WWALS Watershed Coalition is Suwannee Riverkeeper

06/18/2026

Drought dire; GRU water withdrawal increase approved; no response about WFNF @ SJRWMD Board 2026-06-09

Asked directly about WFNF, what’s happening with the $125 million and have you cancelled the consultant contracts, SJRWMD had no response.

Remember that whenever somebody tries to tell you WFNF is cancelled. It’s just laying low.

That’s Water First North Florida, the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin to seep down from wetlands into the Floridan Aquifer and come back up in springs, rivers, and drinking water wells, at the June 9, 2026, meeting in Palatka of the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District.

What they did do, after their Hydrologic Conditions Report showed how dire the drought is, they approved an increase in the amount of groundwater GRU can withdraw for Gainesville.

[Drought dire, yet approved GRU water withdrawal increase, No response about WFNF @ SJRWMD Board 2026-06-09]

And they praised GRU’s wastewater reclamation, i.e., Sweetwater, as a model. They didn’t say, but that’s one of the precedents cited in https://waterfirstnorthfl.com: “Similar projects like the Sweetwater Wetlands Project in Alachua County and the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project in Clay County have successfully improved water quality, restored wetland habitats, and provided community benefits – proving this approach works for North Florida.”

Nevermind that, as Suwannee County BOCC pointed out, “You assert that this method has been “proven” at the Sweetwater Wetlands Project and Black Creek Water Resource Development. That is simply not true as both of those projects use wetlands to cleanse run off — not chemically “treated” water. To be blunt, those projects are not receiving sewer water like you are planning to use for the Water First North Florida Project. Even if they were similar projects, the difference in scale compared to Water First North Florida negates any reasonable comparison.”

For more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here’s another question. How much of SJRWMD’s own tax revenue comes from property tax, and how much of that will be affected if the voters in November approve the Florida Homestead Property Tax Exemption?

They also didn’t discuss that at all.

Here are some stills with links into SJRWMD’s own video of that June 9, 2026, Governing Board meeting. Plus a few notes on what people said. Except where I use quotation marks, I’m paraphrasing. I’m also guessing at the spelling of several names.

[SJRWMD Board, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
31:10 Call to Order

HCR
[Tim Miller, Bureau Chief, Water Resource Information, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
42:40 2. Hydrologic Conditions Report

[Hydrologic Conditions Report, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

[Drought by WMD, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

[Rainfall Needed to End Drought in Next 3 Months, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

It would take 33.23 inches of rain to end the drought in the next three months. In other words, several hurricanes.

[Upper Floridan Aquifer Groundwater Conditions, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

4. GRU increase from 30 to 34.593 mgd groundwater allocation
[Paula Presley, Bureau Chief, Water Use Regulation, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:02:25 4. GRU Consumptive Use Permit increase

[Murphree WTP - GRU CUP 11339-8, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

[Merrillee Jipson, Columbia County, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:08:10 Public Comment on this GRU item

SRWMD and SJRWMD meetings same date, so can’t go to both.

WFNF is a problem, especially with wastewater from the JEA Buckman wastewater plant.

The GRU permit increase is problematical.

Black Creek project: not a fan. See grist.org article.

[Chris Farrell, Audubon Florida, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:11:38 Chris Farrell, Audubon Florida

Thinks the permit allows SJRWMD to dial it back if not good.

Need to move away from so much outdoor irrigation.

[Rick Hutton, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:14:45 Rick Hutton, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)

Thanked SJRWMD.

[Chair Rob Bradley, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:15:55 Chair Rob Bradley

“This is a good model for what we would like to see in terms of the innovative approaches to alternative water supply. And I think the carrot-stick approach in statute, giving extra years in exchange for doing some… Not that you wouldn’t have done it anyway, because y’all have been mindful and good stewards of these types of matters. But I do think that it’s a unique approach that in this case is bearing fruit. As long as we have a job, to Chris’s point, to make sure that those markers are met. And I know that I know that y’all will be cooperative partners on that front, certainly.”
1:17:07 SJRWMD Board votes on GRU water withdrawal increase

Unanimous vote yes by roll call.

