Category Archives: Blueway

Pictures: WWALS on The Rocks between Lakeland and Hotchkiss, Alapaha River 2015-07-11

Update 2023-06-24: Work in progress at Lakeland Boat Ramp 2023-06-20.

A good trip for experienced adult paddlers: deadfalls to paddle around or climb over, the famous rapids, The Rocks, plenty of sandy beaches for lunching or swimming beside, a mysterious platform that may be the remains of a very narrow bridge, all in a fine summer day on the Alapaha River, July 11, 2015.

[Collage, Lakeland to Naylor 08:30:00, 31.0458222, -83.0433889]
Collage, Lakeland to Naylor 08:30:00, 31.0458222, -83.0433889

It took us seven hours to paddle the fourteen river miles from Lakeland Boat Ramp, on GA 122 east of Lakeland, to Hotchkiss Road Landing. We were all experienced paddlers with plenty of supplies, especially water.

If you are a family with small children, please do not try this: it’s too far. There have been cases of such families calling 911 and having to be rescued.

A much more reasonable family paddle is Lakeland to Burnt Church Landing. That’s about two miles, and can be done in an hour. Or make it a leisurely paddle and still it should be doable.

FYI, Paffords Landing, just downstream from Lakeland Boat Ramp, is closed for the forseeable future. This is because too many people left trash and shot up things.

All these distances are in the WWALS web page for the Continue reading

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon –jsq 2023-06-03

Update June 15, 2024: Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle 2024-06-21.

Thunder and lightning made quite a display to the south, but never came over Banks Lake, while we paddled out to see the sun set, the bats fly, and the moon rise over the cypress trees.

Plus we saw Mars and Venus.

[Banner, boats, storm, bats, Venus, Mars]
Banner, boats, storm, bats, Venus, Mars

Thanks to Gee Edwards for leading this Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon paddle for WWALS, Saturday, June 3, 2023. Thanks to everyone who paddled, and to Banks Lake Outdoors and the Lanier County Commission for providing boats.

There are more pictures below.

See also facebook photosets by Continue reading

Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle 2023-06-03

Update 2023-06-09: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon –jsq 2023-06-03.

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, with bats!

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:28 PM, sunset 8:32 PM, end 9:30 PM, Saturday, June 3, 2023

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Photos: John S. Quarterman, Paula Williams, 2022-06-14]
Photos: John S. Quarterman, Paula Williams, 2022-06-14

Continue reading

Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, 2023-05-05

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, probably with bats.

When: Gather 7:15 PM, launch 7:45 PM, moonrise 8:30 PM, sunset 8:14 PM, end 9:30 PM, Friday, May 5, 2023

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Happy paddlers]
Happy paddlers, 2021-05-26.

Continue reading

Infected fish caught on the Alapaha River, Berrien County, Georgia 2023-04-19

Where to report:
https://wwals.net/report/

Update 2023-04-27: Name of the fisherman and the original poster, with link.

These fish pictures are getting shared around, and keep getting sent to Suwannee Riverkeeper. Here’s what the fish disease might be. If you see a fish like this, please stick it on ice and get it biopsied so you can know. Call us, so we can know, and we can help you find a lab.

I have provided some eye bleach for after you look at this picture.

[Infected fish 2023-04-19]
Infected fish 2023-04-19

The fish was caught in the Alapaha River in Berrien County, Georgia.

I’ve heard at least five theories for what is the problem with this fish, from most likely to least: Continue reading

Join us today for The Amazing Give, 8:00AM-8:00PM 2023-04-20

Ahead of #earthday2023, we’re participating in “The Amazing Give.” It’s a 12-hour window for a day of giving on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, 8AM-8PM.

[People of WWALS, The Amazing Give, What you support]
People of WWALS, The Amazing Give, What you support

Please contribute to this great cause and keep the 10,000 square mile Suwannee basin clean, swimmable, fishable, and drinkable!
https://www.theamazinggive.org/organizations/wwals-watershed-coalition

 -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/

Videos: US 84 to Mayday, Alapaha River 2016-05-07

Here are some previously-unpublished videos of a string of rapids on the Alapaha River between US 84 and Mayday.

[River Bend Rapids, Overhanging branch dunk, Cow Shoals, Cow Creek, Fallers Award at Mayday, Alapaha River, 7 May 2016]
River Bend Rapids, Overhanging branch dunk, Cow Shoals, Cow Creek, Fallers Award at Mayday, Alapaha River, 7 May 2016

They include Continue reading

Naylor Beach and Boat Ramp in Swim Guide 2023-04-18

Update 2023-04-21: Clean WIthlacoochee River 2023-04-20.

Now that Kimberly Tanner is testing weekly at Naylor Park Beach, we’ve added it to Swim Guide.

[Sites and Swim Guide Map 2023-04-18]
Sites and Swim Guide Map 2023-04-18

Since Naylor Boat Ramp is only 300 feet upstream on the Alapaha River, we’ve add it to Swim Guide with the same testing results.

They are both in Naylor Park, which is owned by Lowndes County, Georgia, and operated by Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreational Authority (VLPRA). Continue reading

Pictures: Bats, Venus, Jupiter, Banks Lake Full Worm Moon 2023-03-07

Sun, moon, bats, and planets, on a balmy night, last full moon at Banks Lake.

Come on out tonight at 6:45 PM and see for yourself!

[Sunset, Bats, Planets, Moonrise @ Banks Lake 2023-03-07]
Sunset, Bats, Planets, Moonrise @ Banks Lake 2023-03-07

Continue reading

Futchs Ferry Landing, Withlacoochee River 2023-03-21

Here’s one of the least known landings on the Withlacoochee River: Futchs Ferry Landing.

It’s in Berrien County, Georgia, southwest of Ray City, on Futchs Ferry Road, which becomes Old Coffee Road on the Cook County side of the river.. It’s downstream from Youngs Mill Creek Landing (2.37 miles) and upstream from Hagan Bridge Landing (10.58 miles), on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

[Entrance, Withlacoochee River: Futchs Ferry Landing 2023-03-21]
Entrance, Withlacoochee River: Futchs Ferry Landing 2023-03-21

Entrance

That first step, sharp right off the graveled area, is a bit rough.

Do not go through the gate: that’s posted private property. Continue reading