Update 2021-09-19: Advisory lifted, Withlacoochee River 2021-08-18.

Bad water quality for Thursday at US 41 on the Withlacoochee River, presumably because of the almost 3 and a half inches of rain just upstream at Skipper Bridge. However, still below the 1,000 cfu/100 mL alert limit, and all downstream results were below the 410 one-time test limit. So apparently no bad E. coli washed out of Valdosta’s Sugar Creek. That’s good news for tomorrow morning’s Pop-up Sugar Creek Cleanup.

Plus, since Troupville Boat Ramp at the bottom of the Little River tested zero, that water should dilute anything coming down the Withlacoochee. So chances are the good results for Thursday farther downstream will hold.

Happy fishing, boating, and swimming!

Of course rains from Tropical Storm Fred could change things rapidly, but that’s what we know now.

Chart, upstream plates, Withlacoochee River, Swim Guide 2021-08-12

Despite significant rain Wednesday on both sides of Brooks County (Dixie on the west and Withlacoochee River @ US 84 on the east), apparently nothing bad came down Okapilco Creek, and Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State Line Boat Ramps all tested good for Thursday.

Chart: bad US 41, good downstream 2021-08-12
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of Georgia and Florida water quality results, rainfall, and spills, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

We also have good results for Thursday for Willacoochee Landing at GA 135 on the Alapaha River, for Wednesday for Cleary Bluff downstream of Allen Ramp on the Withlacoochee River, and for Sunday for Gibson Park Boat Ramp on the Suwannee River just above the Alapaha River Confluence.

Valdosta got good upstream results for Friday and Monday, and Madison Health got a good reading at the GA-FL line for Tuesday.

So Swim Guide is more green than usual, except for that pesky red US 41.

Bad US 41, good downstream, Swim Guide 2021-08-12

Thanks to WWALS testers Bobby McKenzie, Valerie Folsom, Gus Cleary, Michael Bachrach, Jacob Bachrach, and to WWALS Testing Committee Chair Suzy Hall for herding the testers.

Thanks to Georgia Power for the generous testing grant that enables us to burn through PetriFilm like it’s water.

You, too, or your organization, can donate to the WWALS volunteer water quality testing program.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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

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