Category Archives: Lake

Obituary: Pope Howell of Banks Lake Outdoors 2023-02-17

WWALS will miss Pope Howell.

Bobby McKenzie remarks, “Pope was the one always setting WWALS up for the Full Moon paddles. Jerome (camp host) was a big help too but Pope was usually the main guy especially when starting out the free rentals. Pope really enjoyed talking about the full moon paddle crowds.”

[Pope Howell, Banks Lake Sunset]
Pope Howell, Banks Lake Sunset

Banks Lake Outdoors 2023-02-19

We regret to inform you that longtime employee, Pope Howell, passed away at the end of the week. We hope you will keep his family and friends in your prayers in the coming days. He very much enjoyed talking with the wide variety of people who visit Banks Lake.

[Pope Howell. Photo: Banks Lake Outdoors]
Pope Howell. Photo: Banks Lake Outdoors

Obituary for George “Pope” Howell Jr.

Continue reading →

From bad to worse: Cherry Creek 2023-02-12

Update 2024-01-28: Four more Valdosta sewage spills 2023-12-17.

Update 2023-02-17: Valdosta sewer main collapse, US 84, effects to E. Park Ave., along Knights Creek 2023-02-15.

The Withlacoochee River tested worse than Cherry Creek for E. coli both upstream and downstream from where Cherry Creek comes in, after Valdosta’s Saturday sewage spill.

[Cherry Creek tests 2023-02-12]
Cherry Creek tests 2023-02-12

So that 2,800 gallons of raw sewage apparently did not materially affect the Withlacoochee River.

But the test results mean it would be wise to steer clear of creeks and rivers for a few days. Continue reading →

Cherry Creek water quality sampling after Valdosta sewage spill 2023-02-12

Update 2023-02-12: From bad to worse: Cherry Creek 2023-02-12.

Valdosta had a small sewage spill Saturday, next to a branch of Cherry Creek. It was probably too small to have much effect on the creek and even less on the Withlacoochee River. WWALS sent water quality testers out to sample anyway.

[Boys & Girls Club Lift Station, Lake Laurie Drive, The Dip, Lake Cleve, Cherry Creek 2023-02-12]
Boys & Girls Club Lift Station, Lake Laurie Drive, The Dip, Lake Cleve, Cherry Creek 2023-02-12

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson texted me yesterday. He says the spill was first reported to Valdosta Utilities about 7:30 PM and “stopped discharging about 11:00p last night.” He was referring to Saturday, February 11, 2023.

The amount is estimated to be 2,800 gallons. That’s a minor spill (less than 10,000 gallons).

The spill was from Valdosta’s Boys and Girls Club Lift Station, 3658 Lake Laurie Drive, Valdosta, GA 31605. That’s in Valdosta City Council District 5, Tim Carroll. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Snow Moon Paddle 2023-02-05

A dozen happy paddlers saw the sun set and the moon rise at the same time over Banks Lake last Sunday.

[Sunset, Moonrise, happy boaters @ Banks Lake 2023-02-05]
Sunset, Moonrise, happy boaters @ Banks Lake 2023-02-05

Thanks to Elizabeth Brunner for leading that outing. These pictures came from her facebook photoset.

Julie Bowland also paddled Banks Lake that evening, and took the picture of the painting she did there.

Tomorrow afternoon she offers to show you how to do that. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 2023-02-05

Join us on our watery living room for a leisurely paddle to see the sun set and the moon rise at the same time.

The bats may even be out, but we do not promise that.

When: Gather 5 PM, launch 5:30 PM, moonrise 6:12 PM, sunset 6:12 PM, end 7:30 PM, Sunday, February 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

[Sunset at Banks Lake by Julie Bowland]
Sunset at Banks Lake by Julie Bowland 2022-02-16

Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Wolf Moon paddle 2023-01-06

A small but hardy group of paddlers enjoyed the Banks Lake Full Wolf Moon.

Thanks to Kimberly Tanner for leading this expedition.

[Banners, paddlers, sunset, moonrise, Banks Lake, 2023-01-06]
Banners, paddlers, sunset, moonrise, Banks Lake, 2023-01-06

Most of these pictures are by WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Cold Moon paddle 2022-12-07

Quite a few happy boaters, on a balmy weekday at an early start time, saw the sun set and the moon already rising, on the Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle.

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading it.

[Banners, Kayak Raffle Winner, Sunset, Moonrise, Banks Lake 2022-12-07]
Banners, Kayak Raffle Winner, Sunset, Moonrise, Banks Lake 2022-12-07

The next one is Friday, January 6, 2023.

Please make your boat reservations in advance. If we know more boats are wanted than the limited number at Banks Lake Outdoors, we can bring more, but not if we don’t know.

And please get there before the safety lecture. If you show up after that, we don’t like to, but we will turn you away. Gather time and paddle time are posted for each paddle outing. The safety lecture is before we paddle. Continue reading →

Video: Kayak raffle winner @ Banks Lake Full Cold Moon paddle 2022-12-07

This only ever happened once before: the WWALS kayak raffle winner was standing there at the drawing.

[Kayak Raffle Drawing]
Kayak Raffle Drawing

WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman had already transcribed the online tickets onto paper tickets like all the others. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Wolf Moon Paddle, 2023-01-06

Update 2023-01-11: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Wolf Moon paddle 2023-01-06

Join us for our first leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle of 2023, on Banks Lake, our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia.

If you need a boat, reserve in advance! See below.

When: Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:29 PM, sunset 5:46 PM, end 6:30 PM, Friday, January 6, 2023
You must arrive enough before the launch time to hear the safety lecture.

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 sunset, 2022-01-17 Photo: John S. Quarterman]
Banks Lake sunset, 2022-01-17 Photo: John S. Quarterman

Continue reading →

Georgia and Florida in 1923 Atlas of the World and Gazeteer 1923-01-01

Back in 1923, Georgia and Florida looked about the same in this Atlas, until you notice, where’s I-75 and I-10? Where are all the roads? Nowhere: those lines are railroads.

Many railroad towns such as Ellaville and Genoa in Florida and Dupont and Haylow in Georgia are depicted, when they aren’t anymore on maps of this scale. Troupville is long gone, because it moved to Valdosta where the railroad was coming: the Atlantic Coast Line, labeled “A.C.L.”, later plus two others, “G.S.”, presumably Georgia Southern, and “G.S.F.”, presumably Georgia Southern and Florida.

[South Georgia and North Florida]
South Georgia and North Florida

Amusingly, the Florida map names and draws “Okefinokee Swamp” in Georgia, but the Georgia map does not. The Georgia map shows a couple of lakes instead. Continue reading →