We cut a deadfall in the Withlacoochee River just below Wetherington Branch, below Valdosta’s treated outfall from its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant. We found Okapilco Creek, cut a few deadfalls in there, and collected some trash on the creek and from the river. Including two blue barrels labeled Black Tea Extract that apparently had been used to support somebody’s dock.
We don’t see how Okapilco Creek is currently navigable up to US 84, according to GA HB 1397, a bill that did not pass the Georgia legislature this year. We had to cut some deadfalls even to get up to the mouth of Piscola Creek. Later we will motor up from Knights Ferry Boat Ramp to clear more deadfalls and trash from Okapilco Creek, and soon it will be navigable.
Both of those creeks drain Quitman, and Okapilco Creek comes down from Moultrie and above.
Black tea blue drums, Okapilco Creek trashjam, deadfalls, rapids, two jon boats 2024-07-27
We went 19.5 river miles from Troupville Boat Ramp to Knights Ferry Boat Ramp. We decided due to the time spent on Okapilco Creek not to continue to Clyattville-Nankin Boat Ramp.
The US 84 (Quitman) Gauge read 10.15 feet (93.65 feet NAVD88) at 10 AM, and rose another quarter foot while we were on the water. That’s near the WWALS recommended too-high water level, but it was fine with these boats and motors.
Here are some video snippets:
https://youtu.be/_o7FqYMMg6E
Many thanks to Phil Royce who came by the previous day with his hoist to help swap out the 25hp outboard for the 9.9hp outboard on the WWALS jon boat. This proved especially useful in Okapilco Creek, because the 9.9hp will tilt up when it hits an obstruction, while the 25hp with its electric tilt will not.
The 9.9hp worked fine the whole time, not even using up half of its 2-gallon gas tank. The only issue was the choke linkage once again came loose during transport. It took me an embarrassingly long time to remember that happens, after which I reconnected it, and the outboard cranked. Well, it cranked when Quen yanked the cord; apparently he has the magic touch.
Phil brought his 3.3hp outboard and jon boat. That one has an internal fuel tank, which he refilled several times along the way.
Thanks to Quen Metzler for coming prepared with a net for trash. We got some from deadfalls along the Withlacoochee and more from trashjams inside Okapilco Creek, plus some floating down the river that Quen netted. Plus those 40-pound barrels labeled Black Tea Extract.
Quen also used my Ego 16-inch electric saw several times on deadfalls, while Phil used his saw.
We had the WWALS 24-inch Husquevarna gas chainsaw, but we did not encounter anything big enough to need to use it.
Thanks again to Wild Green Future for the grant that bought the Husquevarna the 84lb-thrust trolling motor we had along just in case, and both the 9.9 and 25hp outboards.
There are many more pictures below.
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations
TBR
Troupville Boat Ramp, Little River, 09:47:17, 30.8512687, -83.3473525
BBTBR
Banner at Troupville Boat Ramp –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 10:35:45
OtW
Quen Metzler and John S. Quarterman with the WWALS 9.9 hp outboard –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 10:46:54
LRVMW
Little River just above site of Valdosta, Moultrie, and Western (VMW) RR Bridge, 10:51:32, 30.8414869, -83.3531231
FFL
Movie: Flags marking fishing lines, 10:52:12, (7.0M) 30.8414869, -83.3531231
RpH
The river was pretty high –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 10:52:24
VWWTP
Movie: Outfall, Valdosta WWTP, 10:55:23, (28M) 30.8365283, -83.3588065
Treated outfall of Valdosta Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 10:55:45
WI
White Ibis, 10:58:53, 30.8398351, -83.3636512
Movie: White Ibis, 10:55:23, (10M) 30.8398351, -83.3636512
WBDF
Deadfall just below Wetherington Branch, 11:03:17, 30.8370074, -83.3648180
PDPBR
