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With the Flow Georgia Watersheds Report for September 26 to October 2, 2022
Store owner arrested for illegal dumping in Savannah Watershed


Table of Contents Click on location links to go to information

To Flows. 3

To Groundwater Monitors – no longer available. 4

To Impaired Water Bodies (IWB) EPA 303d list 4

To Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts 4

To Spills. 5

Sources: 6

Gulf of Mexico Flows. 6

1 Gulf North. 6

1a Tennessee River Watershed. 6

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (167) 7

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 7

Spills (0 new) 7

1b Coosa River Watershed. 7

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (408) 9

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 10

Spills (0 new) 10

1c Tallapoosa River Watershed. 10

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (54) 11

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 11

Spills (0 new) 11

2 Gulf West 11

2a Chattahoochee River Watershed. 11

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (403) 12

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 12

Spills (0 new) 12

2b Flint River Watershed. 12

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (263) 13

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 13

Spills ( 0 new) 13

3  Gulf Southwest 14

3a Ochlockonee River Basin. 14

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (45) 14

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 14

Spills (0 new) 15

3b Suwannee River Watershed. 15

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (127) 16

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 16

Spills (0 new) 16

4 Atlantic Central 16

4a Oconee River Watershed. 16

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (281) 17

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 17

Spills (1 new) 17

4b Ocmulgee River Watershed. 18

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (278) 19

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 19

Spills (0 new) 19

4c Altamaha River Watershed. 20

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (71) 20

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 20

Spills (0 new) 21

4d Satilla River Watershed. 21

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (121) 21

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 21

Spills (0 new) 21

4e St. Marys River Watershed. 22

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (14) 22

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0) 22

Spills (0 new) 22

Atlantic East 22

5a Savannah River Watershed. 23

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (302) 24

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (1) 24

Spills (1 new) 24

5b Ogeechee River Watershed. 24

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (116) 25

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (3) 25

Spills (0 new) 26

 

 

To Flows

WTGA describes direction/path of streamflows in each watershed, listing monitoring stations in order from headwaters to outlet, including a flow rating (where available), flow volume in cubic feet per second (CFS), the depth of flow in feet and inches, the water temperature and specific conductance (where this information is available).  WTGA logs a snapshot of the stream flows through the state’s rivers and tributaries monthly, as per USGS Waterwatch current streamflow monitoring stations.

  • Rivers, creeks flowing much above normal or high (in the top 10% of flow volume recorded for that system) are shown in boldface;
  • flows that have breached action stage appear in red,
  • flows in flood stage appear in boldface red type.

Flow volume can change rapidly during snowmelt and rain events.  All readings are posted as they appear as of our monthly update.  

During rain and storm events check your local upstream station flow levels at the USGS WaterWatch Current Streamflow site or sign up for high flow alerts.  Streamflow data is subject to review as sensors at the monitoring stations do malfunction from time to time. See USGS Provisional Data Statement at the end of this report for more information.

To Groundwater Monitors

USGS has ceased updating the Groundwater Watch site, the site is no longer accessible.

The service is expected to resume at some point, WTGA will continue to check for updates.

To Impaired Water Bodies (IWB) EPA 303d list

The EPA requires all states update a draft list of impaired water bodies (the 303d list) every two years; providing a period for public comments, presenting the draft list to the EPA.  The final 303d list is published as approved (or partially approved) by the EPA, roughly every two years.

Impaired water bodies are defined as those with contaminants measured above threshold levels, as set by the EPA Clean Water Act, or where the desired use is impaired.  The latest Draft List for Georgia is available on this site. 

This report tallies the total impaired water bodies in each watershed area. The list includes Georgia lakes, creeks, rivers and reservoirs that require management limiting release of contaminants and nutrients, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans.  The TMDL plan is a type of Clean Water Plans, established by a collaboration of municipal, industrial and environmental groups in an overlay zoning district.  

To Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts

Hazardous algae blooms are reported here as reported to the Georgia public complaints portal and confirmed by Georgia EPD.  EPD contacts the water body local management and conducts testing for algal toxin levels if necessary.  According to Georgia EPD Media spokesperson, there have not been instances of algal toxins in excess of recreational water use limits. 

  • Active, confirmed HABs will be listed by water body, date and time of the report, in the applicable watershed, with location information (accuracy of our location description is limited by the accuracy of the location tag in the EPD report).

Contact parks management for the current information on local conditions before heading out and consider using an on-site rapid test for microcystin.

To Spills

Georgia EPD 24 hour Emergency Operations Center 1-800-241-4113

National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802

24-hour emergency line staffed by US Coast Guard for oil spills on water.

As per EPA Oil Discharge Reporting Requirements, the reportable amount of spilled oil product is any amount that leaves a visible sheen on the surface or sludge at the bottom of the water body.  Such spills are to be reported immediately (within 15 minutes).  Spills from a vessel into navigable waterways are to be reported to the NRC in compliance with the Discharge of Oil regulation and Prevention of Oil Pollution regulation of the EPA.

From Georgia EPD Emergency Operations Centre, “oil” includes but is not limited to: gasoline, crude oil, fuel oil, diesel oil, lubricating oil, sludge, oil refuse, oil mixed with wastes, and any other petroleum-related product. Accidental discharges of oil during maintenance of one’s own personal vehicle or farm machinery shall be exempt from the reporting requirement.

Note that all spills should be cleaned up, whether or not they are reportable.

WTGA reports spills from the latest records uploaded to the Georgia EPD Public Complaints portal.  Oil, diesel, gas, chemical spill reports are posted following incident response, with notes on remediation actions taken.  Various spill types are searched categorically each week and posted by watershed in which they are confirmed to have occurred. 

  • Spills of petroleum products of 40 gallons or more, spills of any amount impacting water, spills of any amount of toxic contaminants are listed weekly in the watershed in which they occur, including location of the spill, the contaminant spilled (if known), the quantity (if known) and the resource affected (if known) surface water, groundwater, sewer, etc, and any amounts of contaminant material recovered at the site.
  • Spills resulting from private vehicle maintenance, private vehicle accidents are excluded from this report.
  • spills marked with asterisk * are tracked with state and/or EPA authorities for more information. See the CrimeBox for details on violations and charges under the Clean Water Act.

