Video: WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman on Charlie Walker Radio 2019-03-13

In eight minutes she talked about the BIG Little River Paddle Race, the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, on the air with Charlie Walker, KIX 99.5 Country Radio, plus Paddle Georgia, and all the other events and outings.

BIG Little River Paddle Race

“That’s our signature event,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman, about the Seventh Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race.

On the Air, Gretchen Quarterman

It’s our seventh year. It’s at Reed Bingham [State Park]. We paddle from the Red Roberts Landing, which is the landing right above the park, and paddle down to the lake. It’s a three-mile paddle, and the first place finisher wins a hundred dollars.

Our last year first place winner was from [the Atlantic coast of] Florida. Previously, our first place winner had always been someone from the watershed. So this was the first time we had somebody from away come and win.

It’s a great family event. We have all different kinds of categories. So you can be a single kayak man or woman, a tandem kayak man or woman, two women, two men, a canoe, a family. We’ve had families: dads with some kids; mom and dad and some kids. It’s a super family event.

And then we have a little silent auction and a free lunch after. It’s $20 to register before April First, and $30 after April First. So get your registration in.

It’s Saturday, April the 27th. Registration is either online, you can buy tickets online, or you can buy them the day of the event. We prefer that you buy them ahead.

Here’s the video:


Video: WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman on Charlie Walker Radio 2019-03-13
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Or “you can write a song about it,” she said, referring to the Second Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

Our second annual songwriting contest is coming up in August. Last year we had quite a lot of entriers, and the top six played at The Salty Snapper [in Valdosta, GA]. We’ll be at the Salty Snapper again. It’s live music; live original songs. And you can go to our website, wwals.net, to find information about how you can submit your song. [Submissions open April 1, 2019.]

There’s top prizes for that. There are prizes for inside the watershed, so if you’re from inside the Suwannee Basin, you can win a prize, and if you’re from outside the Suwannee Basin, you can win a prize. And then there’s a grand prize winner for that, too.

First Prize is $300, plus prizes for each musical genre, and this year also a youth prize for finalists younger than 18 years.

Paddle Georgia

She did not forget Paddle Georgia, seven days on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers, June 16-21, 2019. With thanks to The Langdale Company for access to take out at Spook Bridge.

All over the place

She continued by talking about the 10,000 square mile Suwannee River Basin, from Cordele, GA, to Cedar Key, FL, to Fargo, GA.

Plus all the festivals we attend and WWALS outings. For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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