Bad Withlacoochee, OK Alapaha 2021-01-07

Update 2021-01-11: Much better Withlacoochee River water quality 2021-01-09.

The latest Withlacoochee River results still show mostly bad water quality, surprisingly good at the State Line on Wednesday, but bad downstream. The Madison and Hamilton County Health advisory for the Withlacoochee River is still in place.

However, Sasser Landing on the Alapaha River tested OK for Wednesday.

[Bad Withlacoochee, good Alapaha]
Bad Withlacoochee, good Alapaha

The Madison Health Wednesday tests were not as horrible as for Tuesday, but they still got too high at Sullivan Launch (CR 150) and FL 6. Some of that could be from the Quitman or Tifton sewage spills, but probably most of it is from manure runoff.

[Still bad Withlacoochee River]
Still bad Withlacoochee River
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of Georgia and Florida water quality results, rainfall, and spills, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

WWALS testers Michael and Jacob Bachrach went out Thursday, but Knights Ferry Boat Ramp was completely underwater back up the road. There were also technical issues with Nankin and State Line Boat Ramps.

[Nankin Boat Ramp from the Bridge Xing River]
Nankin Boat Ramp from the Bridge Xing River

[State Line Boat Ramp]
State Line Boat Ramp

Upstream, we have nothing new from Valdosta since Monday.

So Swim Guide still looks pretty bad, with State Line Boat Ramp the one green spot for the Withlacoochee River.

[Swim Guide bad Withlacoochee River]
Swim Guide bad Withlacoochee River

However, WWALS testers Angela and Josh Duncan got OK results for Wednesday at Sasser Landing on the Alapaha River, so if Valdosta’s Saturday Mildred Street spill into Knights Creek ever made it down Mud Swamp Creek and the Alapahoochee River to the Alapaha, it was mostly washed away by Wednesday.

[Sasser Landing Ramp]
Sasser Landing Ramp

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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