Speakers in General
[Assistant E.D. Mary Ellen Winkler and E.D. Mike Register, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

Assistant Executive Director Mary Ellen Winkler introduced the commenters, while Executive Director Mike Register checked his watch.

[Tim Hodeling, representing Fix the Lower St. Johns River, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]

Wants scientists to weigh in and what’s the plan.

[Amy Minize, Unincorporated community of DeLeon Springs, Volusia County, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:19:53 Amy Minize, Unincorporated community of DeLeon Springs, Volusia County

Underground fuel plume. OCULUS back to mid-1980s.

Drinking from purified recycled water as alternative to dry wells.

[Giovanna Galotini, Marion County, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:23:24 Giovanna Galotini

Public is very sceptical of reclaimed water quality.

WFNF: we have received very incomplete information about the quality of water that would be injected back.

Unsure of District’s position: do you still have $125 million in your budget for WFNF? Have you cancelled the WFNF contracts with the consultants?

1:25:20 End of Public Comments

No SJRWMD board or staff answered any of the public comments, beyond praising GRU.

[E.D. Mike Register about Water Conservation Messaging, 2026-06-09 --SJRWMD]
1:29:54 Water Conservation Messaging.

E.D. Mike Register praised SJRWMD’s Water Conservation Messaging, especially about their Phase III Extreme Water Shortage.

1:26:02 Governing Board Comments

The only board member who spoke in board comments was one bragging about so many people moving to Florida.

-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/

https://wwals.net/?p=70497

06/17/2026

Pictures: Alapahoochee River Cleanup 2026-05-30

We started at Sasser Landing on the Alapaha River and paddled up the Alapahoochee River, chainsawing passage through several deadfalls, 0.86 river miles up to Devil Shoal, on this May 30, 2026, WWALS river outing.

[Pictures: Alapahoochee River Cleanup, Turket Creek Waterfall, Passage Chainsawed from Sasser Landing up to Devil Shoal 2026-05-30]

There was no way to even walk up past Devil Shoal anymore, after Hurricane Helene and numerous other storms. So we turned back, also to get ahead of the predicted thunderstorm.

Of course we stopped at Turket Creek Waterfall, where some dipped in the river and others hiked up the bank.

As we neared Sasser Landing again, our expedition leader Kyle “Bird” Chamberlain summed it up, “We did as much as we could, as long as we could.”

https://wwals.net/?p=70494

06/17/2026

Pictures: Alapahoochee River Cleanup 2026-05-30

We started at Sasser Landing on the Alapaha River and paddled up the Alapahoochee River, chainsawing passage through several deadfalls, 0.86 river miles up to Devil Shoal, on this May 30, 2026, WWALS river outing.

[Pictures: Alapahoochee River Cleanup, Turket Creek Waterfall, Passage Chainsawed from Sasser Landing up to Devil Shoal 2026-05-30]

There was no way to even walk up past Devil Shoal anymore, after Hurricane Helene and numerous other storms. So we turned back, also to get ahead of the predicted thunderstorm.

Of course we stopped at Turket Creek Waterfall, where some dipped in the river and others hiked up the bank.

As we neared Sasser Landing again, our expedition leader Kyle “Bird” Chamberlain summed it up, “We did as much as we could, as long as we could.”

We’ll be back at a later date, to start higher up the Alapahoochee, when the water level gets appropriate again.

Here are some video snippets:

https://youtu.be/hMuKMrxxLDk

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko and Steve Shaw for meeting us at the Alapahoochee River Confluence. This outing was Shirley’s idea.

Thanks to Shawn O’Connor for bringing his pole saw.

Thanks to Will Hart for bringing a saw and Matt Jarvis.

Thanks to Karen Lehnert for coming from Tallahassee and Scott Wilder for coming from Monticello. They helped pull aside sawed off limbs.

I also sawed, but there are no pictures or videos of that.

Thanks to Wild Green Future for the grant that paid for the 24-inch Husqvarna Rancher chainsaw, which we had along, although we did not use it.

