Category Archives: Outing

Reroute: Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19

Same date, slight reroute: Sugar Creek to Troupville.

Please be at the bottom of the Bertas Kitchen parking lot by 8AM so we can try to be on the water by 9AM.

Join us for a leisurely paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter on the Withlacoochee River.

[Chairman and Mayor's Paddle, Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River, 8 AM, April 19, 2025]
Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River, 8 AM, April 19, 2025

Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for shuttle vans.
Thanks to Valdosta Boys & Girls Club for bringing youth and boats to paddle.

Thanks to Steve Miller for bringing a golf cart to help put in and take out.
Thanks to Gee Edwards for leading this expedition, Phil Royce for being sweep, and to Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce for chainsawing the route.

When: Gather 8 AM, shuttle ASAP, launch 9 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, April 19, 2025

Put In: Salty Corner Landing, at the bottom of the parking lot for Bertas Pizza Kitchen, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.

GPS: 30.8625, -83.31875 Continue reading →

Pictures: Ichetucknee River in the State Park 2025-04-05

Update 2025-04-14: Videos.

The weather was perfect, the river and springs were crystal clear, the company was congenial, and there were many turtles and birds (and tubers), on the Ichetucknee River in spring.

[Ichetucknee River, Springs, Turtles, Birds, Tubers 2025-04-05, North Launch past South Launch, to US 27 Bridge]
Ichetucknee River, Springs, Turtles, Birds, Tubers 2025-04-05, North Launch past South Launch, to US 27 Bridge

Thanks to Janet Martin for organizing this outing, and for some of the pictures here.

Videos:

On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/1026695632691778/

On YouTube:
https://youtu.be/awFdQjOQGzo

These pictures go from Ichetucknee Springs State Park North Entrance, past many springs and tubers, past South Launch, to the south end of the park.

To be continued with the rest of the Ichetucknee River with many boats, and the Santa Fe River to US 129, with many power boats going fast.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -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

Continue reading →

Pictures: DeLoach private boat ramp to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Update 2025-05-19: Okapilco Creek 2025-03-22.

We continued on March 22 from Paul DeLoach’s private boat ramp, the early takeout for the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, 2025-04-19.

[Deloach private BR, many creeks, Langdale Company midpoint landing, US 84, CSX RR, to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22]
Deloach private BR, many creeks, Langdale Company midpoint landing, US 84, CSX RR, to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

On March 22, we stopped at the midpoint lunch spot and on to Spook Bridge, with several creeks, bridges, and other sights in between.

Thanks to The Langdale Company for access at the midpoint and Spook Bridge.

Stay tuned for Okapilco Creek and on to Knights Ferry Boat Ramp. The left bank is Lowndes County all the way, while the right bank and Okapilco Creek are in Brooks County.

Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition in the WWALS jon boat with the 9.9 hp outboard bought with a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 24-inch Husqvarna chainsaw, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteris.

Thanks to Phil Royce for bringing his jon boat and 3.5 hp outboard. We brought a bunch of other saws, too, but were happy enough not to have to use them for once on a chainsaw cleanup. Continue reading →

Pictures: Expert paddle, Troupville to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Update 2025-03-30: Pictures: DeLoach private boat ramp to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.

Last Saturday, Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce and I took two jon boats down the Withlacoochee River on the route of the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, which will be April 19, 2025.
https://wwals.net/?p=67242

The water levels were high and fast. Even on the Little River, there were some risks for novice paddlers, and more on the Withlacoochee River.

[Expert high-water paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22, Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp]
Expert high-water paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22, Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp

These pictures go as far as the early takeout, at Phil DeLoach’s private boat ramp.

You’ve already seen some of them, along with some historical pictures and videos, in Erosion and sign missing at Valdosta WWTP Outfall 2025-03-22.
https://wwals.net/?p=67276

Stay tuned for more pictures farther downstream.

The only time we used a chainsaw was when Phil Hubbard tuned the idle on the 24-inch Husqvarna, paid for by a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 9.9 hp outboard, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteries. Continue reading →

Langdale Park and Troupville Boat Ramp 2025-03-14

Reminder: we’ve rescheduled and rerouted the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle to next Saturday, March 22, 2025, from Troupville Boat Ramp to Spook Bridge:
https://wwals.net/?p=67188

[Langdale Park underwater 2025-03-14, Troupville Boat Ramp OK, Mayor & Chairman's Paddle is 2025-03-22 from Troupville]
Langdale Park underwater 2025-03-14, Troupville Boat Ramp OK, Mayor & Chairman’s Paddle is 2025-03-22 from Troupville

For why that was a wise decision, see these pictures of Langdale Park today. The entrance road is underwater starting about halfway to Langdale Park Boat Ramp.

