Update 2023-06-26: Withlacoochee River and Sugar Creek OK Sunday 2023-06-25.

Here are two WWALS water quality testers at one of their usual spots, sampling on an unusual day.

Cindy and David Vedas water quality testing, Tyler Bridge, Franklinville Road, Withlacoochee River 2023-06-25

Cindy and David Vedas could not sample most of their locations on the usual day of Thursday. So they followed up today (Sunday). Their results will be available tomorrow.

Here’s a WWALS YoutTube playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-Qx0_SfMo0jAGttJXZnjLqSm

For much more about the WWALS volunteer water quality testing program, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

Cindy Vedas reeling in a water sample, assisted by Blondie the dog

First Cindy threw the bucket in to wash it, then she threw it in again to reel in a sample.

Blondie is my dog, and often accompanies Suwannee Riverkeeper.

Movie: Cindy Vedas getting a water sample (315M)

David dipped a thermometer into the river.

David Vedas getting water temperature

The Withlacoochee River was so high that the river water was mixed right to the edge.

Withlacoochee River above bottom of Tyler Bridge

You only need 100 mililiters in a WhirlPak, which is a plastic bag with a fancy locking top.

Movie: Cindy Vedas putting the sample into a WhirlPak (125M)

Try to whirl the WhirlPak slantwise, so as not to sling water into your face while sealing the sample.

Cindy Vedas whirling the WhirlPak

And here is the sample, in the labelled WhirlPak.

Sample in WhirlPak with Cindy Vedas

After collecting at their other locations, Cindy took the samples home, plated them onto PetriFilms, and stuck them into an incubator at 95 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Tomorrow she will count the blue blots with bubbles: those are E. coli colonies. She will send images of the developed Petrifilm plates along with her counts to the WWALS Water Quality Testing Committee, who will review, as they do for all test results, before we post them for public viewing, including on Swim Guide, a smart phone app.

Cindy likes doing this.

Cindy Vedas likes water quality sampling for WWALS

To get to Tyler Bridge, you must walk along the right side of this gully.

Gully more eroded than ever

It’s a nice old bridge.

David Vedas on Tyler Bridge

There’s Cindy heading to her vehicle with the water sample, past the signs we fixed a little earlier, for Franklinville Landing in the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Franklinville Road from Tyler Bridge

You could paddle down from Hagan Bridge at GA 122, but be prepared for branches at face level, and be sure to get out before Tyler Bridge.

Upstream, Withlacoochee River from Tyler Bridge

About a thousand feet downstream, Toms Branch comes in. And not far below that, Cat Creek joins up.

Downstream, Withlacoochee River from Tyler Bridge

Movie: Fast Withlacoochee River from Tyler Bridge (215M)

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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