Paul Deloach Private Boat Ramp –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 11:23:16
OW
Onwards –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 11:34:25
WHCBR
Withlacoochee Hunt Club private boat ramp, 12:08:54, 30.8159726, -83.4252115
MCC
Maybe Morningstar Church Creek, 12:35:04, 30.8099953, -83.4502230
SS
Movie: Most of the trip is smooth sailing, 12:41:18, (42M) 30.7951903, -83.4527045
US84R
Movie: A bit of rapids above US 84, 12:46:03, (13M) 30.7951903, -83.4527045
STT
Movie: Sabal Trail pipeline, 12:47:06, (24M) 30.7951903, -83.4527045
US84B
US 84 Bridge, 12:48:02, 30.7943047, -83.4533861
US84
US 84 Bridge and CSX RR Bridge with USGS Gauge Buoy –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 12:48:31
US84C
US 84 Creek, 12:48:13, 30.7941701, -83.4534614
US84G
US 84 Gauge buoy, 12:48:28, 30.7938628, -83.4534518
SB
Spook Bridge, 12:50:27, 30.7916593, -83.4527703
SBPR
Spook Bridge –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 12:51:21
Under Spook Bridge, 12:51:15, 30.7902006, -83.4517211
Spook Bridge from downstream –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 12:52:15
OSBTO
Movie: Old Spook Bridge take-out for Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, 12:51:19, (57M) 30.7902006, -83.4517211
DrB
Docks on right bank in Brooks County, 12:57:15, 30.7841211, -83.4592635
BIsland
Movie: Belue Island; if you camp on a place like this, watch the weather and water levels, 13:01:39, (45M) 30.7792818, -83.4590333
Belue Island, 13:01:14, 30.7792818, -83.4590333
Roots, 13:01:15, 30.7792818, -83.4590333
Movie: Belue Island, about a third of an acre, 13:01:21, (37M) 30.7792818, -83.4590333
BBarrel
Movie: Blue barrel with black tea extract in a blackwater tea-colored river, 13:12:58, (34M) 30.7686870, -83.4554620
SFHC
Spain Ferry Hunt Club private access, 13:16:12, 30.7645908, -83.4589214
OC
In Okapilco Creek, 14:07:13, 30.7558794, -83.4899862
OC
Okapilco Creek –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 14:08:55
PC
Piscola Creek Confluence –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 14:09:44
TiOC
Trashjam in Okapilco Creek just above Piscola Creek, 14:11:31, 30.7570720, -83.4919100
Quen netting trash in Okapilco Creek, 14:11:39, 30.7570720, -83.4919100
Movie: Plastic and glass bottles in Okapilco Creek just above Piscola Creek, 14:11:44, (14M) 30.7570720, -83.4919100
TB
Turned back here; come back another time, 14:31:24, 30.7585452, -83.4931200
BD
Blue Drum in Okapilco Creek at turnaround –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 14:31:35
MOC
Movie: Lightning struck this tree at mouth of Okapilco Creek, 14:53:17, (24M) 30.7585452, -83.4931200
SnoP
Strainers not obstructing passage, 15:07:21, 30.7347337, -83.4710726
ABB
Another blue barrel, 15:13:34, 30.7322178, -83.4681780
This one leaks, 15:15:45, 30.7322217, -83.4681743
Movie: More black tea, this one leaking over the side, 15:15:53, (23M) 30.7322217, -83.4681743
Let it leak over the side, 15:16:17, 30.7321496, -83.4681489
BotR
Back on the Withlacoochee River –Phil Royce, 2024:07:27 15:27:03
EJLPL
Edward Jennings LLC Private Landing, 15:29:37, 30.7151000, -83.4612630
MSC
Mid-stream cypress above Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, 15:31:36, 30.7135509, -83.4581834
PRTO
Phil Royce taking out his boat, 15:40:27, 30.7122761, -83.4553395
BB2
Two barrels and a bag of trash at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, 15:42:35, 30.7124055, -83.4554963
Movie: Two barrels, black tea extract, and a bag of trash, Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, 15:42:39, (24M) 30.7124055, -83.4554963
RCB
Phil found a rubber cannonball in Okapilco Creek, 15:44:22, 30.7123825, -83.4554093
BDL
Black Tea Extract 18kg/Drum, 15:46:08, 30.7122580, -83.4553986
TBR2
Leaky blue drum at Troupville Boat Ramp, 16:24:46, 30.8511965, -83.3470783
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
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