Thanks to Sue Raffaele for the Old Town Camper canoe she donated to WWALS. Bird and I were in that canoe, along with numerous chainsaws and other equipment.

On the Jennings Gauge, on the bridge a few hundred feet downstream from Sasser Landing, the water level was 62.85 feet NAVD88 at 9 AM, May 30, 2026.

On May 14, 2026, it read 61.1 feet NAVD88.

It was 62.84 feet NAVD88 at 11:15 AM, July 21, 2024, the last time we tried this outing.

https://wwals.net/?p=65415

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

There are more pictures below.

-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

https://wwals.net/?p=70494

06/15/2026

Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park Beach, Little River 2026-06-20

Hahira, GA, April 21, 2026 — “Back again at the beach pavilion on the Little River at Reed Bingham State Park, it’s Juneteenth with boats! WWALS will provide stunt adults to paddle with children whose parents don’t want to get in a boat,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

WWALS will provide boats for new paddlers at a gathering of people from Brooks, Cook, Lowndes, and Tift Counties and beyond in celebration of Juneteenth.

Food and activities for children will be provided by Fannie Gibbs and Macedonia Community Foundation.

When: 11 AM – 3 PM, Saturday, June 20, 2026

Put In: Reed Bingham State Park Beach, 542 Reed Bingham Rd, Adel, GA 31620. Take I-75 Exit 39, turn west on GA 37, right on Evergreen Church Road (CR 99), left on Reed Bingham SP Road (CR 221), in through the gate and across the dam, and the beach is on your right, in Colquitt County.

GPS: 31.162563, -83.548506

[Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park, Beach Pavilion, Little River 2026-06-20]

Free: This outing is free. However, there is a $5 park fee for parking, payable at the park entrance.

[Flyer, Juneteenth 2026-06-20, WWALS, Macedonia Community Foundation]

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2023547331901073/

https://www.meetup.com/withlacoochee-alapaha-suwannee-rivers-wwals-outings/events/314404913/

Duration: 4 hours

Paddle: Long enough to get a taste of it.

Shuttle: None.

Host: Fannie Gibbs

Contact: Fannie Gibbs, 229-548-9462

Pictures from last time: 2024-06-22.

https://wwals.net/?p=65171

[Tent, beach, boaters, from the pavilion, 2024-06-22, 13:23:54 --jsq for WWALS]

Backup: in case of bad weather or high or low water is: Cancel

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

-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

https://wwals.net/?p=70133

06/14/2026

Video: Leaf Area Index and Forest Water Yield, Matt Cohen, WWALS Webinar 2026-05-28

Reducing forest cover to about what it was before the 1990s would increase water yield and could be seen as restoration of more natural forests.

That was one take on the WWALS Webinar by Dr. Matthew J. Cohen, presenting research about forest management to lower Leaf Area Index (LAI) and increase water yield, on May 28, 2026, from noon to 1 PM.

[Video: Leaf Area Index and Forest Water Yield, Dr. Matthew Cohen, WWALS Webinar 2026-05-28]

Leaf area index (the ratio of leaf cover to ground area) increased in the 1990s. Reverting to about the LAI before then would increase water yield into streams and wetlands, and thence into the Floridan Aquifer. This works by reducing evapotranspiration from the trees.

LAI can be decreased through means such as delaying replanting after clearcutting, not planting as densely, and thinning more or sooner. The resulting increased waterflow is as clean as any source.

Unlike the agriculture that is the subject of the Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), forestry does not irrigate.

The research is quite thorough and Dr. Cohen indicated more potential effects.

Here is the zoom video:

https://youtu.be/_PTxZJ6BJFw

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman mentioned WWALS and introduced Hailey Hall.

[Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, 2026-05-28 --jsq for WWALS]

WWALS Events Committee member Hailey Hall gave a brief introduction of the speaker.

[Hailey Hall --WWALS Events Committee Member, 2026-05-28 --jsq for WWALS]

Dr. Cohen spoke for about an hour.

[Matt Cohen, 2026-05-28 --jsq for WWALS]

There were some questions and answers during the talk, and more at the end, about potential flooding, does reduced evapotranspiration reduce rainfall, and surface water into groundwater.

