These figures tell the story of springsheds in a coastal lowland karst plain such as much of the Suwannee River Basin. Maybe you already know all this, but if you don’t, these pictures may help make sense of Springsheds and Water Withdrawal Permits in the Suwannee River Basin.
A spring is fed from a ground-water basin.
This figure for Florida water withdrawal permits in the Suwannee River springsheds shows by far the largest blue dots for the biggest withdrawal permits in Hamilton County at the location of the PCS Phosphate mine.
Thanks to Continue reading
Is this what you want Bradford, Union, and other counties in Florida to look like?
I wonder what effect this phosphate mine had on the much lowered water level of White Springs, or the Suwannee River?
The PCS Phosphate mine in Hamilton County near White Springs and Jasper spread under our Southwings plane while surveying the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline 22 October 2016. On board were Southwings pilot Roy Zimmer, photographer Dominick Gheesling, Jim Tatum of Our Santa Fe River, and John S. Quarterman of WWALS. Here are pictures by Jim Tatum, a few videos by John S. Quarterman, and a Google map showing the locations. Continue reading
Following up on Cody Suggs’ pictures of pipeline dug up at Pilgrim’s Pride, I found a flock of glow-shirts inspecting a fancy new pipeline sign. Remember, where Sabal Trail goes through Pilgrim’s Pride property is right next to at least two large sinkholes and on top of the world-famous miles-long Falmouth Cathedral Cave System that feeds the Floridan Aquifer from which we all drink. They were also across US 90 and the railroad, and then at the Suwannee River HDD site in Suwannee County, Florida. Here are many pictures, a video playlist, and a Google Map.
Here are updated maps of the two big pipelines in Suwannee County (before Sabal Trail): SONAT and FGT, feeding Duke’s Suwannee River Power Plant and Pilgrim’s Pride, from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency (PHMSA) Public Map Viewer that shows where the main pipelines go, county by county.
PHMSA says there are only two main pipelines in Suwannee County, one east-west across the top, and one north-south and then over into Columbia County.
Here’s an older version from January 2016 before PHMSA changed their map viewer: Continue reading
The Georgia legislature
did nothing but appoint a study committee,
but you can see why they should do more, in these
WWALS videos of the coal ash meeting in Valdosta
that was organized by Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL).
Thanks to Rev. Floyd Rose for the venue at Academy of Excellence on Lee Street.
The Valdosta Daily Times covered this meeting, but did not mention the local landfill, which was a major topic of my presentation, as you can see in my slides. The Mayor of Valdosta disclaims any control over that landfill and the Lowndes County Commission expressed no interest. Nevermind both city and county governments have Continue reading
Update 2017-04-18: Yes, WWALS will be at Wanee Wednesday afternoon April 19th for Remembering Butch Trucks, and all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well. Look for the WWALS or Suwannee Riverkeeper banners.
The music festival that started them all, and still one of the biggest: Wanee outside in the spring near the Suwannee River. Come talk to Suwannee Riverkeeper about how you can paddle with us and help advocate for the rivers and the aquifer.
That picture is from a previous festival. We’ll be in a different location at the park, meeting more than 10,000 of our closest friends.
When:
April 20-April 22, 2017
Where:
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
3076 95th Dr, Live Oak, Florida 32060
Event: facebook
What: Wanee, featuring Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, Gov’t Mule, Dark Star Orchestra, Dr. John & the Nite Trippers, Trey Anastasio Band, and more.
If you want to help at the WWALS table, send email to wwalswatershed@gmail.com or call 229-242-0102.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PDF)
Valdosta, Georgia; March 28, 2017 — It’s a full agenda tonight about Water, Agriculture, and Forestry with in a public meeting at Valdosta State University, hosted by WWALS Watershed Coalition.
When:
6-8PM Tuesday March 28, 2017
Where:
UC Theater, UC Center, Valdosta State University
1215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698
Event: facebook
Host:
WWALS Watershed Coalition
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member as Suwannee Riverkeeper®
Agenda:
Getting out on the rivers (5 minutes each):
Science and practice (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A each): Continue reading
Environment Florida filed a lawsuit 9 March 2017 against Pilgrim’s Pride
about “effluents” into the Suwannee River, alleging a violation of a
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(“NPDES”) permit, which is also a violation of the
Clean Water Act (CWA).
Here is PDF of that legal complaint, sent to us by the plaintiff’s
attorney.
Suwannee Riverkeeper is always glad to see legal action going on that we don’t have to do. Here are a few notes.
Pilgrim’s Pride goes to some trouble to treat and disinfect their wastewater at its plant on US 90 west of Live Oak in Suwannee County, and then:
- The wastewater discharged into the Suwannee River is also called the Plant’s “effluent.”
- Outfall D-001 is an 18-inch diameter steel pipe that extends approximately 20 feet from the shore and discharges into the Suwannee River.
- During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the pipe is not always completely submerged.
- During the Suwannee River’s low flow periods, the Plant’s effluent discharging from the pipe can be seen.
And the complaint alleges the effluent is not entirely clean.
What about the waste that is not liquid? Continue reading
Tom and Beatriz at the booth. Last day today! Suwannee River Roots Reunion at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!