Category Archives: Blueway

Videos: Gretchen Quarterman about Songwriting Contest on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-06-18

Steve Nichols said on the radio yesterday morning:

“It sounds like a wonderful time, to sit there in a great atmosphere, and listen to some good, original music.”

That’s the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest coming up 1-5PM, this Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Salty Snapper, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.

“Finalists will play, and will be judged. The prizes will be awarded, and of course the acknowledgment of the sponsors.”

Plus a buffet of snacks prepared by the Salty Snapper, including some vegetarian, all for $10 in advance online, and there will be a silent auction and kayak raffle tickets.

Gretchen Quarterman was on the radio with Steve Nichols, WVGA 105.9FM (I was scheduled, but the flu said otherwise; I’m better now).

Gretchen said you don’t need to write a song, just come listen to the finals this Saturday afternoon, with judges

  • Cindy Bear from Jacksonville,
  • Dan Crews from Live Oak, and
  • J.J. Rolle from Valdosta

Plus the Outings Committee has organized a paddle 9AM Saturday morning from Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Landing, just across the railroad tracks from the Salty Snapper, so you can paddle to the songwriting contest. Steve Nichols remarked:

“As a kid, I used to go down that stretch of the river with my friends. When I say as a kid, I was in high school in the early eighties. It would be fun for me to do that trip as a nostalgic trip, and going back and look at that beautiful stretch of river right there.”

Gretchen said the water is high so probably there will be no dragging, and the river is different every time.

Gretchen also showed Steve copies of the metal signs WWALS Outings Chair Phil Hubbard made and planted at Troupville Boat Ramp. She said those would be at all the landings on the Alapaha Water Trail (ARWT) and the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT) as we raise money to put them there.

She showed the metal Sheboggy Boat Ramp signs Phil made to sell so people maybe won’t keep stealing them off the GDOT signposts for their man cave or woman cave.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:


Videos: Gretchen Quarterman about Songwriting Contest on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-06-18
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

I’ll be on the radio Friday morning; stay tuned for a post about that.

For more WWALS outings and events, see the WWALS Calendar or the Outings and Events list.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-06-19

Tomorrow morning, 8:30AM, Tuesday, June 19, 2018, I’ll be on the radio with Steve Nichols, 105.9FM, talking about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest coming up 1-5PM, this Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Salty Snapper, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602. When Gretchen was on his show last month, he said he wanted to hear more, so tomorrow morning it is.

Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Cedar Key, 2018-06-23, Interview

Plus WWALS advocacy, and upcoming paddle outings: Continue reading

Video: Gretchen Quarterman on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-05-29

Coming up tomorrow, Thursday, May 31st: it’s the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta. WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman noted you can still buy tickets online or at the door.

Radio host Steve Nichols yesterday first wanted to know about the the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the Salty Snapper in Valdosta, GA, June 23, 2018.

They also talked about Continue reading

WWALS Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Steve Nichols drive-time radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-05-29

Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 29, 2018) morning at 8:30 AM WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman will be on the air with Steve Nichols talking about:

Banner, Gretchen, Stills

Plus WWALS advocacy, and upcoming paddle outings: Continue reading

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

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

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

Pafford’s Landing, Alapaha River Water Trail 2018-04-26

Looks like plenty of water at Pafford’s Landing to do another leg of the 2018 Alapaha Quest.

Upstream, Sandbar

Upstream, Sandbar

The Statenville Gauge showed Continue reading

Berrien County about ARWT Landings

WWALS would like to thank the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and staff for years of cooperation about the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT) and the many landings on it in Berrien County, as well as the one landing in Berrien County on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Here is a letter from September 2016 granting WWALS permission to put signs on county property at all the water trail landings it names, and a Commission vote to change two access points from having Landing in their name to be called instead Sheboggy Boat Ramp and Berrien Beach Boat Ramp.

Letter from Berrien County 2016-09-14

Permission to put signs at all landings, Letter

Thanks to Continue reading