At about 1:08:30 Dr. Cohen notes that you can’t put water into the aquifer through a well unless you remove the color from tannic-acid-colored water By an FDEP interpretation, probably of state law. See for example U.S. EPA, Unknown Date, Summary of Florida’s Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Environmental Restoration.

A loophole is that a natural recharge such as Brooks Sink are exempt to the color issue. So it’s curious that the July 2025 map of Water First North Florida (WFNF) recharge wetlands shown by SRWMD staff seems to show those wetlands near known natural sinks.

[WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA, 2025-07-08 --SRWMD Staff]
PDF

Also, there are apparently known ways to remove the color.

Dr. Cohen reminded us that he had mentioned to SRWMD that decreasing LAI as above could increase recharge by about 50 million gallons per day (mgd), which is more than the 40 mgd that WFNF promises.

Jodi Boas started a discussion of incentives and how to keep them from being perverse.

[Jodi Boas, 2026-05-28 --jsq for WWALS]

Incentives could instead be used to keep land in trees, instead of selling of forest land for subdivisions and parking lots. There would have to be contractual provisions about that in any LAI-reduction subsidy incentives program. Other things to worry about include would reducing LAI result in less timber being sold and sawmills being closed. Of course, mills are already closing for other reasons, including hurricane damage.

Matthew J. Cohen is the Carl S. Swisher Chair in Water Resources at the Water Institute of the University of Florida, and the Director of the Institute.

Dr. Cohen is a Professor in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. He is an ecohydrologist with nearly 20 years of experience addressing water resource and ecosystem science challenges in Florida and around the world. Dr. Cohen received his PhD from the University of Florida in 2003 and joined the faculty in 2006. He has led research focused on hydrological restoration of the Everglades and Big Cypress, the changing ecological state of Florida’s springs, the deep links between forests and water, and the changing patterns of Arctic and Antarctic stream functions. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, all five Water Management Districts and the Department of Environmental Protections, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, and has resulted in over 120 publications.

For other WWALS Webinars, see:
https://wwals.net/about/wwals-webinars/

They are usually on the second or third Thursday of the month, from noon to 1PM. After a brief introduction, the speaker has about 45 minutes, with the remaining time for questions and answers and discussion.

They are recorded, so if you miss one, you can see it later on YouTube. Here’s a WWALS video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QxWRGrV9iExlyXQIVnzOtPX&si=0Atnjwrm_ikyV-sh

WWALS Webinars are organized by the WWALS Events Committee; maybe you’d like to join that committee and help.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

About WWALS: Since June 2012, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity working for a healthy watershed with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water.

Mission: WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.

Our Watershed: The 10,000-square-mile WWALS territory includes the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, plus the Suwannee River Estuary, and tributaries such as the Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers as far north as Cordele in Georgia, as well as parts of the Floridan Aquifer, which is the primary water source for drinking, agriculture, and industry for millions of Georgia and Florida residents.

Suwannee Riverkeeper: Since December 2016, WWALS is the WATERKEEPER® Alliance Member for the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary as Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®, which is a project and a staff position of WWALS focusing on our advocacy.

Contact: John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
850-290-2350
[email protected]

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

https://wwals.net/?p=70486

06/13/2026

Help stop big box sprawl, Alachua City Hall 2026-06-22

You can help stop sprawl west of Alachua along US 441, uphill from the Santa Fe River.

[Help stop US 441 big box sprawl, Alachua City Hall, June 22, 2026]

Call, write, or go to the 6 PM, June 22, 2026, Alachua City Commission meeting.

Here’s a petition by the Suwannee-St. Johns Group of Sierra Club Florida Chapter:

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Florida?actionId=AR0619414&fbclid=IwY2xjawSZ_cZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHckF4eGVwYmRlYUJ2U3lOc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkQjqONwPFpZmnp8B2Grx_yYBxP1yHJrP5HoydoDB9Y8xeqBd1Yu_wuID_cn_aem_QfdwczhEdjHfmrHbOKaPzw

[Big Box Stores Change Small Towns, 2026-06-22 --Suwannee St. Johns Group Sierra Club Florida, 2026-06-08]

Here’s the letter WWALS sent before the previous Alachua City Commission meeting.

