Join WWALS Watershed Coalition for a casual Meet and Greet at beautiful Banks Lake before our popular Full Moon Paddle! This is a great chance to meet WWALS members, chat about upcoming outings and advocacy work, and enjoy the evening air by the lake.
When: 6 PM to 9:30 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Continue readingThanks to Gee Edwards for leading this one at the last minute, after Janet had some sort of dancing injury.
Janet did not paddle. Nor did I, although I brought Honeybun, Blondie, and Sky to help out. River stayed home.
Janet and Gee are WWALS Board members.
Janet and Kim Tanner (not present) are the co-chairs of the WWALS Outings Committee.
Maybe you’d like to join that committee to help schedule outings.
https://wwals.net/about/committees/#wwals-outings
The next Full Moon paddle is Continue reading
It was harder to get to Floyd’s Island in the Okfonok back then: several weeks bushwhacking, climbing on water lily roots, through bamboo briars (palmettos) and mosquitoes, on trails made by bears and wildcats.
The author’s tree-cutting camping method would not be allowed in the swamp these days, and his attitude towards native Americans was a product of his times. So was his urge to drain and “root” the swamp to turn it to “valuable account.”
![[The Okefenokee: C.R. Pendleton on The Trembling Earth, The Times, Valdosta, Ga. 1890-02-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/1890-02-08--okefenokee-pendleton/many.jpg)
The Okefenokee: C.R. Pendleton on The Trembling Earth, The Times, Valdosta, Ga. 1890-02-08
The Times., VALDOSTA GA., FEB. 8, 1890, THE OKEFENOKEE: CHARLES R. PENDLETON ON “THE TREMBLING EARTH.”
Explanation of the Unknown Land of Georgia—The Constitution’s Hunting Party—Incidents Connected With the Swamp.
From the Atlanta Constitution,
VALDOSTA GA., Feb, 1.—I have been watching with a great deal of interest the discussion in regard to the sale of the Okefenokee Swamp. I have followed, step by step, all the developments in the case. The mistaken opinions of so many people, especially in middle and north Georgia, about this swamp surprises me more than anything else. Those who have written and spoken most seem to know least about it.
EARLY DAYS IN THE SWAMP.
A half dozen years of my boyhood were spent within an hour’s ride of the swamp, and I have sat by the hour and listened to the tales Continue reading
Janet Martin led the evening paddle Monday, and wrote:
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s Full Moon Paddle at Bank’s Lake! We had 9 participants in 6 boats, including two wonderful ladies who drove all the way from Tallahassee to join us!
A special shout-out to Kim Tanner for bringing the banner and capturing the moment with a great group picture!
![[Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-12, Lakeland, GA, Alapaha River Water Trail]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-05-12--full-flower-moon-paddle-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-12, Lakeland, GA, Alapaha River Water TrailThe weather was absolutely perfect, and the sunset was nothing short of breathtaking. Huge thanks to Janet for leading and Pam for being our fantastic sweep for the night, ensuring everyone stayed safe and together.
And we are excited to welcome Nina as our newest member! Let’s give her a warm WWALS welcome!
Did you know? Continue reading
It was perfect weather to see the sun set and the moon rise.
One person flew a thousand miles to paddle on Banks Lake at the Full Worm Moon.
Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for organizing this one.
![[Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, 2025-03-14]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-14--banks-lake-full-worm-moon-paddle-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, 2025-03-14
Join us tomorrow for
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-05-12.
https://wwals.net/?p=67005
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see Continue reading
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:52 PM, sunset 8:20 PM, end 9:30 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Saturday, August 9, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-09--full-sturgeon-moon-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Saturday, August 9, 2025
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Buck Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 7:45 PM, launch 8:15 PM, moonrise 8:59 PM, sunset 8:39 PM, end 9:45 PM, Thursday, July 10, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Thursday, July 10, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-10--full-buck-moon-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Thursday, July 10, 2025
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Strawberry Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 9:25 PM, sunset 8:36 PM, end 10 PM, Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-06-11--full-strawberry-moon-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Several people informed me yesterday that they were alarmed to discover there is a meeting today at the Bradford County, FL, Sheriff’s Office about flooding.
Turns out it’s at the Sheriff’s Office because that’s where this long-running committee has been meeting. It works on flooding and wildfire issues.
According to the agenda, Paul Still already has them talking about Sampson River Blockages and Radium and Chemours Discharges, which were the two big topics people were concerned about. The Sampson River blockages would seem to include the so-called three-pipes dam gates under CR 225 on the Sampson River just downstream from Lake Sampson. These gates were another concern I heard: people wish SRWMD would use them to lower Lake Sampson before big rains.
Like many such committees, this one has had few participants. Maybe this week’s alarm will get more people to attend.
Apparently most people saw this notice in the local newspaper, but it was also posted on facebook by Bradford County Sheriff’s Office – Emergency Management Division, March 7, 2025,
Continue readingThe Bradford County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Planning Committee/Workgroup will meet Thursday, March 20th, 2025, at 3:00 pm in the Bradford County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located in the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office at 945B North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091.
Update 2025-05-14: Pictures: Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-05-12.
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
This Outing is honoring Teachers and Nurses, who get free entry.
When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:40 PM, sunset 8:19 PM, end 9:30 PM, Monday, May 12, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, Georgia, Monday, May 12, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-05-12--full-flower-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, Georgia, Monday, May 12, 2025
![[Meet and Greet at Banks Lake, 6 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025, Bring a chair, snacks; drinks; Paddle later or just sit and chat]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-09--meet-greet-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
![[Full Strawberry Moon, Banks Lake NWR 2025-06-12, A small but hardy crowd, not scared of rain predictions]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-06-11--full-strawberry-moon-banks-lake-pictures/many.jpg)
![[Bradford County Local Mitigation Strategy Planning Committee, Sheriff's Office, Starke, FL 2025-03-20]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-20--bradford-county-emd-lms-meeting/fbmany.jpg)