An anonymous photographer sent these pictures of the Nutrien Phosphate Mine in Hamilton County digging under CR 6 east of Jasper, heading north towards the GA-FL line.
Remember, the same phosphate deposits continue north into Echols County, Georgia.
![[Collage, Nutrien Phosphate Mine across CR 6]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-06-10--nutrien-phosphate-mine-pictures/many.jpg)
Collage, Nutrien Phosphate Mine across CR 6
I don’t know quite where these pictures were taken. But if I had to guess, probably somewhere a bit east of where the label is for Nutrien Phosphate Mine on this SRWT map. Continue reading
People are often confused: what are WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper, where did they come from, how are they related, and what do they do?
Well, it’s a long story. Here is the first of several parts.
![[Black and white square WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper logos]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/logo/square-wwals-suwrk-logos-bw.jpg){kind=logo}
Black and white square WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper logos
You’ll probably see this reposted on Walk Around Lowndes:
https://walkaroundlowndes.spyderserve.info/
Justin Coleman is walking every road and street in Lowndes County, Georgia, and blogging about it, featuring Suwannee Riverkeeper.
Update 2023-05-19: Fixed boat ramp attribution: Nankin, not Sasser.
Thanks to Georgia Rivers Alive for giving WWALS the 2022 Adopt-A-Stream Award for cleanups. This is the second year running WWALS has won this award.
![[Nankin Boat Ramp 2022-12-17, Statenville Boat Ramp 2023-01-07, Adopt-A-Stream Award 2023-04-27]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-27--wwals-rivers-alive-adopt-a-stream-award/many.jpg)
Adopt-A-Stream Award 2023-04-27
Photos: WWALS, at Nankin Boat Ramp 2022-12-17 and Statenville Boat Ramp 2023-01-07
While we appreciate the award, we’d much rather not have trash to clean up. There is some progress on that. The worst trash offender, Valdosta, has now Continue reading
You can send your own comments to the addresses in the WWALS letter. If you prefer to telephone, see https://hamiltoncountyfl.com/board-of-county-commissioners/.
The Public Hearing is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 6 PM, at 207 NE First Street Jasper, Florida 32052.
See also PDF.
Continue readingUpdate 2023-04-17: No phosphate mine waste into recreational lakes, and more transparency –WWALS to Hamilton County BOCC 2023-04-17.
See also, from five years ago: Pictures: PCS Phosphate mine permit Public Hearings, Jasper, FL 2018-01-23.
Here are 78 more documents related to the Public Hearing at 6 PM this Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the Hamilton County Commission in Jasper, Florida, about Nutrien’s phosphate mining permit renewal.
![[Mining location, reclamation, flow, and areas]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-28--hamco-planning-more/many.jpg)
Mining location, reclamation, flow, and areas
These documents, from a USB stick I picked up from Hamilton County today, are in addition to the documents I posted yesterday.
Ordinarily I would read everything first and post some analysis, but in the interests of time, here are the documents. Continue reading
Update 2023-04-13: More materials: Hamilton County Planning Commission on Nutrien phosphate mine permit renewal 2023-03-28.
Update 2023-04-12: The County Commission meeting will be April 18th.
The Nutrien Phosphate Mine in Hamilton County, Florida,
is up for renewal by the Hamilton Board of County Commissioners
on Tuesday, April 28 18, 2023, at 6 PM.
There will be a Public Hearing.
Since time to speak will be limited, best to send written comments in advance.
The renewal request has already been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board (PNZ), on March 28, 2023. PNZ recommends renewal with some conditions.
Private landowners, a number of whose property is inside the mine boundary, object that some of Nutrien’s plans for disposal of waste such as clay will adversely affect those landowners’ businesses as well as wildlife and waters.
Dennis J. Price, P.G., of Hamilton County filed a page of questions.
Bienville Outdoors filed a a request to find other options for settling areas.
Maybe you would like to comment on effects of this mine on the Suwannee River, Swift Creek, the Floridan Aquifer, or public health.
