Daily Archives: August 6, 2021

Clean up and down: Withlacoochee, Little, Alapaha Rivers 2021-08-05

Update 2021-08-13: Red US 41, clean downstream 2021-08-12.

All clear for tomorrow’s paddle from Nankin to State Line Boat Ramp, with continuation to Sullivan Launch, on the Withlacoochee River. As always, conditions could change, but all the WWALS water quality tests for Thursday are good at 11 sites on three rivers, including at Nankin and State Line Boat Ramps.

[Chart, Little, Alapaha, Withlacoochee Rivers, Swim Guide]
Chart, Little, Alapaha, Withlacoochee Rivers, Swim Guide

Madison Health did get a too-high E. coli result for Tuesday at State Line. Although that was higher than the 410 cfu/100 mL one-time test limit, it was still below the 1,000 alert limit. The WWALS test at the same location and upstream for Thursday, and the WWALS test downstream at Cleary Bluff for Wednesday, all were much cleaner.

Valdosta’s Friday and Monday test results were also clean upstream and downstream all the way to the GA-FL line.

So I would guess that one Madison Health result was due to the rains in Brooks County Monday; more than half an inch on the US 84 Withlacoochee gauge. Probably they washed something down Okapilco Creek. There are no reports of sewage spills in the past week.

We did have a similar rain in the same place yesterday, but if that washed anything into the river, it should be gone downstream by tomorrow. So just don’t drink the river water and you should be OK. Continue reading →

Nankin to State Line and Sullivan Launch, Withlacoochee River, 2021-08-07

Update 2021-08-08: Four miles an hour, Nankin to Sullivan, Withlacoochee River 2021-08-07.

Now with optional continuation downstream to Sullivan Launch!

Current water levels on this route will allow us to reach the original State Line take out 1.5 hour earlier than normal conditions finishing in 3 hours. So we are offering a continuation to Sullivan Launch. Continuing to Sullivan will add 5 miles to the paddle but due to river flow, but will be completed in the original 4.5hr paddle. We will keep the original outing as is but we will extend the paddle to Sullivan Launch for those who want to. Please reply on the meetup, facebook event, or this blog post if you want to paddle on to Sullivan.

For those continuing to Sullivan Launch, the shuttle will leave Nankin promptly at 9 AM. Please make sure you’re unloaded and ready to shuttle before 9 AM, those doing the original take out at the State Line will leave 15 minutes later. The paddle will still start at 10 AM, so you won’t miss anything.

Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, WWALS will be enforcing masks on team shuttle whether vaccinated or not. All attendees are encouraged to set up your own shuttles for added safety.

WWALS water quality test results are coming in for Thursday. So far they are looking good.

Wonder why everybody calls State Line Boat Ramp Mozell Spells? Because of Mozell Spell’s Sea Foods, which used to be there. Here is some history of the area near the state line,

[Mozell's Place Post Card]
Mozell’s Place Post Card

Join us on a leisurely Paddle down the Withlacoochee River southwest of Valdosta and Clyattville, dipping into Florida twice. We will visit two second-magnitude springs, of only six in Georgia. We will see the ruins of an old railroad trestle just before State Line Shoals. Continue reading →