Sources:

WaterToday Georgia aggregates information and data from Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Health, EPA Region 4; United States Geological Survey WaterWatch Current Streamflow, USGS Groundwater Watch, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by watershed area.  The accuracy of the information contained in our reports is dependent on these sources.  Provisional data statements apply, confirm data with local authorities before taking action.

 

Georgia’s landscape sends rainfall in two directions from the height of land, also known as the drainage divide:  southwest to the Gulf of Mexico, or southeast to the Atlantic Ocean.

Find your location in one of the five sections of our report.

Gulf North

High Flows

HABs/Beach Alerts

Spills

Impaired Water Bodies

Tennessee

0

0

0

167

Coosa

0

0

9

408

Tallapoosa

0

0

1

54

Totals

0

0

10

629

 

Gulf of Mexico Flows

<img src="/images/ws-north-georgia.jpg" border="0">

1 Gulf North

1a Tennessee River Watershed

The Tennessee River collects rainfall and runoff for the Ohio River system, which joins the Mississippi and empties out into the Gulf of Mexico.  While no part of the Tennessee River itself passes through Georgia, there are tributary creeks originating in north Georgia that cross the state line and join up with Tennessee waters.

  • Lookout Creek drains an area of 149 sq miles of Dade County. The flow is monitored near New England is normal flow, 36.32% above the mean, 35.1 cfs and 3.35 ft deep. 09/27/22.
  • Chattanooga Creek drains an area of 6 sq miles of Walker County. The flow is monitored at Flintstone: 39% above mean, 27.8 cfs and 3.23 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • West Chickamauga Creek drains an area of 148 sq miles in Catoosa County. The flow near Lakeview: 23% above mean, 44.3 cfs and 0.70 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • South Chickamauga Creek drains an area of 169 sq miles in Catoosa County. The flow near Ringgold: 9.57% above mean, 53.2 cfs and 3.82 ft deep as of 09/27/22

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (167)

  • 167 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf North Tab, for Tennessee Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

Tennessee Valley Authority manages Lake Blue Ridge, including water releases from the dam, water quality testing, fish testing, assessment of lake health.  WTGA has inquired for bacteria testing and algae blooms.  No known alerts as of this report.

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26.

1b Coosa River Watershed

The Coosa River is a collection of several tributary rivers gathered from northwest Georgia.  At the beginning of this system, the Conasauga River and Coosawattee Rivers join up to form the Oostanaula River.  The Oostanaula in turn joins flow with the Etowah River system to form the Coosa River.  The Coosa runs west into Alabama where it merges with the Tallapoosa River across the state line in Alabama, forming the Alabama River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. 

(Confusion alert** Watch for another river by the same name (Chattooga) in northeast Georgia! These two are not the same.)

  • Conasauga River drains an area of 8.24 sq miles in Murray County. The flow at Tilton is normal, 27.93% above mean, 177 cfs and 2.63 ft deep, as of 09/27/22.
  • Mill Creek drains an area of 40 sq miles in Whitfield County. The flow at Dalton is normal, 51.54% above the mean, 23.6 cfs and 4.24 ft deep, as of 09/27/22.
  • Coahulla Creek drains an area of 176 sq miles in Whitfield County. The flow near Dalton is 13.91% above mean, 56.3 cfs and 7.57 ft deep, as of 09/27/22.
  • Coosawattee River drains an area of 831 sq miles in Gordon and Murray Counties. The flow at Pine Chapel is normal, 71.08 above the mean, 523 cfs and 4.38 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Talking Rock Creek drains an area of 119 sq miles. The flow near Hinton is below normal, 46.78% above mean at 34.6 cfs, 0.88 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Holly Creek drains an area of 1602 sq miles in Gordon County. The flow near Chatsworth is normal, 18.92% above mean at 14.4 cfs and 1.04 ft deep. The water temp is 0.1 C, as of 09/27/22.
  • Fausett Creek drains an area of 9.99 sq miles in Gilmer County. The flow near Talking Rock is normal, 101.30% above the mean, 7.03 cfs and 1.47 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Oostanaula River drains an area of 2115 sq miles in Gordon and Floyd Counties. The flow at Resaca is normal, 49.95% above the mean, 863 cfs and 2.53 ft deep, as of 09/27/22
  • Etowah River drains an area of 1634 sq miles in Dawson, Bartow and Cherokee Counties.
  • The flow at GA 136 near Landrum is 71.36% above mean at 115 cfs and 1.84 ft deep (flood stage is 14 ft), 16.8°and 22µS/cm;
  • at GA9 near Dawsonville is 62.75% above mean at 124 cfs and 3.98 ft deep (flood stage is 13 ft) 17.4C and 27 µS/cm ;
  • at Kelly Bridge near Matt is 71.13% above mean at 222 cfs and 1.36 ft deep (flood stage is 19 ft); downstream of I-575 at Canton in Cherokee County is 48.14% above mean at 334 cfs ad 2.36 ft deep (flood stage is 17 ft);
  • at Canton is below normal, 56.31% above mean at 361 cfs and 1.63 ft deep (flood stage is 16 ft) 19.2 C;
  • at Allatoona Dam above Cartersville in Bartow County is below normal, 24.72% above mean at 330 cfs and 1.25 ft deep (flood at 9ft) 25.1°C;
  • at Allatoona Dam 690.10 ft deep; at GA61 near Cartersville is 33.67% above mean at 412 cfs and 4.96 ft deep (flood stage is 18 ft);
  • near Kingston is below normal, 38.41% above mean at 670 cfs and 3.60 ft deep (floods at 20 ft) as of 09/27/22.
  • Two Run Creek drains an area of 33.1 sq miles in Bartow County. The flow near Kingston is normal, 55.12% above the mean, 11.3 cfs and 1.19 ft deep. (update 09/27/22)
  • Oothcalooga River drains an area of 62.6 sq miles in Gordon County. The flow at GA 53 spur near Calhoun is 39.54% above mean, and 28.2 cfs and 7.06 ft deep. (update 09/27/22)
  • Coosa River drains an area of 4040 sq miles in Floyd County. The flow near Rome is normal, 97.49% above mean, 3380 cfs and 12.05 ft deep (flood stage is 24 ft). The water temp is 22.7°C. (update 09/27/22)
  • Chattooga River (of the northwest) drains an area of 4040 sq miles of northwest Georgia. The flow at Summerville is normal, 77.68% above mean at 127 cfs and 2.44 ft deep (flood stage is 14 ft). (update 09/27/22)

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (408)

  • 408 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf North Tab, for Coosa Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

Allatoona Lake and dam are located in this watershed. TVA has been contacted for more information on the reservoir water quality.

