Category Archives: Lake

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Pink Moon Paddle 2024-04-23

The bats were flying on a fine calm clear spring night as the sun set and the Full Pink Moon rose over Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia, Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

[Banks Lake Full Pink Moon, Paddle 2024-04-23, Thanks, Shirley Kokidko, and the bats]
Banks Lake Full Pink Moon, Paddle 2024-04-23, Thanks, Shirley Kokidko, and the bats

Here are some video highlights:
https://youtu.be/f4Tra_fSZDo?si=5o7e87acCR9Xf7KH

And as a facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/396221352796424

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this expedition, and to Chris “Turtleman” Adams for paddling, along with everyone else.

Thanks to Lanier County for the free boat rental.

Join us this Friday for the WWALS Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle 2024-06-21.

For more Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, 2024-06-21

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. There may also be bats.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:50 PM, sunset 8:39 PM, end 9:30 PM, Friday, June 21, 2024

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

[Banks Lake Full, Strawberry Moon Paddle 2024-06-21, Sunset, moonrise, and there may be bats]
Banks Lake Full, Strawberry Moon Paddle 2024-06-21, Sunset, moonrise, and there may be bats

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Pictures: Banks Lake Full Flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23

Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for leading and sending these pictures of the Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, Thursday evening, May 23, 2024.

[Banks Lake Full flower Moon --Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise]
Banks Lake Full flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, 2024-05-23

Update 2024-05-30: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23.

Join us for a leisurely sunset and full moon paddle, maybe with bats.

This Outing is honoring teachers and nurses, who get free entry.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:58 PM, sunset 8:26 PM, end 9:30 PM, Thursday, May 23, 2024

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

[Banks Lake Full Flower Moon, Paddle 2024-05-23, At Banks Lake Outdoors, West of Lakeland, GA]
Banks Lake Full Flower Moon, Paddle 2024-05-23, At Banks Lake Outdoors, West of Lakeland, GA

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Banks Lake Full Pink Moon Paddle 2024-04-23

Update 2024-06-19: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Pink Moon 2024-04-23.

Join us for a leisurely paddle to see the sun set and the full moon rise. Water lilies are in bloom and bats are active.

When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:05 PM, sunset 8:06 PM, end 9:15 PM, Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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

[Banks Lake Full Pink, Moon Paddle 2024-04-23, Sunset, Moonrise, Bats, and Blooming Lilies]
Banks Lake Full Pink, Moon Paddle 2024-04-23, Sunset, Moonrise, Bats, and Blooming Lilies

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Lanier County new campground and recreation facility beside Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge –GOSP 2024-03-21

Congratulations, Lanier County, for getting a GOSP grant to enhance Banks Lake!

Lanier County
Improving Recreation & Water Quality; $1,491,057

Lanier County will construct a new campground and recreation facility that would serve the visitors to Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This project features wildlife viewing platforms, new waterway access and kayak launch, disc golf course, walking trail, boardwalk, and green space. The proposed campground will be equipped with full utility hookups, sanitary sewer, and shower and laundry facility.

This project also includes invasive species removal at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

[Lanier County new campground, and recreation facility, beside Banks Lake NWR, $1,491,057 from GOSP 2024-03-21]
Lanier County new campground, and recreation facility, beside Banks Lake NWR, $1,491,057 from GOSP 2024-03-21

This was the only GOSP grant awarded in the Suwannee River Basin.

Lanier County applied in several previous years, and finally got the grant.

If I am not mistaken, this project will mostly be on county-owned land east of Banks Lake Boat Ramp, west of the Rivers Farm House. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Worm Moon Paddle 2024-03-25

Join us for a leisurely paddle on our watery living room, to see the sun set and the moon rise. The bats may be out, at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.

When: Gather 6:45 PM, launch 7:15 PM, Sunset 7:48 PM, Moonrise 8:21 PM, End 9:00 PM, Monday, March 25, 2024

Put In:: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, just west of Lakeland.

GPS: 31.0350593, -83.0964848

[Banks Lake Paddle, 2024-03-25, Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA]
Banks Lake Paddle, 2024-03-25, Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA

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Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park 2024-06-22

Update 2024-06-23: Pictures: Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park 2024-06-22.

Hahira, GA, June 7, 2024 — “WWALS will provide stunt adults to paddle with children whose parents don’t want to get in a boat,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

WWALS will also provide boats for new paddlers at this gathering of people from Brooks, Cook, and Tift Counties, Georgia, and beyond in celebration of Juneteenth.

Food and activities for children will be provided by Fannie Gibbs and Macedonia Community Foundation.

When: 11 AM – 3 PM, Saturday, June 22, 2024

Put In: Reed Bingham State Park Beach, 542 Reed Bingham Rd, Adel, GA 31620. Take I-75 Exit 39, turn west on GA 37, right on Evergreen Church Road (CR 99), left on Reed Bingham SP Road (CR 221), in through the gate and across the dam, and the beach is on your right, in Colquitt County.

GPS: 31.162563, -83.548506

[Boating and family fun at Juneteenth 2021]
Boating and family fun at Juneteenth 2021

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BIG Little River Paddle Tour, Red Roberts Landing, 2024-04-27

Update 2024-04-25 Cancelled by outing leader.

WWALS charter board member Bret Wagenhorst will guide a tour of the Little River from Red Roberts Landing to Reed Bingham State Park Lake. All reservations online in advance, limited to 20 paddlers.

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 9 AM, end 12 PM, Saturday, April 27, 2024

Put In: Red Roberts Landing, 4727 Rountree Bridge Rd., Adel, GA 31620. River left at Rountree Bridge south of Rountree Bridge Road (CR 251) west of Adel; exit 41 off I-75.

GPS: 31.192222, -83.520333

[BIG Little River Paddle Event, Red Roberts Landing, 2024-04-27, led by Dr. Bret Wagenhorst to Reed Bingham State Park]
BIG Little River Paddle Event, Red Roberts Landing, 2024-04-27, led by Dr. Bret Wagenhorst to Reed Bingham State Park

Last year we saw bald cypress, pond cypress, pines, willow, tupelow, river birch, water oak, primrose, fetterbush, sparkleberry, holly, titi, wild grapevines, native wisteria, lichen, resurrection fern, goldenclub, mistletoe, and blooming Spanish moss. We also saw many turtles, some alligators, and a great blue heron. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Snow Moon Paddle, 2024-02-24

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.

When: Gather 5:30 PM, launch 6 PM, moonrise 6:45 PM, sunset 6:27 PM, end 7:40 PM, Saturday, February 24, 2024

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

[FB: Banks Lake and painting --Julie Bowland, February 5, 2023]
FB: Banks Lake and painting –Julie Bowland, February 5, 2023

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