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Train derailment causes diesel spill and fire Ocmulgee watershed below normal Monday, November 20, 2023 - last updated 3:19 pm EST Hazardous Spills files released from Georgia Department of Environmental Conservation Diesel fuel leaked and burned following a collision and train derailment in northwest Atlanta early Friday morning. The spill incident, initially reported to GA EPD as 4000 gallons spilled on the tracks and surrounding ground has bee could have been much worse. According to outside reports, Atlanta Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and contained some of the diesel in the damaged car at Chattahoochee Ave NW and Defoor Avenue. WTGA has contacted GA EPD to confirm the amount of diesel spilled. More to follow. See the Spills button to the right of the map for a list of spill incidents reported to EPD in Georgia this year. Streamflows, flood and drought from USGS Waterwatch Georgia streamflows improved slightly over the weekend. In the Atlantic basin, the Altamaha River watershed is no longer on the drought map, a relief for south Toombs, south Appling, south Tatnall, Long and Wayne Counties. In the Mississippi basin, Lower Flint River watershed is back to normal. The Lower Chattahoochee River watershed from Clay County down to the south state line has down-shifted from moderate drought to below normal over the weekend. Upper Coosa River watershed Whitfield and Murray Counties remains in severe drought Monday. Upper Savannah River watershed is still rated severe drought from the north Georgia line down to Hart County. Savannah River flows below normal from Hart into Screven County. For the Mississippi River basin, the Tennessee River northwest GA watershed area is rated below normal Monday morning, including Dade, Walker and Catoosa Counties. The lower Coosa River watershed is rated below normal, including Chatooga, Floyd, Polk, Haralson Counties. Tallapoosa River watershed is included in the below normal area, including all of Carroll County. Upper Chattahoochee below normal status extends from the headwaters down past Harris County and into northwest Muscogee, runs normal to Clay County, from Clay rated below normal to the south border. Ochlockonee watershed is rated below normal with a small area of southwest Thomas rated moderate drought. USGS seven-day average streamflows at each monitoring location are rated against the historic average flow volume for this date, determining the drought map for the day. The drought map shows areas with below normal flows, moderate drought, severe drought and extreme drought. Real-time streamflow monitors in Georgia Monday morning show two systems rated low, including Flint River rated low near Thomaston and Chattahoochee River rated low above Roswell. HABs update from Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Coastal Resources Division Shellfish and Water Quality Unit According to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, 2021 presented the first animal death suspected linked to a HAB on the main stem of the Chattahoochee River. The location of the HAB is reported as "Bull Sluice Lake along the Gold Branch Trail near trail marker GB-7". Confirmed reports of HABs on Lake Harding in the Middle Chattahoochee region in July and August 2021 and again at the end of August 2023. From the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper description of harmful algal blooms, "HABs, are created when high amounts of naturally occurring cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) grow out of control and produce cyanotoxins that can be harmful to animal and human health. Cyanotoxins can cause human and animal illness through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation. Different species of cyanobacteria produce different toxins that impact the nervous system, liver, skin, or stomach." Public notification of the location of harmful algal blooms helps to protect pets, swimmers and waders from venturing into areas with known HABs and helps recreational water users find clear access points on state water bodies. Observations of HABs can be reported here by email, info@wtga.us for public notification on our map and through SMS alerts. The identity of the reporting party is not included in our notifications. Include a photo and location geo-tag so that the bloom can be accurately placed on the map and confirmed by local authorities. Two permanent beach advisories remain in effect on Jekyll Island including Jekyll Clam Creek Beach on the north end and St Andrews Beach on the south end. Lab tests on October 16 samples show the enterococcus bacteria levels below the health advisory threshold. Clam Creek Beach came in at 20 cfu per 100 ml and 7 cfu per 100 ml for St Andrews. USGS Provisional Data Statement Data are provisional and subject to revision until they have been thoroughly reviewed and received final approval. Current condition data relayed by satellite or other telemetry are automatically screened to not display improbable values until they can be verified. Provisional data may be inaccurate due to instrument malfunctions or physical changes at the measurement site. Subsequent review based on field inspections and measurements may result in significant revisions to the data. Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences. Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from the USGS. |
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