Spills (9 new)

  • Sept 21 11:30am, tractor trailer accident reported on the I75 NB before state route 52 and mile marker 333, in Dalton (Whitfield), contributed to a 75-gallon spill of diesel fuel onto the roadway. No impact to state waters. Spill recovered by zipzorb, and material sent for final disposal. No further action required. File closed Sept 28 1:26pm
  • Sept 8 3:00pm, reports of a tractor trailer accident on the 75 SB mile marker 142, in Fort Valley (Peach), indicate 100-150-gallons of diesel fuel was spilled onto the highway. It is noted no water was impacted. City Public Works is cleaning the spill with dirt and a skid steer. Final disposal of waste will be arranged by the city. No further action required. File closed Sept 15, 3:27 pm.
  • Sept 23 10:00 pm, a boat was noted to be sinking into Lake Allatoona, in Woodstock (Cherokee). The boat made it back to the marina, but there are unknown amounts of oil and fuel spilled into Lake Allatoona. At this time, we don’t know if any sheen was noted as well. No further action required. File closed Sept 28 1:26 pm. *
  • Sept 16 2:00 pm, reports of about 15-20 gallons of fryer grease were said to have been spilled in the Burger King Parking lot on Richard Sailors Parkway in Power Springs (Cobb). It was noted the spill left heavy stains on the pavement, but the spill did not leave the parking lot. No water impacted. All material recovered with granular sorbent. No further action required. File closed Sept 28 2:54pm.
  • Sept 15 7:00 pm, Chief Nation with Bartow Fire had been called to Allatoona Landing Marina for reported sheen, at 24 Allatoona Landing in Carterville (Bartow). Leaking vessel was located and was removed from the water. Tow Boat USA applied sorbent pads to the sheen areas. All product was able to be recovered and was 3-4 quarts. No further action required. File closed Sept 23 3:40 pm.*
  • Sept 7 5:30 pm, 10 gallons of oil and gas mixture was reported to have been spilled from a lawncare truck box on Highway 124 in Brazelton (Barrow). No water affected. In efforts to remediate the spill, the soil was dug up with hand shovels, replaced with new soil, grass seed and hay. Oil dry was also applied to the impacted area. No further action required. File closed Sept 14, 7:23 pm. (101268). *
  • Sept 1 8:30 am, a truck involved in an accident on Highway 92 at Robin Rd in Woodstock (Cherokee), was reported to have spilled 5-20-gallons of herbicide mixture. Oil dry applied to prevent further migration to the storm drain, we well as 75 gallons of water to dilute the spill mixture that went into the storm drain. No further action required. File closed Sept 15 3:30pm.*
  • Sept 20 12:00 pm, a sewage spill from a busted pipe on Clyde Dr in Cedartown (Polk) occurred and is affecting Tanyard Branch Waterway. State notified city manager, but it is reported the city will not fix the pipe. Cedartown Water department will follow up. No further action required. File closed Sept 21 9:16 am *
  • Aug 28 6:30 pm, sewage spill occurred from a lift station, in Dallas (Paulding). Sewage is running into Picketsmill Creek at an unknown amount but has been running into this creek for reported 4 days. No fish kill. Caller doesn’t think drinking water will be impacted. Lift station has been shut off and crews are on scene cleaning up. Advised to follow emergency protocols. No further action required. File closed Sept 20 8:51pm. *

 

1c Tallapoosa River Watershed

The Tallapoosa River originates in northwest Georgia, draining an area of Paulding and Haralson counties before crossing the state line and joining the Coosa River, forming the Alabama River.

 

 

  • Tallapoosa River drains an area of 272 sq miles of Haralson County. The flow at US78 near Tallapoosa is 45.69% above mean at 83.5 cfs and 1.37 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • Little Tallapoosa drains an area of 245 sq miles of Carroll County. The flow at GA100 near Bowden is 27.27% above mean at 65.5 cfs 2.60 ft deep; at Carrollton is normal, 19.15% above mean at 20.8 cfs and 2.31 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Cedar Creek drains an area of 65.3 sq miles of Polk County. The flow at Cedartown is normal, 63.48% above mean at 40.7 cfs and 0.68 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • Snake Creek drains an area of 35.5 sq miles of Carroll County. The flow near Whitesburg is below normal, 41.15% above mean at 9.30 cfs and 1.70 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Snake Creek Reservoir drains an area of 34 sq miles in Carroll County. The flow is 46.48% above mean at 9.31 cfs and 3.23 ft deep. The water temp is 24.6°C as of 09/27/22.
  • Dog River drains an area of 66 sq miles of Douglas County. The flow at GA 5 near Fairplay 40.85% above mean at 17.8cfs and 3.22 ft deep. The water temp is 19.7°C. 09/27/22.

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (54)

  • 54 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf North Tab, for the Tallapoosa River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

No beach alerts found for this week

Spills (1 new)

  • Sept 7 11:30 pm, 70-100-gallon spill on state route 8 east and 100 at mile marker 4 in Tallapoosa (Haralson) was reported. There is no available information on this spill. File closed Sept 15 3:28.

Gulf West

High Flows

HABs/Beach Alerts

Spills

Impaired Water Bodies

Chattahoochee

0

0

4

403

Flint

0

0

0

263

Totals

0

0

4

669

 

<img src="/images/ws-west-georgia.jpg" border="0">

2 Gulf West

 

2a Chattahoochee River Watershed

The Chattahoochee headwaters form up near Helen, in northeast Georgia in the Appalachian Mountains.  From Union County, the Chattahoochee flowing southwest, through the capital and then south, forming the state border with Alabama, terminating in Lake Seminole.

