Update 2022-04-02: Surprisingly Clean Withlacoochee River 2022-04-01.

Swimming, fishing, boating, not recommended on the Withlacoochee River this weekend, due to E. coli tested by WWALS at Nankin and State Line Boat Ramps for Thursday. It may all wash away soon, or it may not.

Chart, River, Swim Guide

Also note that after the previous weekend’s heavy rains, Valdosta tested high Fecal coliform upstream at US 41 and GA 133. Probably that will also show up in Valdosta Friday results when we get them. In between, Valdosta upstream results were OK, but then it rained hard Wednesday and Thursday.

Bad Dowstream, Charts 2022-03-24
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality and rainfall data, see: https://www.wwals.net/issues/testing

There was also one sewage spill reported this week, for Thursday, in Starke, Florida, in the Santa Fe River Basin, but that’s so far upstream through multiple lakes that it probably won’t affect any rivers.

City of Starke March 24 2022 SSO
Incident # 20221845
Incident Name City of Starke March 24 2022 SSO
Incident Report City of Starke had two SSO of overflowing manholes. One at SR 16 and N. Water St intersection. The other was at 611 N. Water St. An estimate of release of untreated domestic wastewater and storm water. Area was cleaned up and lime applied. Also signage of sewer spill was putout at area of spill.
Report Date/Time 3/25/2022, 6:35 AM
Facility Name City of Starke
Facility Address Line 1 P.O. Drwaer C
Facility Address Line 2
Facility Directions
Facility City Starke
Facility State FL
Facility ZIP 32091
Contact Name Kyle Jerrels
Contact Email wwtp@cityofstarke.org
Contact Phone # 9049303016
Affected Counties Bradford

If any of it got into Alligator Creek, that goes into Lake Rowell, Lake Sampson, Sampson River, Santa Fe River, Suwannee River, Gulf of Mexico.

FBL

Thanks to WWALS tester Elizabeth Brunner for her three sites along GA 122.

Folsom Bridge Landing, Little River @ GA 122 2003-20-22

Plates, Folsom Bridge Landing 2003-20-22

LBR

Lakeland Boat Ramp, Alapaha River @ GA 122 2003-20-22

Plates, Lakeland Boat Ramp 2003-20-22

HBL

Hagan Bridge Landing, Withlacoochee River @ GA 122 2003-20-22

Plates, Hagan Bridge Landing 2003-20-22

NBR

Thanks to WWALS testers Jacob and Michael Bachrach for their three sites downstream on the Withlacoochee River, although Thursday they could not test at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp due to bad road conditions.

Nankin Boat Ramp Sign, Withlacoochee River @ Clyattville-Nankin Road 2022-03-24

Plates, Nankin Boat Ramp 2022-03-24

SLBR

State Line Boat Ramp, Withlacoochee River @ GA 133 2022-03-24

State Line Boat Ramp Water Level, Withlacoochee River @ GA 133 2022-03-24

Plates, State Line Boat Ramp 2022-03-24

CB

Thanks to WWALS tester Gus Cleary, who tested Wednesday evening at Cleary Bluff, downstream from Allen Ramp.

He photographed a river of bees.

Cleary Bluff, Withlacoochee River @ NE Withla Bluffs Way 2022-03-23

Plates, Cleary Bluff 2022-03-23

SG

Nankin and State Line Boat Ramps show up read on Swim Guide.

Map: Bad Downstream Withlacoochee River, Swim Guide 2022-03-24

Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for a generous grant for water quality testing equipment and materials.

You or your organization could also donate to the WWALS volunteer water quality testing program.

Or maybe you’d like to become a WWALS water quality tester; please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/DzWvJuXqTQi12N6v7

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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