Any large development of that kind involves much
impervious surface (roofs, parking lots, and driveways)
which produce runoff. In addition I recommend the
geophysical screening and additional geotechnical
evaluation suggested by GSE Engineering & Consulting
should be done before the project is approved, rather than
later.

[To Alachua City about Farmlands rezoning, 2026-06-08 --WWALS]

Looks like it already sprawled more between a September and an October neighborhood meeting.

[Notice of Neighborhood Workshop, 2025-09-24 --eda consultants, inc., 2026-06-08]

[Notice of Neighborhood Workshop, 2025-10-22 --eda consultants, inc., 2026-06-08]

Help head this one off at the pass.

-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/

https://wwals.net/?p=70482

06/13/2026

You can help.

Join us in telling EPA to maintain PFAS regulations!

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rolling back Safe Drinking Water Act regulations for four types of toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ which are linked to serious health risks. Weakening these protections would remove federal requirements to keep these types of PFAS out of our water, and it’s not the only weakening of clean water protections EPA is planning.

Tell EPA: protect our drinking water, not polluters. Take action today: https://tr.ee/pfasaction

06/12/2026

Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River 2026-06-13

We’ll paddle through a couple of shoals, known as Jennings Defeat: have a tow rope on your boat. There are a few small waterfalls along this stretch from Georgia into Florida.

The takeout is near the confluence of the Alapahoochee & Alapaha Rivers so you have the opportunity to paddle up to Turkett Creek Waterfall before leaving. It’s a real treat!

This 10.36 mile paddle is not recommended for beginners due to deadfall in the river to weave through and lack of level ground to get out of your kayak; there are high banks along this section.

Beware that the last time we did this stretch as a WWALS outing, two people ended up getting married.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2:30 PM, Saturday, June 13, 2026

Put In: Statenville Boat Ramp, 206 GA 94 West, Statenville, GA 31648, right bank, west of river, north of highway bridge, in Echols County.

GPS: 30.704437, -83.03468

[Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River 2026-06-13, Jennings Defeat Shoals, Turket Creek Waterfall]

Take Out: Sasser Landing, Left bank, east of river, north of CR 150. From Jennings, Hamilton County, FL, travel east on CR 150; cross the Alapaha River; turn left onto NW 72 Court and follow to river, in Hamilton County.

Boats: Bring your own kayak or canoe if you can.
If you do not have one, we may be able to provide one if you ask in advance.

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat, paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Please follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash, avoiding damage to vegetation, and respecting wildlife.

Safety: Be on time. If you miss the safety briefing, you cannot paddle with us.
Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a PFD.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. Please prepay the $10 online:
https://wwals.net/outings
Or bring cash to the outing. Credit card payments may or may not be available.
Refunds are not generally given because they cost WWALS the fee in both directions.
The non-member outing fee may be used at a future outing.
If this is not acceptable, a refund can be made, but please know that it is taking money from our programs.

We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1498727727762202/

https://www.meetup.com/withlacoochee-alapaha-suwannee-rivers-wwals-outings/events/315151409/

[Coles, BST north Waterfall, 2029-07-06, 10:47:12, 30.6952380, -83.0410148 --jsq for WWALS]

Duration: 6 hours

Paddle: 10.36 miles, 5 hours.

[Jennings Defeat, 2029-07-06, 14:40:38, 30.6092122, -83.0619875 --jsq for WWALS]

Shuttle: 23.2 miles round trip, 30 minutes.
This outing includes the traditional WWALS shuttle. Everybody takes their boats to the put-in, most people drive to the take-out, and the drivers pile into one or two vehicles and go back to the put-in.

Host: Shirley Kokidko

Contact: Shirley Kokidko

[Shirley Kokidko, 2029-07-06, 11:20:03, 30.6856990, -83.0542965 --jsq for WWALS]

Gauge: Statenville. WWALS recommends paddle no lower than 78.1 feet NAVD88 (2.0′)
and no higher than 86.1 feet NAVD88 (10.0′).

