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12/14/2023
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
Upper Savannah river off the drought map
Sulfuric acid spill
Thursday, December 14, 2023 - last updated 1018 am EST
Streamflows situation from USGS Waterwatch gages throughout Georgia
Real-time stream flow gauges are recording mostly below normal flows north of the height of land divide Thursday. Clear weather in the forecast indicates no immediate change to the below normal streamflow situation. Central state flows on both sides of the divide remain mostly normal with one extreme low value coming in from the Atlantic basin, Ocmulgee River watershed. Tobesofkee Creek is flowing low at Macon Thursday, running under two feet deep and just over 5 cubic feet per second after collecting runoff from 182 square miles in Bibb County.
Drought Map USGS Waterwatch
The drought map trails several days behind the current streamflow picture, as a graphic depiction of the 7-day average streamflows. While we see the current streamflow sensors sending below normal signals Thursday, the drought map is still in a shrinking trend from widespread rainfall last weekend. As of Thursday morning, the Georgia drought map rates a smaller area of the state watersheds below normal. In keeping with the declining drought trend, we see today an area of the Lower Savannah River, Lower Flint River, The lower Chattahoochee River and Lower Coosa River watersheds coloring the drought map with below normal rated area.
As the Upper Savannah watershed's Banks, Franklin, Madison and East Oglethorpe Counties have cleared off the drought map today, all that remains below normal in the Atlantic basin is lower Savannah's Columbia and Richmond Counties, and a strip along the Savannah River on the west edge of Burke, Screven and Effingham Counties. Altamaha River watershed is off the drought map entirely today.
USGS seven-day average streamflows at each monitoring location are rated against the historic average flow volume for this day. Results appear on the drought map, showing surface area with a rating: below normal, moderate drought, severe drought or extreme drought. The drought-rated surface area most often follows watershed lines, the physical topography of drainage and direction of flow of the surface water across the state. The watershed layer on the map shows surface area impacted by streamflows in each drainage area. Turn the directional arrows on to see which way the water flows, along with hazardous spills reported in the area that could have an impact on water quality.
Drinking Water Advisories
Demorest BWA remains in effect today following a water main break near Old Cleveland Rd. The boil water order applies to customers connecting from Old Athens Highway to Pea Ridge Road until further notice.
Hazardous Spills files released from Georgia Department of Environmental Conservation
Close to 100 gallons of spent sulfuric acid was reported spilled from a drum falling off a moving vehicle travelling down GA-273 west on December 7 in Cedar Springs, Early County. According to the report, a transport vehicle ran over debris on the highway, which caused the loss of containers of sulfuric acid. The spill was contained and cleaned up by the response crew with no impact to water and no release to the environment.
Following sentencing of a Dalton, GA businessman for violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia made this pledge, "Working with our U.S. Department of Justice partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia seeks to secure environmental justice for all communities, to ensure that everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to a healthy environment in which to live, learn, play and work." See the Clean Water Act CrimeBox column below for environmental prosecutions with criminal convictions.
Tips can be called in to Georgia Environmental Protection Division emergency spill line at 1-800-241-4113.
HABs update from Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Coastal Resources Division Shellfish and Water Quality Unit
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.
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.
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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