Category Archives: PR

Press Release

MC and deadline extended: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, August 20, 2022

Hahira, Georgia, July 6, 2022 — “I’ve heard him all my life on the radio,” said organizing committee member Sara Jay Jones. That’s Kickin Kevin Thomas, who describes himself as, “Good timing, fun loving country radio host for the past 30 years.” We’re glad to welcome Kickin Kevin as the MC of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, at the Finals, Saturday, August 20, 2022,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “And he’s a fun guy to be around at an event: he knows music, and he knows good times,” said committee member Jesse Cole.

[MC Kickin Kevin Thomas]
MC Kickin Kevin Thomas

The committee also extended the deadline for song submissions a week, to Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Songwriters, please send in your song today!

Follow this link for song submission form, contest Rules, sponsorships, and soon, entry tickets:
wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20–songwriting Continue reading →

WWALS Accomplishments 2022-01-01

Incorporated in June 8, 2012, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) is ten years old.

Since December 2016, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER® is a project and staff position at WWALS as the Member of Waterkeeper Alliance® for the Suwannee River Basin.

Here’s what we’ve been doing all that time.

[Outings and Water Quality Testing]

Follow this link for WWALS Accomplishments:
https://wwals.net/about/wwals-accomplishments/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Ten years of WWALS 2012-06-08

WWALS was born yesterday… in 2012. June 8, 2012, so that’s ten years yesterday.

It’s WWALS Watershed Coalition, because we are a coalition of people who got into water conservation and stewardship from many different directions.

[Georgia, Florida]
Georgia, Florida

The Florida incorporation was filed August 28, 2015. While WWALS started with rivers mostly in Georgia (long story), we now cover the entire Suwannee River Basin and Estuary in both states, from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico.

That’s a lot of work for drinkable, fishable, swimmable waters, so we need your help, with donations, with advocacy, outings, and events, and on committees and the board. https://wwals.net/donations/ Continue reading →

Name That Bass Contest, Suwannee Riverkeeper 2022-06-02

Update 2022-06-30: Facebook event.

Hahira, GA, June 2, 2022 — WWALS presents the “Name That Bass” contest, for the naming rights of our beautiful WWALS mascot. Well respected artist Hank Hershey has given reproduction rights to WWALS for his image of this magnificent fish, found in the waters of the Suwannee River Basin.

[Name that Bass]
Name that Bass

The Contest kicks off June 2, 2022, and names will be accepted through July 2, 2022. The winner will be announced at the Fourth Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest on August 20th, 2022, at the Turner Art Center. The winner gets bragging rights for creativity and will be introduced at the Contest.

The rules are simple: Continue reading →

A new sponsor benefit at Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

Update 2022-08-26: Wesley Vallotton accepted Songwriting Contest raffle kayak for Mala Vallotton 2022-08-24.

Hahira, Georgia, May 26, 2022 — Sponsors of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest get an additional perq, as well as entry tickets, and other benefits. Georgia Beer Company has donated a Vibe Yellowfin 120 kayak, worth more than a thousand dollars retail. WWALS draw raffle tickets for that kayak at the Contest, August 20, 2022, at the Turner Center Art Park in Valdosta, GA. Each $100 cash sponsor donation gets one of those raffle tickets.

“Sponsoring the Contest is a great way to support the work of WWALS, from paddle outings, water trails, and water quality testing, to opposing trash, mines, and toll roads.” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman, “But there’s a cap of 30 tickets, so get your sponsorships in early.”

[Banner and raffle kayak]
Banner and raffle kayak

Follow this link for sponsorships and much more about the Contest, including song submission form, contest Rules, and, soon, entry tickets:
wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20–songwriting

“We already have one $500 sponsor,” said Continue reading →

Winners, BIG Little River Paddle Race 2022-04-30

Adel, GA, May 3, 2022 — Nineteen canoeists and kayakers set out on a beautiful blue-sky morning on Saturday, April 30, 2022, and one from far away won the BIG Little River Paddle Race.