Statenville Gauge

Backup: in case of bad weather or high or low water is: Cancel

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

-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

https://wwals.net/?p=70464

06/12/2026

Clean Alapaha, Withlacoochee, Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-10

Even better news! The Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers tested even better this week.

No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.

According to the results we have, happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating.

Maybe you’d like to join WWALS for Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River 2026-06-13.

https://wwals.net/?p=70464

This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.

[Clean Alapaha 2026-06-07, Withlacoochee 2026-06-08, Santa Fe 2026-06-10, Happy paddling & swimming]

Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall, and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet.

[Chart: Clean Alapaha Withlacoochee Santa Fe Rivers 2026-06-10 --WWALS Composite Spreadsheet of Water Quality Results]

For context see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing

Previous WWALS water quality reports are here:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/

Also follow that link for the underlying spreadsheet of water
quality, sewage spills, and rainfall from Georgia and Florida
sources for the Suwannee River Basin.

The numbers in the chart boxes indicate E. coli levels as
colony-forming units per 100 mililiters (cfu/100 mL),
according to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream bacterial
monitoring protocols:
Zero (0) is what we want to see and often we do on the
Alapaha and upstream on the Suwannee Rivers.
From 1-125 is within long-term average limits according to
U.S. EPA and Georgia and Florida state agencies.
From 126-409 long-term is not good, and is likely to make
some people sick.
From 410-999 is likely to make some people sick; try not
to get that water on you.
From 1,000 and up: high alert; best not to get close to
that water without gloves; wash clothes afterward.

The letters before the numbers indicate the source of the
datapoint, as in W100 means 100 cfu/100 mL found by a
WWALS tester.

W: WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) Suwannee
Riverkeeper
V: Valdosta, GA
L: Lowndes County, GA
Q: Quitman, GA
SGRC: Southern Georgia Regional Commission
SRWMD: Suwannee River Water Management District
FDOH: Florida Department of Health
FDEP: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Rain: From USGS and UGA and other gauges.

Alapaha River

For Sunday, June 7, 2026, Heather Brasell got zero cfu/100 mL at the outflow creek from the Town of Alapaha wastewater treatment settlement ponds. Can’t get better than that.

[Alapaha Settlement Pond Stream, Alapaha River @ US 82 2026-06-07 --Heather Brasell for WWALS]

And she got 67 for the Alapaha River just above Sheboggy Boat Ramp.

[Sheboggy Boat Ramp, Alapaha River @ US 82 2026-06-07 --Heather Brasell for WWALS]

Withlacoochee River

For Monday, June 8, 2026, Valdosta Utilities got a very clean 60 cfu/100 mL at the GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) bridge over the Withlacoochee River.

They got an even better 10 at US 84. That’s downstream from the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River.

[Table: GA 133 & US 84, Withlacoochee River 2026-06-08 --Valdosta Utilities]

Santa Fe River

WWALS testers Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, again got 0 cfu/100 mL at Mills Dock on the Santa Fe River, a bit upstream from Poe Springs.

They also got:
Air temp 26.3 C
Water temp 26.8 C

[Mills Dock, Santa Fe River @ NW 282nd Dr 2026-06-10 --Bob Mills and Kurt Hurzeler for WWALS]

Water quality testing training and funding

WWALS testers Suzy Hall and John S. Quarterman reviewed the WWALS results. Such review is part of the WWALS standard ongoing testing quality analysis.

If you want to get trained by WWALS Water Quality Testing Trainer Gretchen Quarterman to be a WWALS water quality tester, please fill out the form:
https://wwals.net/?p=47084

Thanks to Joe Brownlee, Don Hutchinson, and Georgia Power for another generous grant for water quality testing equipment and materials.

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

There are more images below.

-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/

https://wwals.net/?p=70478

https://wwals.net/2026/06/12/clean-alapaha-withlacoochee-santa-fe-rivers-2026-06-10