![[Private landowners, Clay flows, aerial: Nutrien Phosphate Mine, Hamilton County, FL]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-28--hamco-planning-packet/many.jpg)
Private landowners, Clay flows, aerial: Nutrien Phosphate Mine, Hamilton County, FL
On the WWALS website are Continue reading
Last month the SRWMD board approved buying the Camp and Abel Tract on the Suwannee River in Hamilton County.
Tomorrow morning, April 11, 2023, at 9 AM, SRWMD will approve an additional resolution for a slightly higher amount to cover costs of the transaction.
And SRWMD will consider buying Waldo Tree Farm, which is near the Santa Fe River in Alachua County.
You can attend in person at SRWMD HQ, 9225 Co Rd 49, Live Oak, FL 32060.
Or online:
GoTo Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7498156259411455319
Public Comment Form Link: www.MySuwanneeRiver.com/Comments.
The entire board packet is on the WWALS website.
Here are a few excerpts. Continue reading
If I’m reading this correctly, SRWMD discussed maybe buying only one of two tracts, or maybe just getting a conservation easement, and then decided to buy both of these tracts on the Suwannee River in Hamilton County.
This is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s Board Meeting of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
9 AM, Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at SRWMD HQ, 9225 Co Rd 49, Live Oak, FL 32060.
GoTo Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2418452120888926044
Public Comment Form Link: www.MySuwanneeRiver.com/Comments
The tracts are rather far apart, Tract 1 being upstream from FL 6 across from Columbia County, and Tract 2 being downstream from Woods Ferry River Camp, which is across the river in Suwannee County.
Also on the agenda is an agreement with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) for above-ground and underground water laboratory analysis.
I didn’t see anything interesting in the Continue reading
Update 2023-03-23: Pictures: Jennings Bluff Florida State Geological Site with Dead River Sink 2023-03-17.
Update 2023-03-16: Partly cloudy and 62 degrees at Jennings at 10 AM, is the current prediction for tomorrow. See you at Jennings Bluff.
One of the most popular WWALS destinations is becoming a Florida State Geological Site.
![[Dead River Sink 2022-10-02, Jennings Bluff Tract, Hamilton County, Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-17--jennings-bluff-dead-river/many.jpg)
Dead River Sink 2022-10-02, Jennings Bluff Tract, Hamilton County, Florida
We last did a WWALS hike to the Dead River Sink on October 2, 2022, after paddling down the Alapaha River in the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
~Short walk to Dead River Swallet will follow ceremony~
Continue reading
Update 2023-03-02: Valdosta February 2023 sewage spills, plus Ashburn 2023-03-01.
The third sewage Valdosta sewage spill at the same location happened last Wednesday, and Valdosta got around to telling the public five days later.
![[Knights Creek to Alapaha River, E. Park Ave., US 84]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-02-22--yet-another-valdosta-sewage-spill/many.jpg)
Knights Creek to Alapaha River, E. Park Ave., US 84
Received 5:11 PM yesterday.
Collapsed Sewer Line Spillage Update
On Wednesday evening, February 22, 2023, during routine inspections of manholes upstream of the recent collapsed 20” sanitary sewer main, city staff observed a wastewater overflow near the 1800 block of East Park Avenue at the site of a previous sewer spill occurring on February 20, 2023. Upon investigation, it was determined that bypass pumping operation installations and unknown sediment blockages were likely the cause of the spill. City staff and a local contractor continue to work around the clock to adjust and remove blockages to stop and prevent any spills and make repairs to the collapsed sewer main. An estimated 119,000 gallons of wastewater was released into the wetland watershed area adjacent to Knights Creek. City staff immediately began cleanup and disinfecting at the overflow location. All appropriate regulatory and public health agencies have been notified, and warning signs have been posted.
The rest of this sewage spill press release is the same Continue reading
![[Letter and mine]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-17--wwals-to-hamco-nutrien-phosphate-permit/many.jpg)
![[Agenda, Waldo Tree Farm on the Santa Fe River, Camp and Abel Tract on the Suwannee River @ SRWMD Board 2023-04-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-04-11--srwmd-board/many.jpg)
![[Camp & Abel 1 & 2]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-14--srwmd-board/many.jpg)