[Carl Fuller, First Prize Winner]
Carl Fuller, First Prize Winner

They paddled three miles from Red Roberts Landing to the Colquitt County boat ramp on Reed Bingham State Park Lake.

[Five boats]
Carl Fuller already in the lead.

The overall winner was Continue reading →

Videos: Trash and river paddles, Suwannee Riverkeeper on Scott James Radio 2022-04-29

This morning, Valdosta Mayor Scott James and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman talked trash and river paddling on 92.1 FM talk radio.

[Movie: BIG Little River Paddle Race, Reed Bingham State Park 2022-04-30]
Movie: BIG Little River Paddle Race, Reed Bingham State Park 2022-04-30

Get your tickets today to join us tomorrow (Saturday) morning for the annual 3-mile WWALS BIG Little River Paddle Race down the idyllic blackwater Little River from Red Roberts Landing into Reed Bingham State Park Lake.

And another paddle next Saturday, May 7, 2022, on the Withlacoochee River from Langdale Park Boat Ramp to Sugar Creek. The Mayor promised to bring nets for trash. I’ll bring sawzalls for any deadfalls.

We mostly talked about the trash situation, in which the Mayor of Valdosta promised to get trash cans set out on the city’s own parking lots, starting with the ones across from City Hall. We discussed the cleanup award from GA-DNR I picked up in Atlanta Wednesday. Cleanups are great, but not enough. We also need trash traps to stop the stuff from getting out of the creeks into the rivers. And we need parking lot owners to keep trash from getting of their lots and to set out and clean out trash cans. Continue reading →

Tickets ’til Friday for Saturday’s BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park

Adel, Georgia, April 28, 2022 — For the 8AM, Saturday, April 30, 2022, BIG Little River Paddle Race, ticket sales remain open until 5PM Friday, available only online. Join us for a three-mile paddle down the idyllic blackwater Little River into Reed Bingham State Park, between Adel and Moultrie, Georgia. Tickets are $30 per boat online only at wwals.net. See
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-04-30–blrpr/

You could win in any of a dozen categories, including $100 First Prize. But you are not required to race: it’s a nice spring paddle anyway! Lunch will be provided. You can just paddle along this scenic three-mile stretch of tea-colored river on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail among cypress trees, turtles, birds, and yes, alligators. (Don’t pet the alligators and they aren’t likely to bother you.) This race also has fierce competitors, with one past winner finishing in barely more than half an hour.

Nobody beat the previous fastest winning time, so this year if somebody does, they will get an additional $200 prize. Winners in other categories each get a special gift.

Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, of Clay York finishing BLRPR 2019
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, of Clay York finishing the BIG Little River Paddle Race 2019.

The race will start Continue reading →

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Scott James Radio 7AM Friday 2022-04-29

Update 2022-04-29: Videos: Trash and river paddles, Suwannee Riverkeeper on Scott James Radio 2022-04-29.

Friday morning at 7 AM, Suwannee Riverkeeper will be on Scott James Talk 92.1 FM radio, about the annual 3-mile BIG Little River Paddle Race down the idyllic blackwater Little River from Red Roberts Landing into Reed Bingham State Park Lake.

No doubt we’ll also talk about the trash situation and how you can help stop a strip mine far too near the Okefenokee Swamp, and ask GA-EPD to stop that second wood pellet plant in Adel while you’re at it. We may also talk about water trails, water quality testing, and who knows what else.

[Location, Radio]
Location, Radio

When: 7 AM, Friday, April 29, 2022

Where: Talk 92.1 FM radio, Scott James drivetime show
https://talk921.com/
Or come buy coffee at Continue reading →

Ten days until the Tenth BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park 2022-04-30

Adel, Georgia, April 21, 2022 — It’s 8AM, Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Red Roberts Landing in Reed Bingham State Park, between Adel and Moultrie, Georgia. Join us for a three-mile paddle down the idyllic blackwater Little River into Reed Bingham State Park. Tickets are $30 per boat online only at wwals.net. See https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-04-30–blrpr/

A previous press release had an erroneous date. Please ignore that and come on down Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Continue reading →