  • Chattahoochee River drains an area of 8210 sq miles from the northeast to the southwest. The flow
  • At Helen is normal, 52.10% above mean at 47.8 cfs and 0.49 ft deep, 17.6°C.;
  • at Leaf flow is normal, 56.85% above mean at 161 cfs and 1.60 ft deep;
  • at GA100 at Cornelia is normal, 69.76% above mean at 344 cfs and 0.68 ft deep;
  • near Fairburn is normal, 63.80% above mean at 1740 cfs and 0.94 ft deep all as of 09/27/22
  • Powder Springs Creek drains an area of 23 sq miles of Cobb County. The flow near Powder Springs 13.58% above mean at 2.88 cfs and 1.39 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • Noses Creek drains an area of 44.5 sq miles of Cobb County. The flow at Powder Road is 22.62% above mean at 9.16 cfs and 1.91 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • Sweetwater Creek drains an area of 13.5 sq miles of Cobb County. The flow at Powder Springs is 25.62% above mean at 25.7 cfs and 2.75 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • Nickajack Creek drains an area of 31 sq miles in Cobb County. The flow near Mableton is 15.84% above mean at 7.93 cfs and 1.49 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • Utoy Creek drains an area of 33 sq miles in Fulton County. The flow is unrated, 67.64% above mean at 27.9 cfs and 3.09 ft deep. The water temp is 22.9°C as of 09/27/22
  • Nancy Creek drains an area of 26.6 sq miles in County. The flow at Atlanta is 14.87% above mean at 8.87 cfs and 0.56 ft deep. The water temp is 19.5°C as of 09/27/22.

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (403)

  • 403 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf West Tab, for Chattahoochee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • Georgia Power manages freshwater lakes formed by hydro dams. No beach alerts or toxin alerts reported this week.

Spills (4 new)

  • Sept 2 10:30 am, 20 gallons of diesel fuel reported spilled onto the ground on the 800 block of Thornton Rd, in Lithia Springs (Douglas). A Kirkland Food Distribution Trunk punctured its fuel tank, which made a slow leak. The spill was contained by granular sorbents. 2-3 gallons did go into the storm drain before containment happened. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 8:04. *
  • Sept 16 8:30 am, a complaint has been made about the garbage trucks that service the Wickford Circle Neighborhood in Roswell (Cobb), that every time the trucks come to pick up trash, they spill hydraulic oil. American Disposal Services has been to inspect and remove any hydraulic oil that was left behind. No further action required. File closed Sept 23 3:39
  • Aug 30 1:00 am, a 25-gallon diesel fuel spill reported to be spilled onto the roadway in Lithia Springs (Douglas), on State route 6 SB at Blairs Ridge Rd. No water impacted. Department of Transportation contained the spilled with oil dry. No further action required. File closed Aug 31 10:34 am.
  • Sept 1 4:30 pm, sump inside of a dam at the Hydro Electric Plant – Oliver Dam/Chattahoochee River in Columbus (Muscogee), was reported to have released .5 gallon of hydraulic fluid. GA Power have applied sorbent boom down the stream and all product contained. Very little rainbow sheen left behind. Georgia Power Facilities will dispose of product. No further action required. File closed Sept 14. *

 

2b Flint River Watershed

The Flint River originates south of Atlanta and gathers run-off from 7570 sq miles of Georgia as it traverses the course north to south, flowing west through Alabama to empty in the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Flint River drains an area of 7570 sq miles down the west side of the state. The flow near Griffin in Spalding County is normal, 34.09% above mean at 48.1 cfs and 2.34 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • below Big Branch, Pike County flow is 48.40% above mean at 113 cfs and 4.53 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • at Thomaston, Upson County, flow is below normal, 28.84% above mean at 142 cfs and 2.75 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • near Carsonville in Upson County, flow is below normal, 26.37% above mean, 282 cfs and 1.59 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • at GA 26 near Montezuma, Macon County, the flow is normal 71.52% above mean at 1110 cfs and 1.08 ft deep as of 09/27/22
  • at GA 32 near Oakfield in Worth County, the flow is normal, 62.46% above mean at 1460 cfs and 3.32 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • at Albany, Dougherty County, the flow is below normal 46.31% above mean at 1300 cfs and 2.20 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • at Newton in Baker County, the flow is normal, 68.20% above mean at 2100 cfs and 4.54 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • at Riverview Plantation near Hopeful in Mitchell County, the flow is 62.07% above mean at 2510 cfs and 4.28 ft deep as of 09/27/22.
  • at Bainbridge, Decatur County the flow is below normal, 52.08% above mean at 2420 cfs and 18.74 ft deep (flood stage 22ft). The water temp is 24.8 °C as of 09/27/22.

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (263)

  • 263 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf West Tab, for Flint River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26

 

Gulf Southwest

High Flows

HABs/Beach Alerts

Spills

Impaired Water Bodies

Ochlockonee

0

0

0

45

Suwannee

0

0

0

127

Totals

0

0

0

172

 

<img src="/images/ws-southwest-georgia.jpg" border="0">

           

 

 

 

 

3  Gulf Southwest     

                       

3a Ochlockonee River Basin

Ochlockonee River originates in Worth County in southwest Georgia.  The Ochlockonee catchment area drains a combined 1400 plus square miles of Georgia landscape before exiting into Florida and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Main use is for fishing. Two smaller and separate watersheds within the Ochlockonee basin, the Aucilla and Wards Creek each have their separate channels directly dumping into the Gulf of Mexico (not monitored).  The main tributary rivers and creeks are the Little Ochlockonee River, Tired Creek, Telogia Creek and Crooked River (not monitored).

  • Ochlockonee River drains an area of 1002 sq miles in Worth, Thomas and Leon counties. The flow
  • at GA188 near Coolidge in Thomas County is 18.67% above mean at 14.7 cfs and 2.19 ft deep (floods at 13 ft);
  • near Thomasville in Thomas County is normal, 19.19% above mean flow at 47.3 cfs and 2.40 ft deep (floods at 15 ft);
  • near Concord, at the Georgia/Florida border in Leon County is 48.29% above mean at 146 cfs and 25.06 feet deep (flood stage is 36 ft). (updated 09/27/22.)

 

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (45)

  • 45 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf Southwest Tab, for Ochlockonee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • No reports of HABs this week

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26.

