybee Friday 2023-10-06.
Join us with 30,000 of our closest friends at the Hahira Honeybee Festival.
WWALS members can help at the booth Friday and Saturday, and maybe be in the parade on Saturday!
![[WWALS Booth and in parade at Hahira Honeybee 2022, and Honeybee Linemen 2023]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-10-06--hahira-honeybee/many.jpg)
WWALS Booth and in parade at
Hahira Honeybee 2022
and
Honeybee Linemen 2023
That’s in Hahira, Georgia, population 3,384, between the Little River at Folsom Bridge and the Withlacoochee River at Hagan Bridge on the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, which Hahira supports with a resolution. Continue reading
![[Kimberly Godden Tanner]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-07-09--wwals-board-members/IMG_8546.jpg)
![[Ariel Schiller, WTXL reporter]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-07-27--valdosta-water-quality-grant-wtxl/ariel-schiller.jpg)