The Annual Report for 2014-2015 that was accepted by the WWALS membership at the Annual Meeting in June 2015 is now online.

Also online are the previous two Annual Reports. Taken consecutively, they show three years of accomplishment.

2012-2013 Annual Report

The WWALS Watershed Coalition had a successful first year, raising over $2400.00 which was used for incorporation, financial and legal guidance. The group held 16 meetings which included speakers, two trainings, and six outings which included river races and leisurely river trips.

Activities ranged from the ancient history of the Withlacoochee River to building the future by advocating for solar power at the Georgia Public Service Commission. WWALS opposed Lowndes County closing Old State Road to the Alapaha River, and advocated a park instead.

2013-2014 Annual Report

The second Report summarized:

The WWALS Watershed Coalition had many successes in its second year, the biggest of which was successfully navigating the IRS 501(c)(3) process and becoming a not for profit as of the incorporation date of June 8, 2012. The group raised about $1000 in memberships, donations and in-kind donations. In June WWALS was awarded a $500 Georgia River Network, Turner Re-grant for the development of materials about a river trail on the Alapaha River. The group held 12 meetings, five of which which included speakers, one training, two informational booths, and seven outings which included river races, leisurely river trips and a trash pick up.

2013 was the year WWALS learned of the proposed Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline and filed early in opposition to it.

That Turner Re-grant led to a flurry of activity on the new Alapaha River Water Trail Committee, while still advocating for a park in Lowndes County on the Alapaha River.

2014-2015 Annual Report

The third Report was even more cheerful:

WWALS Watershed Coalition had many successes in its third year. Two significant accomplishments were the recognition as a WATERKEEPER® Affiliate and the work on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). In May WWALS completed the requirements of development and printing of materials about the Alapaha River Water Trail set out in the Georgia River Network, Turner Re-grant from 2014. Raising money for signs at ARWT access points and placing them remains to be done. WWALS is looking for more members for that committee, for the new Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, and for other committees.

Lowndes County put the Naylor Boat Ramp on the 2014 ballot for the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), and the voters approved it.

WWALS matched that $500 Turner re-grant with $250 from the Hamilton County, FL Tourist Development Council plus $500 from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority, and used almost all of the total printing the brochures, as planned.

About

All three Annual Reports were written by Gretchen Quarterman with input from the board and membership.

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

-jsq

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