 

3b Suwannee River Watershed

The Suwanee River originates in the Okefenokee Wilderness, between State Hwy 122 and Valdosta Highway.  The blackwater Suwannee and its major tributaries, the Willacoochee, Withlacoochee, Alapaha and Little Rivers channels runoff from more than 5000 sq miles from parts of twenty counties in Georgia before crossing over into Florida to empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Suwannee River drains 1130 sq miles in south-central Georgia. The flow

- above Fargo in Clinch County indicates flow depth of 10.39 feet;

- at US 441 at Fargo in Clinch County the flow is normal, 90.81

% above mean at 965 cfs and 8.18 ft deep.  The channel floods at 13 ft in this location. (update 09/27/22)

  • Little River drains an area of 776 sq miles in Georgia before joining the Withlacoochee. The Little River is flowing
  • at Upper Ty Ty Road near Tifton in Tift County normal, at 4.40% above mean at 0.93 cfs, and -1.27 ft deep;
  • near Adel in Cook County is normal, 9.40% above the mean, 16.5 cfs and 2.81 ft deep (flood stage is 15.9 ft);
  • near Hahira in Lowndes is flowing 19.79% above the mean at 44.3 cfs and 4.51 ft deep. Flooding occurs at 15.2 ft at this section of the river. (Update 09/27/22)
  • Alapaha River drains an area of 1730 sq miles of south-central Georgia.

The flow

  • at GA 195/32 near Irwinville in Irwin County is 1.03% above mean at 0.21 cfs and 1.06 ft deep (flood stage is 9.9 ft);
  • near Alapaha is normal, 6.72% above meat at 9.97 cfs and 1.73 ft deep (flooding occurs at 15.4 ft);
  • at Statenville in Echols County is normal, 87.40% above mean at 356 cfs and 3.05 ft deep. Flood stage is 23.9 ft at this location. (Update 09/27/22)
  • Withlacoochee River drains an area of 1480 sq miles. The flow at
  • Skipper Bridge Rd near Bemiss in Lowndes County is normal, 20.70% above mean at 52.6 cfs and 2.49 feet deep (flood stage is 14.7 ft);
  • near Valdosta is 3.77 ft deep; at Quitman flow is normal, 14.37% above mean at 78.6 cfs and 2.21 ft deep (flood stage at 20.5 ft) 25.1°C and 135 µS/cm.;
  • near Pinetta, Florida is normal, 58.21% above mean at 405 cfs and 7.08 ft deep, (flood stage 26.5 ft) 24.3°C and 291µS/cm. 09/27/22.

 

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (127)

  • 127 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Gulf Southwest Tab, for Suwannee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • No alerts posted this week

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26.

 

Atlantic Central

High Flows

HABs/Beach Alerts

Spills

Impaired Water Bodies

Oconee

0

0

4

278

Ocmulgee

0

0

8

281

Altamaha

0

0

0

71

Satilla

0

0

3

121

St. Marys

0

0

0

14

Totals

0

0

15

765

 

<img src="/images/ws-central-georgia.jpg" border="0">

4 Atlantic Central

4a Oconee River Watershed

The Oconee headwaters form in Hall County, flowing southeast through Middle and North Oconee Channels to form the Oconee River below Athens.  From here the system flows into Lake Oconee, formed by the Wallace Dam and Sinclair Lake formed by the Sinclair Dam.  The Oconee flows down from the dams to its confluence Ocmulgee River, eventually emptying into the Atlantic.

  • Middle Oconee drains an area of 398 sq miles in Jackson and Clarke Counties before joining the North Oconee stream to form Oconee River.
  • North Oconee drains an area of 275 sq miles of Jackson and Clarke Counties before joining up with Middle Oconee below Athens. The flow
  • at Commerce is, 62.95% above mean at 43.0 cfs and 1.94 ft deep (flood stage is 15 ft);
  • at Athens flow is normal, 44.35% above mean at 93.7 cfs and 3.98 ft deep (floods at 19 ft) 09/28/22
  • Oconee River drains an area of 5110 sq miles of Wheeler, Laurens, Wilkinson, Baldwin, Greene and the above Counties. The flow monitor

- near Penfield in Greene County shows normal flow, 32.01% above mean at 279 cfs and 2.89 ft deep (floods at 13 ft);

- at Milledgeville in Baldwin County shows below normal flow, 16.42% above mean at 340 cfs and 7.17 ft deep (flood stage 30 ft);

- at Avant Mine near Oconee in Washington County is 44.66% above mean at 401 cfs and 1.75 ft deep (floods at 18 ft);

- near Oconee in Wilkinson County is, 27.08% above mean at 528 cfs and 1.42 ft deep (flood stage 17 ft); 

- at Dublin in Laurens County flow is below normal, 27.66% above mean at 548 cfs and 1.27 ft deep (floods at 21 ft);

- near Mt. Vernon in Wheeler County the flow is normal, 39.92% above mean at 875 cfs and 1.30 ft deep (floods at 16 ft)

(updated 09/28/22)

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (281)

  • 281 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic Central, for Oconee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • No new blooms or toxin alerts posted

Spills (4 new)

  • Sept 14 10:00 pm, motor vehicle accident between two tractor trailers on 16 West Mile Marker 32, in Bleckley, contributed to a 50–60-gallon diesel fuel spill. No impact to water. All spilled fuel has been recovered with granular sorbent by Cochran Hazmat and will be disposed by them. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:20 pm.
  • Sept 14 7:20 pm, 5 gallons of diesel fuel was reported to be spilled from a tractor trailer on 285 SB mile marker 4.6, in Atlanta (Forsyth). Spill was contained with granular sorbent. No impact on water. No further action required.
  • Sept 19 1:30 pm, due to a car pile-up on GA highway 316 and Buford Dr in Lawrenceville (Gwinnett), there was an estimated 10-gallon spill of coolant and transmission oil released from a service truck. GESP applied granular sorbent and was able to contain the whole spill. No further action required. File closed Sept 28
  • Sept 27 5:00 pm, a construction bypass pump failed and caused 150 gallons of sewage to be spilled on the 2100 block of Centennial Dr in Gainesville (Hall). No fish kill. Watershed Protection branch will be following up with this matter. No further action required. File closed Sept 29 9:36 am.

 

4b Ocmulgee River Watershed

Ocmulgee River originates at Jackson Lake, straddling Jasper, Newton and Butts Counties.  The Ocmulgee flows south to join the Oconee River, forming the Altamaha River.  Jackson Lake is fed by three rivers: South, Yellow and Alcovy Rivers originating in Central Georgia, all part of the Ocmulgee Watershed area.

