Author Archives: jsq

Naylor Boat Ramp 2018-05-16

The actual boat ramp hasn’t been built yet. Lowndes County Engineering says they’re waiting for the Alapaha River level to go down again.

Location, 2018:05:16 11:14:55,, Boat Ramp Entrance

Right now it’s a straight drop.

Straight to the drop, 2018:05:16 11:20:49,, Boat Ramp Entrance 30.9257700, -83.0394900
Straight to the drop, 2018:05:16 11:20:49,, Boat Ramp Entrance 30.9257700, -83.0394900

Once the county finishes this project, they will hand over to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority (VLPRA), which has said it will probably build a kiosk there. Lowndes County Public Works will make and plant road signs on US 84 pointing at the Naylor Boat Ramp. Then it will be good to go on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). You can still help to pay for the rest of the ARWT road signs.

Meanwhile, you can drive or walk in to see Continue reading →

Dragging 235 lbs Uphill Both Ways @ Wild & Scenic Film Fest 2018-05-31

See how one mom engages her children in outdoor activities in “Dragging 235 lbs uphill both ways”.

The next generation is becoming increasingly plugged in to electronics and out of touch with the outdoors. This will have enormous effects on future conservationism. A mother of four kids decides to turn off the screens and make a change. Though challenging, her kids go from fearing and ignoring nature to understanding and loving it.

This short film will be one of many shown at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival:

Tickets: Eventbrite

Trail, Outside

Date and Time: Continue reading →

Rain and Levels, Withlacoochee River, US 41 Gauge, Valdosta 2010-2018

The rainiest season in south Georgia and north Florida is the summer, yet that’s when rivers are usually the lowest. Here are seven years of data from the USGS Withlacoochee River Gauge at US 41 (North Valdosta Road) in Valdosta, Georgia. Rain is pretty steady through the year (except when there’s no rain), yet the river level varies wildly, highest in the winter, usually. Unless there are hurricanes in the fall, as happened in 2017 and 2016.

2010-2018, Rain Years
Rain Years 2010-2018

2010-2018, Level Years
Level Years 2010-2018

Why does this happen? Continue reading →

Jennings Bluff Spring 2018-05-14

WWALS member Elizabeth Reynolds recently discovered one of our favorite spots, Jennings Bluff Spring, below Jennings Bluff Cemetery on the Alapaha River Water Trail. We’ve been there on several Dead River Sink hikes, and she also went back and this time sent some pictures, posted below with permission.

Pipe, Spring

Pipe, Spring

Continue reading →

Deadline extended to June 1, 2018 for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

We got more submissions, but we want more, so we’ve extended the deadline!

New Deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018

[Short]

What: You can submit a song in any musical genre or style, as long as it is about one or more of our rivers, creeks, springs, sinks, swamps, ponds, etc. in the Suwannee River Basin.

Prizes: $300 First Prize, $50 winner from within the Suwannee River Basin, $50 winner from elsewhere, and one winner in each musical genre. Finalists must be present to win.

More: Follow this link for all the details.

[Long]
Long

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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

Deadline today for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2018-05-13

Update May 15, 2018: Deadline extended to Friday, June 1, 2018!

Calling all songwriters: today’s the deadline to submit for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. There is no age limit; songwriters so far range from 14 to 64.

Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest WWALS, Logo

You can submit in any musical genre, so the committee can select seven finalists, and the judges can pick multiple winners.

Submit your song: entry form

Deadline: Continue reading →

Wanted: Missing Sheboggy Signs

If returned, no questions asked.

Don’t wait for the Sheriff to find them.

Right, Missing

You don’t have to steal them: WWALS will sell you a similar smaller metal sign. Those will be $20 each, available by the end of May 2018, and we’ll have an online order form.

Sheboggy Boat Ramp, Berrien County, Sign
Born, April 25, 2018.

Continue reading →

National Wetlands Inventory

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provides data on wetlands throughout the country, plus a mapper, from which I’ve pulled these stills of the Suwannee River Basin.

Wide, Basin

I used a topo map as background.

Phosphate Mines

One that already exists, and where another one wants to be.

PCS, Hamilton Co., FL, Phosphate mine

All those straight lines don’t look natural, because Continue reading →

Jay Jourden sends song to Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2018-05-07

Update May 15, 2018: Deadline extended to Friday, June 1, 2018!

Jay Jourden says we can say he submitted a song, and you can, too!

ReverbNation Jay “Blue Jay” Jourden, Jacksonville Beach, FL,

Jay “Blue Jay” Jourden Singer/Songwriter/Performer/Activist Producer/Writer/Actor/Film & Video Toronto Pictures/Global Film Studios BMI, a world renowned producer and musical/vocal artist as well as an accomplished concert promoter/performer having worked on and help organize major concerts for The American Indian Movement AIM, Wounded Knee & The Longest Walk, The No Nukes Concert Series, Disaster Relief 96′, The 40th Anniversary of Woodstock 1969-2009 “West Fest”, and many, many, more, is currently signed with Toronto Pictures, a socially active, major international film company, under internationally acclaimed director Bruno Pischiutta and producer Daria Trifu, Toronto Pictures is currently in pre-production of several films in Romania and other parts of the world, addressing important socially significant issues, affecting changes in global thinking, all done without the “Hollywood Standard” gratuitous sex and violence “norm”.

Jay Jourden

We don’t announce which song someone may have submitted, but Continue reading →