Meanwhile, Troupville Boat Ramp is doing pretty well.

Also, the Withlacoochee River is dirty with E. coli this week; see the weekly WWALS water quality report:
https://wwals.net/?p=67213

So come on down next Saturday, March 22, to Troupville Boat Ramp, between 8 and 9 AM, for the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle. Continue reading →

Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Update 2025-03-19: Rescheduled: Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19.

Rescheduled to March 22 due to high water.

Join us for a leisurely paddle on the Withlacoochee River: three miles to an early takeout, or another eight miles to Spook Bridge, with a mid-point lunch stop.

The first stretch is along the Little River frontage recently purchased by Lowndes County for Troupville River Camp and Nature Park. The right bank the whole way is Brooks County.

The second stretch goes by Valdosta’s cleaned up Outfall from its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on the left bank in Lowndes County.

Paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter.

[Chairman and Mayor's Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Little River, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22]
Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Little River, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Shuttle vans provided by Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA).
Early takeout provided by Paul DeLoach.
Spook Bridge takeout and midpoint provided by The Langdale Company.
Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition and Phil Royce for being sweep.

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 22, 2025

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
By the boat ramp, see the WWALS water trail signs about the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536 Continue reading →

Big Shoals St Pk to Suwannee Wayside, Suwannee River 2025-05-31

Update 2025-06-01: Pictures: Big Shoals St Pk to Suwannee Wayside, Suwannee River 2025-05-31.

Join us on this beautiful section of the Suwannee River.

This paddle is appropriate for anyone who is in reasonable physical condition, agile enough to launch from a rocky edge (see photo above), and can portage your kayak 400 feet. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent views and cool off in the river.

We will launch from Big Shoals State Park, paddle downstream 1 mile to the start of the portage trail around Big Shoals, the only Class III rapids in the state of Florida.

Pack light as you will need to portage everything on a dirt trail. Then we get back in our boats and paddle on through Little Shoals.

When: Gather 9:00 AM, launch 10:00 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, May 31, 2025
Come on time to drop your kayak at the launch site and be ready to help with the shuttle to the take out in White Springs.
**Shuttle begins promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Put In: Big Shoals Tract Launch, Right bank. From White Springs, travel north on CR 135 to SE 94 Street (Godwin Bridge Road); turn right and follow road to Big Shoals, in Hamilton County, Florida.

GPS: 30.3529705, -82.6879375

[Big Shoals Tract Launch, Suwannee River Wayside Park, Suwannee River, Portage Big Shoals 2025-05-31]
Big Shoals Tract Launch, Suwannee River Wayside Park, Suwannee River, Portage Big Shoals 2025-05-31

Continue reading →

On The Spotlight Show, Talk92.1 FM: Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, WWALS River Revue, and Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2025-03-06

Join us on The Spotlight Show on talk921.com at 6 PM, Thursday, March 6, 2025.
https://talk921.com

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and “Diamond” Jim Halter will talk about

[Mayor and Chairman's Paddle, WWALS River Revue, etc. on The Spotlight Show, Talk921.com, Thursday, March 6, 2025, 6-7 PM]
Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, WWALS River Revue, etc. on The Spotlight Show, Talk921.com, Thursday, March 6, 2025, 6-7 PM

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1164828191815898

 -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/

Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-05-12

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).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, Georgia, Monday, May 12, 2025]
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, Georgia, Monday, May 12, 2025

Continue reading →

Rescheduled: Ichetucknee to Santa Fe Rivers 2025-04-05

Update 2025-05-11: Pictures: Ichetucknee River in the State Park 2025-04-05.

Rescheduled again to April 5, 2025, because of river closure: they were still cleaning Hurricane Helene debris out of the river through the previous date.

We apologize for the inconvenience. We are also disappointed. But neither we nor the park control hurricanes, and the park does not control the schedule of Tallahassee or the contractors for removing hurricane debris.

Join us on a leisurely paddle on the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers, starting at Ichetucknee Springs State Park North Entrance, past many springs, taking out at the US 129 Boat Ramp.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, April 5, 2024

Put In: Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North Entrance, 8294 SW Elim Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038.

GPS: 29.986107, -82.760109

[Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-04-05, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp]
Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-04-05, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp

Continue reading →