  • South River drains an area of 468 sq miles in Newton, Dekalb and Fulton Counties. The flow
  • at Springdale Rd in Atlanta 2.23 ft deep (flood stage 17 ft) 15.8 °C and 268 µS/cm;
  • at Forrest Park Rd in Atlanta, flow is 20.76% above mean at 6.81 cfs and 2.87 ft deep (flood stage 15 ft) 16.9 °C and 231 µS/cm;
  • at Flakes Mill Rd near Atlanta in Dekalb County is 25.11% above mean at 30.0 cfs and 2.00 ft deep (flood here at 13 ft) 15.2C and 156 µS/cm;
  • at Klondike Rd near Lithonia in Dekalb County is below normal, 26.41% above mean at 88.1 cfs and 5.01 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft);
  • at GA81 at Snapping Shoals in Newton County the flow is 59.86% above mean at 197 cfs and 6.83 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft). (Updated 09/28/22).
  • Yellow River drains an area of sq miles in Dekalb and Counties. The flow
  • at Pleasant Hill Rd near Lithonia in Dekalb County is 16.63% above mean at 54.4 cfs and 1.08 ft deep (floods at 13 ft);
  • at Milstead in Rockdale County is normal, 15.93% above the mean, 62.1 cfs and 1.17 ft deep (floods at 13ft);
  • at Rocky Plains Rd near Rocky Plains in Newton County, the flow is normal, 41.44% above mean at 102 cfs and 3.68 ft deep (flood stage 18 ft) (update 09/28/22)
  • Alcovy River drains an area of 244 sq miles in Newton and Gwinnett Counties. The flow
  • at New Hope Rd near Grayson in Gwinnett County is 20.90% above mean at 8.62 cfs and 2.00 ft deep (floods at 9ft) 15.1 °C and 91 µS/cm;
  • above Covington in Newton County the flow is normal, 28.78% above mean at 50.8 cfs and 1.68 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft) 16.3 C and 72 µS/cm;
  • below Covington in Newton County is 24.57 % above mean at 39.9 cfs and 1.54 ft deep (floods at 11 ft) (update 09/28/22)
  • Little Ocmulgee River drains an area of 316 sq miles in Telfair County. The flow
  • at GA149 at Scotland in Telfair County is unrated: 2.80% above mean at 1.80 cfs and 0.72 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft) (09/28/22)
  • Ocmulgee River drains a combined area of 5180 sq miles in central Georgia. The flow
  • near Jackson in Butts County is below normal, 35.18% above the mean, 417 cfs and 4.05 ft deep(flood stage 19 ft);
  • at Macon in Bibb County is normal: 82 % above mean at 597 cfs and 5.95 ft deep (flood stage 18 ft);
  • at US341 at Hawkinsville in Pulaski County is normal: 45.81% above mean at 1150 cfs and 1.53 ft deep (flood stage 20 ft);
  • at Abbeville in Wilcox County is normal: 51.65% above mean at 1140 cfs and 1.14 ft deep (flood stage 12 ft);
  • at Lumber City in Jeff Davis County is normal: 66.42% above mean at 1780 cfs and 1.40 ft deep (flood stage 15 ft) (updated 09/28/22)

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (278)

  • 278 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic Central Tab, for Ocmulgee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • No posted alerts this week

Spills (8 new)

  • Aug 29 5:00pm, unknown amount of diesel fuel has been reported spilled on the I285 West at Ashford Dunwoody Rd in Sandy Spring (Dekalb). Fuel cleaned with oil dry. No further action required. File closed Sept 15 3:29 pm
  • Sept 14 12:00 pm, a planning commissioner for Forsyth County, had noted that during an inspection he saw bottles of woodworking solvents and paint brushes sitting at the top of a storm drain. It appeared to him that they were washing solvents and paint brushed off into the storm drain. This occurred on the 1700 block of Falcon Creek Trail in Cumming (Forsyth). The business has been cited by county Code Enforcement. No further action required. File closed Sep 15 3:26pm.
  • Sept 6 2:00 pm, a woman was attempting to clean up a mercury spill of unknown amounts from a thermometer in her home, on the 5700 block of Kendrick Ln in Cumming (Forsyth). She was advised to keep cleaning up and that Home Depot has spill test kits for mercury. She was also advised to see medical doctor if she was concerned about her health. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:37 pm.
  • Sept 22 5:30 pm, 4920 gallons of sewage was reported to be spilled into Burnt Fork Creek Tributary because of grease at 1000 block of North Jamestown Rd, in Decatur (Dekalb). No fish kill noted and no impact to drinking water. No further action required. File closed Sept 29 8:26am. *
  • Sept 12 3:30pm, ongoing spill reported at the 2400 block of Brook Cliff Way in Atlanta (DeKalb). This spill came from a leaking pipe. The county temporarily fixed it and planning full replacement in October 2022. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 1:58 pm.*
  • Sept 7 11:00 am, 33,900 gallons of sewage was reported spilled, over a 5-day spill which was caused by severe erosion making the manhole shift. Sewage spilled into Peach Tree Branch Tributary, on the 3400 block of Evans Ridge Dr in Chamblee (DeKalb). No fish kill. No drinking water impacted. Transferring file to watershed. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 1:58. *
  • Sept 3 3:00am, processed wastewater of unknown amounts was spilled from a lift station malfunction, on the 3600 block of North Parkway in Cummings (Forsyth). The spill went onto the pavement and flowed into the storm drain. Contractors arrived once daylight out. It was raining when the spill was checked, and no evidence of the spill was noted. Hulsey Environmental recovered about 60 gallons pf material. They are guessing about 550 gallons of processed wastewater spilled in total. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 8:00 pm. *
  • Aug 30 12:00 pm, at a private residence on the 3100 block of Cedar Brook Dr, in Decatur (DeKalb), was reported to have a spill of 11,240 gallons of sewage from an unknown blockage in the property owner’s sewer pipe. File was sent to watershed for follow-up. No further action required. File closed Sept 13 8:13 am.*

4c Altamaha River Watershed

The combined flows of the Oconee River system and the Ocmulgee River system form the Altamaha, “the largest free-flowing river on the East coast”, according to the Georgia River Network.

