Pictures and videos from Alapaha Rise, Sabal Trail pipeline, Five Holes, and Alapaha and Withlacoochee Confluences on the Suwannee River 2015-08-15

From Douglas and Tifton, Georgia through Florida to South America and South Africa, they ate bon-bons and floated and climbed to see springs, caves at Five Holes, and said what they thought about the Sabal Trail pipeline proposing to gouge across the Suwannee River, on the WWALS Outing Saturday August 15th 2015.

Update 2018-02-12: 5 Holes (also known as Hamilton Seven Sisters Spring) is on Suwannee River State Park (SRSP) land, and is normally closed to the public. We did have permission for this outing, thanks to Park Manager Craig Liney, as well as for the later Five Holes Cleanup and Site Exploration.

Preparing at Gibson Park 30.4374065, -83.0932236

Preparing at Gibson Park
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Limestone
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Movie: Chris Mericle saying what we will see (110M)
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Upstream on the Suwannee River 30.4372501, -83.0931778

Upstream on the Suwannee River
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Paddling up the Suwannee
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Alapaha Rise 30.4384117, -83.0894699

Alapaha Rise
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Limestone strata in Alapaha Rise
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Rope swing in Alapaha Rise
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Looking downstream from Alapaha Rise
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Alapaha Confluence 30.4384117, -83.0894699

Alapaha Confluence
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Boats at Alapaha Confluence
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Looking upstream to Alapaha Confluence
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Sand beach stop 30.4191723, -83.1344604

Sand beach stop
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Gretchen and a bon-bon at sand beach KIMG1606
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Movie: Rob from South Africa on the rope swing (5.2M)
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Video.

Swimming at sand beach
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Kayaks at sand beach
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Patrick Kunes
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Boats at Spring 30.4189396, -83.1495514

Boats at Spring
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Paddle at Spring
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Flotilla landing
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Beach at Five Holes 30.4177494, -83.1547851

Beach at Five Holes
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Dan Coleman at Five Holes
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Suwannee River at Five Holes
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Sign at Five Holes
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Climbing at Five Holes
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Upwards at Five Holes
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Trail along Five Holes
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Movie: Dan Coleman: agua aqui at Five Holes (12M)
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Video.

Swimming in Five Holes
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Movie: Debra Bearden Lister: he can swim out now! at Five Holes (9.6M)
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Video.

Patrick Kunes into Five Holes
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Spectators at Five Holes
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The waters fine! at Five Holes
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WWALS banner at Five Holes
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Movie: Its cold! in Five Holes (23M)
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Video.

Onwards past the second of Five Holes
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Through the arch at Five Holes
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Movie: Deanna leads the way through Five Holes (13M)
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Video.

Third hole at Five Holes
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Swimmers in Five Holes
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Alex emerges at Five Holes
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Movie: Alex and the air pocket at Five Holes (75M)
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Video.

Patrick Kunes emerges at Five Holes
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Movie: Patrick Kunes: piece of cake! at Five Holes (151M)
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Video.

Waiting at Five Holes
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Another at Five Holes
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Palmetto spectators at Five Holes
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Outflow of Five Holes, aka Seven Sisters Springs

The outlet at Five Holes
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Relaxing outside Five Holes
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Out of the water at Five Holes
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The exit at Five Holes
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From Five Holes upstream on the Suwannee River
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Limestone exit of Five Holes
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Deanna and Chris Mericle leading the expedition 30.4176578, -83.1552811

Deanna and Chris Mericle leading the expedition
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Chris Mericle points the way
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Chris Mericle built the kiosk at Suwannee Campsites
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Sabal Trail stop 30.4074993, -83.1562271

Sabal Trail stop
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Getting out for Sabal Trail
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On the beach at Sabal Trail
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Wading at Sabal Trail
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Sabal Trail survey flag and Ashlie Prain
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Gathering at Sabal Trail survey flag
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Movie: Gathering at Sabal Trail proposed pipeline crossing (45M)
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Deanna organizes the picture at Sabal Trail proposed crossing

Movie: Deanna organizes the picture at Sabal Trail proposed crossing (17M)
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Video.

Boats at Sabal Trail survey flag
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WWALS banner at Sabal Trail survey flag
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Pipeline No! at Sabal Trail survey flag
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WWALS says no to Sabal Trail
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Thumbs down on Sabal Trail
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Movie: Thumbs down at Sabal Trail proposed crossing (8.5M)
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How many pipelines do we want?

Movie: How many pipelines do we want? None! When do we want it? Never! (15M)
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Video.

WWALS pointer says no Sabal Trail
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Power line right of way 30.4012489, -83.1585998

Power line right of way
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Power line right of way boats
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Movie: Bend in the Suwannee River (9.1M)
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Video.

Langdale weed (chamber bitter) closeup 30.4006328, -83.1591949

Langdale weed (chamber bitter) closeup
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Langdale weed (chamber bitter) on beach
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Existing gas pipeline crossing closeup 30.3917808, -83.1682968

Existing gas pipeline crossing closeup
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Existing gas pipeline crossing context
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Left bank Suwannee River
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Left bank pipeline crossing
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Spring 30.3917084, -83.1683578

Spring
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Movie: A spring on the Suwannee River (3.7M)
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Video.

Boat Ramp, Suwannee RSP 30.3879223, -83.1694946

Boat Ramp, Suwannee RSP
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Railroad bridge, Suwannee RSP
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Railroad bridge and Withlacoochee Confluence 30.3856888, -83.1705932

Railroad bridge and Withlacoochee Confluence
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Withlacoochee Confluence and railroad bridge
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Beach at Suwanacoochee Spring 30.3856888, -83.1705932

Beach at Suwanacoochee Spring
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Ashlie Prain at Suwanacoochee Spring
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Swimming outside Suwanacoochee Spring
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Movie: Its freezing! Suwanacoochee Spring on Withlacoochee River (3.8M)
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Video.

Inside wall, Suwanacoochee Spring
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Suwanacoochee Spring
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Boiling out from Suwanacoochee Spring
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Traffic at Suwannee SP Boat Ramp 30.3876629, -83.1685181

Traffic at Suwannee SP Boat Ramp
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Here’s a video playlist:

Pictures and videos from Alapaha Rise, Sabal Trail pipeline, Five Holes, and Alapaha and Withlacoochee Confluences on the Suwannee River 2015-08-15

Video by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS),
Lowndes County, Georgia, .

-jsq

Short Link:

WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

A healthy watershed with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water.