Why would you volunteer with WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS)? How can you help the Suwannee Riverkeeper keep the waters clean in the 10,000 square miles of the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida?

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Volunteering isn’t just about giving your time. It’s about making a meaningful impact on your local environment. WWALS is dedicated to preserving the waters of the Suwannee River Basin, advocating for clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water. See wwals.net

By stepping up as a volunteer, you become part of this collective effort: be it paddling an outreach event, testing water quality, writing a grant, or promoting awareness. You’re helping safeguard our local rivers, aquifers, and wetlands — a cause that aligns well with your love for kayaking, chasing waterfalls and sunsets.

How to Get Involved

WWALS offers a variety of committees that handle many of the organization’s activities. These committees are the heart of volunteering and most are open to non-board members.

Here’s how you can get started:

1. Explore the committee list
   Go to wwals.net and in the menu select About and then Committees.

   https://wwals.net/about/committees/

   There you will find committees including Events, Outings, Science, Water Trails, Grant Writing, Membership, PR, Watershed Issues, and more.

   Choose one that matches your interests or skill set. For example:

   
   Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2025-07-05

   • Outings Committee: Plan and lead paddles, hikes, river cleanups, including chainsaw cleanups.
   • Testing Committee: Help with water quality monitoring.

     
     A class of WWALS water quality testing trainees

   • Science Committee: Help analyze test results, find scientific papers on relevant topics, and advise on drafting WWALS letters to government agencies.
   • Grant Writing Committee: Use writing or research skills to support funding efforts.
   • Gala Committee: Help organize the annual big fundraiser, WWALS River Revue, with the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
   • Membership Committee: Grow membership, record new members, send them thank-you notes and reminders when their 12 months are up.
   • Public Relations (PR) Committee: draft press releases, share on social media, etc.
   • Watershed Issues Committe: WWALS is an advocacy organization; see https://wwals.net/issues/.

     Issues range from trash cleanups to trash traps to lobbying to ban distribution of single-use throw-away trash and for permanent fixes to sewage spills.

     We oppose PFAS forever chemicals, damaging corporate agriculture, natural gas piepelines, fracking, and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) export, coal ash, and various forms of strip mining.

     We support Rights To Clean Water, water quality testing, water trails, and solar power where it does not damage wooded wetlands or farmland.

     Some advocacy can only be done by the WWALS Board or the Suwannee Riverkeeper, which is a project and a staff member who is the spokesperson for the watershed. But there is always room for volunteers to help with that.

   
   Georgia Senate Study Committee on Tourism 2025-10-15

2. Fill out the volunteer application form; each committee page includes a link to that form.
   https://forms.gle/YofiUxQAmHz42NgC6

   Submit the form with your contact details, availability, and any relevant skills or interests.

   Usually somebody will run your application by the committee. Then a board member will make a motion for the WWALS Board to add you to the committee. If that passes, you’re on.

3. Attend an initial meeting or orientation
   Once selected, you’ll likely be invited to a committee meeting. Most committees meet via email using a committee googlegruop. Some use zoom. Few meet in person.

   This is a chance to learn your role, meet other volunteers, and dive into upcoming actions.

4. Commit to an activity you enjoy
   Volunteering should be rewarding, not burdensome. Pick something you’re passionate about. Maybe you love being outdoors (Outings) or enjoy data and science (Water Quality).

   Set a realistic time commitment so you can sustain it.

5. Stay engaged and grow
   Most committees post online about their activities. Please share those on social media.

   After your first few activities, you may be invited to take on greater responsibility, lead an event, or even chair a committee, or eventual join the Board of Directors.

Volunteer Benefits: What You Gain

• Connection: You’ll meet like-minded people who care about rivers, nature, and the South Georgia and north Florida region.
• Skills: Real-world experience in planning events, scientific monitoring, grant writing, communications.
• Impact: You’ll be helping protect ecosystems and public waterways in your region (which aligns beautifully with your kayaking and nature-loving background).
• Personal satisfaction: There’s something deeply rewarding about giving back to the watershed where you paddle and explore.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There’s a FAQ online here:
https://wwals.net/about/faqs/

Here are a few more questions and answers.

Q: Do I have to join the board to volunteer?

A: No — most committees are open to members who aren’t board-members. wwals.net

Q: How much time will volunteering take?

A: It varies. Some committees meet “as needed.” The key is to commit to what you can maintain comfortably. wwals.net

Q: Where do I start if I’m new to WWALS?

A: Pick a committee that resonates with you → fill out the application → attend a meeting → participate in your first task.

Q: I’m located in Live Oak, FL, or Valdosta, GA, or San Francisco, CA. Is this relevant?

A: Sure. WWALS works across the Suwannee River Basin including your region. Your local knowledge and passion will be a strong asset. We also have members thousands of miles from here, who help with social media and fundraising.

For more information

Your primary source is the WWALS website:
wwals.net

We’re also on many social media:

• Facebook Page
• Instagram
• Meetup
• YouTube

Thanks to Janet Martin for writing much of the above.

 -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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