  • Altamaha River drains a combined area of 14000 square miles in central Georgia. The flow
  • at US221 near Charlotteville in Montgomery County is normal, 39.89% above mean at 2530 cfs and 1.26 ft deep (flood stage 13 ft);
  • near Baxley in Appling County flow is normal, 58.38% above mean at 2830 cfs and 2.50 ft deep (flood at 11 ft) 21.0 °C;
  • at Doctortown in Wayne County flow is below normal, 50.44% above mean at 2690 cfs and 3.98 ft deep (floods at 12 ft);
  • near Everett City in Glynn County flow is normal, -15.03% above mean at -8.11 cfs and 6.78 ft deep (floods at 13 ft) (updated 09/28/22)
  • Ohoopee River drains an area of 1110 sq miles in Emanuel and Tatnall Counties. The flow
  • at GA 297 near Swainsboro in Emanuel County is 13.19% above mean at 9.05 cfs and 7.33 ft deep (flood stage 18 ft);
  • near Reidsville is flowing normal, 21.23% above mean at 76.4 cfs and 1.87ft deep (flood stage is reached at 10 ft) (updated 09/28/22)

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (71)

  • 71 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic Central Tab, for Altamaha River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

  • No alerts posted

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26

4d Satilla River Watershed

The Satilla River forms in Ben Hill County, flows south 200 miles to the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Little Satilla River drains an area of 659 sq miles in Pierce County. The flow near Offerman is normal: 1.85% above mean at 7.74 cfs and 2.53 ft deep (flood stage is 9ft) (09/28/22)
  • Satilla River drains an area of 3240 sq miles in south central Georgia to the Atlantic. The flow
  • at GA 158 near Waycross in Ware County is, 59.71% above mean flow at 86.7 cfs and 3.92 ft deep (flood stage is reached at 14 ft);
  • at Waycross is normal at 40.14% above mean at 188 cfs and 6.44 ft deep (floods at 16 ft)
  • at Atkinson in Brantley County, flow is normal: 64.20 % above mean at 931 cfs and 7.11 ft deep (flood stage 13 ft); US17
  • at Woodbine in Camden County is tidal, currently flowing at -26800 cfs, and 3.04 ft deep (flood stage is 4.21 ft) (update 09/28/22)

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (121)

  • 121 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic Central tab, for Satilla Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

Spills (3 new)

  • Aug 31, 7:30 pm, 30-50-gallons of diesel fuel reported spilled on interstate 75 NB at exit 84, in Ashburn (Turner), reported due to tractor trailer hitting debris on highway. No waterway affected. AOTC has contained all spilled fuel and transported it for final disposal. No further action required. File closed Sept 28 3:38 pm.
  • Sept 23 1:00 pm, during refuelling of a boat, less than a gallon of diesel was reported spilled into the East River, at 1063 USS Tennessee Ave at Kings Bay Base (Camden). Absorbent pads were put down to absorb the fuel. No further action required. File closed Sept 23 3:37 pm.*
  • Sept 11 7:30 pm, rainbow sheen noted coming from an Ocean Petroleum Property at the Port of Brunswick in the East Brunswick River, in Brunswick (Glynn). No mention of spill being contained. Officer sent out to let company know to put a boom out. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:22 pm. *

 

 

 

4e St. Marys River Watershed

St. Marys is a blackwater river originating in the Okefenokee Wilderness area, south-central Georgia.  The river flows 130 miles and empties into Cumberland Sound in the Atlantic.

  • North Prong St Marys River drains an area of 160 sq miles in Baker County. The flow at Moniac in Bakers County is normal: 42.56% above mean at 91.1 cfs and 6.56 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft);(update 09/28/22)
  • Marys River drains an area of 1480 sq miles in south-central Georgia, including Baker, Charlton, and Camden Counties. The flow
  • near MacClenny in Florida is normal: 61.35% above mean at 588 cfs and 6.45 ft deep (flood stage is 12 ft);
  • at Ferry Landing near Folkston in Charlton County is 2.68 ft deep (flood stage is 7ft); the flow at I-95 near Kingsland in Camden County is tidal, flowing backwards at -27700 cfs and 2.45 ft deep (flood stage is 3.47 ft) (update 09/28/22)

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (14)

  • 14 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic Central tab, for St. Marys River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (0)

Spills (0 new)

  • No new spill reports found for the search period Aug 26 to Sept 26

 

Atlantic East

High Flows

HABs/Beach Alerts

Spills

Impaired Water Bodies

Savannah

0

0

6

302

Ogeechee

0

3

1

116

Totals

0

3

7

418

 

<img src="/images/ws-east-georgia.jpg" border="0">

Atlantic East

         

5a Savannah River Watershed

The Savannah River originates in South Carolina, formed with the combined flows of the Tugaloo, itself formed by the joining of the Chattooga and Tallulah Rivers, and the Seneca River.  The Savannah flows through east Georgia to its outlet at the Atlantic Ocean, taking run-off from an area of 5800 square miles in Eastern Georgia.

  • Chattooga River drains an area of 47 sq miles in Rabun County. The flow at Burrells Ford near Pine Mountain is, 59.36% above mean at 59.5 cfs and 0.87 ft deep, 13.2ºC (flood stage is 7 ft) (update 09/28/22)
  • Tallulah River drains an area of 184 sq miles in Rabun County. The flow near Clayton is normal 53.91% above mean at 69.5 cfs and 1.98 ft deep (flood stage is 20ft);
  • at Terrora Powerhouse at Tallulah Falls the flow is unrated 33.69% above mean at 38.2 cfs and 1.97 ft deep;
  • above Powerhouse near Tallulah Falls, flow is, 66.11% above mean at 37.2 cfs and 5.11 ft deep (flood stage is 30 ft) (update 09/28/22)
  • Broad River drains an area of 1420 sq feet in Elbert and Madison Counties. The flow above Carlton in Madison County is normal, 42.78% above mean at 315 cfs and 1.76 ft deep (flood stage is 15 ft); the flow near Bell in Elbert County is below normal, 24.45% above mean at 296 cfs and 3.62 ft deep (flood stage is 21 ft) 09/28/22
  • Savannah River drains an area of 9850 sq miles from Columbia County to Effingham County. The flow:

- near Evans in Columbia County is 13.46 ft deep;

- at Jefferson Davis Bridge near Augusta in Richmond County 13.86ft deep;

- at Augusta is much below normal, 58.66% above mean at 3670 cfs and 97.10 ft deep (flood stage is 117.5 ft);

- near Waynesboro in Burke County is 82.62% above mean at 5040 cfs and 7.10 ft deep;

- at Burtons Ferry near Millhaven in Screven County is normal, 75.92% above mean at 5170 cfs and 4.81 ft deep (flood stage 15 ft);

- at Cylo in Effingham County flow is normal, 74.61% above mean at 5570 cfs and 3.41 ft deep (flood stage 11 ft);

- above Hardeeville SC 5.07 ft deep;

- near Port Wentworth in Effingham County is -6750 cfs and 4.74 ft deep;

- at USACE Dock in Savannah is -32300 cfs and 4.93 ft deep, temp 26.2°C. (update 09/28/22)

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (302)

  • 302 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic East tab, for Savannah River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (1)

  • July 12, 2022, Beach Water Advisory issued for North Beach at Gulick St, Tybee Island. Routine water quality tests showed a high level of enterococci bacteria, associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal illness in swimmers.

