Canada’s National Energy Board just ordered Spectra Energy to fix chronic
corrosion and leak problems after numerous fines, as did U.S. PHMSA before, yet
Florida’s DEP plans to trust Spectra to build the Sabal Trail pipeline
on top of our Floridan Aquifer, drilling under the Suwannee and Santa Fe
Rivers.
This in the Notice of Intent to Issue Sabal Trail Transmission of 10 July 2015 sounds good without that context: Continue reading
Thirty-day comment periods closing 12 August 2015 to comment on
the US 84 widening project, say
two Public Advisories from GA-EPD Watershed Protection Branch.
One is in
the Satilla River watershed, about
“two existing open water ponds
(outflowing into jusrisdictional[sic] wetlands associated with Lees Branch)”:
those ponds are next to the groundwater-contaminating CSX railyard in Waycross.
One is in
the Upper Suwannee River watershed, about
“three existing open water ponds
(outflowing into jusrisdictional[sic] waters associated with Greasy Creek and the CSX railroad)”.
Maybe the
Southern Environmental Law Center letter
to GDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers got some results,
although these advisories are from a different state agency.
The Upper Suwannee one starts at Continue reading
Update 2022-07-20: Better picture labels and access.
Update 2015-10-29: Pictures: Sullivan Launch to Madison Blue Spring Withlacoochee River 2015-10-24.
Downstream on our tea-colored Withlacoochee River to the Blue Spring, it’s the October WWALS Outing!
When: 9AM Saturday October 24th 2015
Where: Sullivan Launch to Madison Blue Springs State Park.
Distance: 10.2 miles, about 5 hours, after a shuttle of about 40 minutes.
Facebook: event.
This outing is Free! But we encourage you to join WWALS today to support our fun outings and important work: /donations/. See our newsletters, and the press Releases and news. And consider joining the new Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail Committee.
Directions: Continue reading
It’s the annual WWALS Adopt-A-Stream cleanup, this time at GA 135
on the
Atkinson County side of the Alapaha River, plus if there’s time, the
Berrien County side.
When: 9AM Saturday September 26th 2015
Where: Continue reading
WWALS Ambassador
Dave Hetzel will speak about the
Alapaha River Water Trail
(now looking to place signs)
and the
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail
(Committee just formed and looking for more members)
at the
Southern Georgia Regional Commission Council
meeting 11AM July 23rd in Pearson, GA 31642.
Update 2015-07-23: Civic Center, 786 Austin Ave. East, Pearson, GA
According to New Georgia Encyclopedia, Continue reading
Update 2021-03-09: The funding cost per gauge has gone up, to $22,500, of which usually the USGS contributes about $900.
How much would it cost
to fund the Okapilco Creek gage so it won’t go offline July 31st?
About
$13,600/year, more or less, mostly for field and office labor
and administration, with only 10% for the field equipment.
Since this gage is located in Brooks County, Georgia,
the most likely funding body (after USGS itself)
would be the Brooks County Commission.
Yes, it’s in WWALS watersheds; no, WWALS doesn’t plan to take on
funding streamgages. If some funding organization appeared
that wanted to pass the funds through WWALS, which is a 501(c)(3)
educational institution, that would be possible.
But this seems more like a government issue.
In USGS Groundwater Data for Georgia:
The following streamgage will be shut down on July 31, 2015 unless alternative funding can be found:
- 02318700 Okapilco Creek at Georgia Highway 333, near Quitman, Georgia
For questions regarding this threatened streamgage, please contact Tony Gotvald at (678) 924-6648 or agotvald@usgs.gov.
-jsq
In April the WWALS board approved a dozen goals for 2015,
reviewed upcoming outings and the since-approved
WATERKEEPER® Affiliate application, as well as the
Valdosta Wastewater and
pipeline situations,
and moved ahead on planning for the since-solidified
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail Committee,
while adding to a couple of committees.
Here are the Minutes of the 8 April 2015 WWALS Quarterly Board Meeting
approved at last night’s Board Meeting, and videos of that April meeting.
Here’s a video playlist:
Adopted 2015 Goals, WATERKEEPER, Valdosta Wastewater:
WWALS Board Videos and Minutes 2015-04-08
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS),
IHOP, Adel, Cook County County, Georgia.
-jsq
A Spectra is haunting Atlanta!
Apparently Spectra is feeling the heat about its proposed Sabal Trail
fracked methane pipeline and has pushed the revolving door to get some lobbyists in Atlanta. We tried to warn you that you are surrounded, Atlanta!
So much for FERC being the only deciding body. Don’t forget to sign the Petition to GA Gov. Deal to oppose Sabal Trail pipeline.
Greg Bluestein, AJC Insider, 7 July 2015, Trio of bipartisan Atlanta lobbyists opening up new shop, Continue reading
From Leigh Askew Elkins of UGA via GRN, same city as last month, different venue:
The Suwannee — Satilla Regional Water Council will convene on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 10:00am in the meeting room in Aniston’s Restaurant, 1404 W. Baker Highway, Douglas, GA. Registration will begin at 9:30am. Among other things, the Council will affirm its plans for enhancing inter-council planning and for engaging key implementing actors. The Council will also discuss its recommendations for plan revisions.
Seems like it’s time for them to say something about the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, and about the shale basin under our Floridan Aquifer. Maybe WWALS will send something to them about that.
-jsq