Update 2015-05-17: Upcoming events.
Memorial Day Monday, Gwyneth Moody of Georgia River Network will be down from Athens to see some sights on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). You are invited to boat among the birds at 9AM on Lake Lewis with WWALS and Gwyneth, to discuss the ARWT over lunch at Puerta vel Sol in Nashville, GA, and then to paddle upstream on the Alapaha River from Berrien Beach at GA 168. Continue reading
WWALS will be among five organizations discussing environmental issues a the monthly Lowndes County Democratic Party (LCDP) meeting 6PM Monday June 1st 2015, at the Lowndes County Board of Elections, 2808 North Oak Street, Valdosta, GA.
Stopping Valdosta wastewater spills and restarting the Alapaha River Water Trail
are among the topics WWALS President John S. Quarterman plans to mention.
Solar power, the Sabal Trail pipeline, and fossil fuel divestment
will also come up.
Anyone can speak from the audience, so please come and join the discussion.
Other panelists, topics, and details in the LCDP post. Please join the facebook event.
-jsq
What do you think of the
April 26th 2015 draft map of the
Alapaha River Water Trail?
How about the table of access points?
And water levels? What do you think is too high or too low on each gauge for paddling?
Here’s your chance to help tune the materials before WWALS goes to press in the next week or two with maps, brochures, and cards for the Alapaha River Water Trail.
-jsq
Update 2015-07-27: Pictures and new pipeline information at this link.
After the
Alapaha River sinks into the Florida Aquifer, some of it comes back up
at the
Alapaha Rise,
which actually flows into the Suwannee River, a bit upstream from the
Alapaha Confluence.
Come with WWALS to the Alapaha Rise, then down the Suwannee River
past the Confluences of both the Alapaha and the Withlacoochee Rivers,
seeing the proposed site of the Sabal Trail Pipeline on the way.
This is a pretty easy outing, but the Suwannee is deep,
so as always bring your personal flotation
device.
If you need a boat, let us know, and we can find you one.
| When: | 8AM Saturday, August 15th, 2015 |
|---|---|
| What: | 8 mile paddle from Gibson Park to Suwannee River State Park, with a side trip upstream first to the Alapaha Rise, then downstream past the Alapaha-Suwannee confluence, the proposed Sabal Trail Pipeline crossing, and ending at the Withlacoochee confluence, taking out at Suwannee River State Park. |
| Duration: | 4 hours, after a 30 minute shuttle. |
| Directions: | Florida Highway 6 in Hamilton County, Florida, west to CR751 South to park just before the river. |
| Responsible party: | Chris Mericle |
This event is FREE! All we ask is that you are a current member of WWALS Watershed Coalition. If not, it’s easy to join online today at /donations/. You do not have to be a member to come on this outing. If you like the experience, we recommend that you join to support the efforts of WWALS. Continue reading
Expedition leader Bret Wagenhorst’s always-excellent pictures of the
18 April 2015 WWALS Outing
on the
Alapaha River Water Trail.
And don’t forget coming up May 16th theThird annual BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park on the Little River. Continue reading
Update 10 July 2015: Outing leader Chris Graham says there’s plenty of water, so we’ll be putting in on the Alapaha River tomorrow morning at Lanier Park. However, he says we’ll be taking out at Hotchkiss Road (instead of CSX RR), so about 14 miles or seven hours. Bring your lunch and plenty of water. See you at 8AM. -jsq
Breeze over mild rapids past sand beaches on the Alapaha River,
from Lakeland to US 84.
It’s long, but there should be no deadfalls. In most places the river may be so low you could stand up, but as always bring your personal flotation device.
| When: | 8AM Saturday, July 11th, 2015 |
|---|---|
| What: | 15 mile paddle from Lanier Park to CSX RR track on the public right way. |
| Duration: | 7-8 hours, after a 30 minute shuttle |
| Directions: | Highway 122 about 1.5 miles west of Lakeland, GA, turn south on unmarked dirt road just west of river to ramp. |
| Responsible party: | Chris Graham |
This event is FREE! All we ask is that you are a current member of WWALS Watershed Coalition. If not, it’s easy Continue reading
Update 2015-06-10: Expedition leader Chris Mericle writes:
I am pleased to report that the Alapaha River water level has increased since my last report (May 31). The Statenville gauge reports an increase of .9′ The Jennings gauage reports an increase of .8′. There should be plenty of water in the river for this weekend’s outing.
Float down the Alapaha River for a couple of hours, then walk to the Dead River Sink, where it disappears into the Floridan Aquifer. facebook event.
This is a pretty easy outing, but as always Continue reading
Update from expedition leader Bret Wagenhorst:
The current weather forecast for Saturday in Alapaha, GA is cloudy with 20% chance of thunderstorms. The water level on the Alapaha River at the Alapaha gauge
is 9.4 ft and appears to be plateauing. [The river has already been going down for a couple of days upstream at the Irwinville gauge. -jsq] Unless there are heavy rains in or north of Alapaha Friday, we should be able to proceed with our planned outing.
It should be a fast trip with the water this high, and with fast, high water comes increased risk, so this is probably not a great outing for a beginner.
Know that the put in is actually Continue reading
Update 2015-04-17: Water’s high, but looks like the outing is on.
Paddle downstream on the Alapaha River past the Willacoochee River
and the city of Willacoochee,
among ancient cypress, pines, turtles, fish, and birds.
This is a long one, so come prepared:
water, snacks, and as always personal flotation devices.
It’s also remote and possibly difficult with deadfalls,
so please be able to swim or at least float.
If you need a boat, please contact wwalswatershed@gmail.com.
Facebook event.
| When: | 8AM April 18th 2015 |
|---|---|
| Shuttle: | 40 min. shuttle |
| Start: | 9AM on the water |
| Duration: | approximately 4 hour paddle |
| Stop: | About 1PM |
| Where: | Rowetown Church Cemetery,
7 miles east of Alapaha, GA via Moore Sawmill Road, on Rowetown Church Road, Berrien County, GA 31.33906, -83.149789 |
This event is FREE! All we ask is that Continue reading
The local newspaper put a Hamilton County spin on the
Alapaha River Water Trail logo contest
PR, printed all three pictures, and ran it on most of full page.
Valdosta CEO also carried the PR 18 March 2015.
WWALS thanks all the logo prize donors, all the sponsors of the Alapaha River Water Trail, the teachers, and especially the student contestants.
-jsq