Spills (6 new)

  • Sept 9 11:00 am, a vessel capsized into Little Ogeechee River in Savannah (Chatham), contributing to unknown amounts of diesel fuel being spilled into the river. The cause of this incident is unknown. USCG is handling the incident with a private contractor to contain the spilled fuel. No further action required. File closed Sept 15 3:27 pm.*
  • Sept 7 5:00 pm, it was reported that a hose from a crane had ruptured causing a spill of .5 gallons of hydraulic oil into the Savannah River (Chatham). John boat was able to contain the spill with a boom. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:32 pm.
  • Sept 5 3:30 am, reports of a tractor trailer fire on I75 NB in Clayton, was carrying Tru Fuel premixed fuel with other cargo. Fire took most of the cargo and fuel. Due to heavy rain and firefighter activity, most of the runoff was unrecoverable and went into the storm drain. The granular sorbent was applied to some of the fuel. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:54 pm *
  • Sept 17 11:00 am, the owner of SL Thrift Store, on the 5400 block of Riverdale Rd in Riverdale (Clayton), deliberately disposed of a variety of cleaning grade chemicals at the back of the loading dock of the store. 1000-gallons of chemicals travelled down the parking lot about 100 feet and went into the storm drain. Clayton Fire County secured the drain to prevent further migration of the chemicals. The thrift store owner would not hire a remediation company as requested of him, and instead chose to contact a lawyer. FOSC and Clayton County are coordinating to clean the spill up. Impacted storm drains were flushed and all product on the pavement was removed. The reporting party was arrested for illegal dumping. No further action required. File closed Sept 28 2:54 pm *
  • Sept 6 at 12:30 am, a railcar at 373 North Lathrop Facility was overfilled with about 90-gallons of sulfuric acid. The incident took place in Savannah (Chatham). Spilled material went into the catch pan on the ground. Spilled material was confined to the area and did not enter any storm drains or water. Intracoastal Environmental was contracted to clean up. No further action required. File closed Sept 14 7:52 pm.
  • Sept 3, 12:00 pm, reports of natural gas released due to equipment failure with a valve setting on a transmission pipeline at Enon Grove Rd in Franklin (Franklin). 2 residents of the area were evacuated as a precaution. Amount released is unknown but has been stopped. No further actions required at this time. File closed Sept 14 7:59 pm.

5b Ogeechee River Watershed

The Ogeechee is a free-flowing blackwater river draining an area of 5540 sq miles entirely inside the state of Georgia.  The North and South Fork Ogeechee Rivers (not monitored) come together to form the Ogeechee, which flows 245 miles and empties in the Atlantic. 

  • Black Creek drains an area of 232 sq miles of Bryan County. The flow near Blichton is low: 0.18% above mean at 0.10 cfs and 2.48 ft deep (flood stage is 18 ft) (update 0928/22)
  • Ogeechee River drains a combined area of 5540 square miles in Jefferson, Screven, and Counties. The flow
  • at GA 88 near Grange in Jefferson County is: 43.76% above mean at 31.1 cfs and 6.64 ft deep (flood stage is 18 ft);
  • at Midville in Burke County is: 34.21% above mean at 134 cfs and -0.13 ft deep (flood stage is 6 ft);
  • near Rocky Ford Rd in Rocky Ford, in Screven County is normal: 36.52% above mean at 185 cfs and 2.67 ft deep(flood stage is 13 ft);
  • at GA 24 near Oliver in County is flowing normal, 30.78% above mean at 251 cfs and 5.40 ft deep;
  • near Eden is normal flow: 33.23% above mean at 285 cfs and 2.24 ft deep (flood stage is 11 ft);
  • at GA204 near Ellabell the flow is normal: 41.10% above mean at 359 cfs and 3.62 ft deep (flood stage not given);
  • at US17 near Richmond Hill tidal outlet in Bryan County, flow is -8510 cfs at 3.55 ft deep. (update 09/28/22)

 

Impaired Water Body EPA 303d List (116)

  • 116 water bodies or sections of water bodies, including rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and reservoirs not meeting desired use or having measured contaminant above threshold levels are listed on Georgia’s IWB 303d list for 2020. See this site for the detailed list under the Atlantic East tab, for Ogeechee River Watershed.

Hazardous Algae Blooms (HABs) Beach Alerts (3)

  • Permanent Beach Water Advisory: updated July 14, 2022 at King’s Ferry County Park – this inland beach area is off Highway 17 on the Ogeechee River at the Chatham/Bryan County line.
  • Permanent Beach Water Advisory: updated July 14, 2022 Clam Creek Beach on Jekyll Island – this area is on the back side of the island at the end of Clam Creek Road, high bacteria levels
  • Permanent Beach Water Advisory: updated July 14, 2022 Andrews Beach on Jekyll Island – this area is also on the back side of the island, around the St. Andrews Picnic area, testing above the EPA limits for bacteria.  Avoid swimming and wading in this area.

Spills (1 new)

Sept 12 8:30 pm, 15,300 gallons of sewage spilled at Lift Station #6 at 817 Barksdale Dr, 7,650 gallons of sewage spilled at Lift Station #26 at 1601 Pleasure Ct, and 11,000 gallons of sewage spilled located at a manhole ditch across from lift station #2 on 2112 N Maple Dr. This occurred in Valdalia (Toombs). Major spill provisions being followed. The sewage spills impacted unnamed tributary that runs to Little Rocky Creek. No fish kill noted, and no drinking water implications. Transferring file to watershed department. No further action required. File closed Sept 21 10:07*

 









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