Hahira, Georgia, October 30, 2025 — Join us this Saturday, November 1, 2025, on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price of Hamilton County, Florida.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Springs
Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River 2025-11-01
Hahira, Georgia, October 30, 2025 — Join us this Saturday, November 1, 2025, on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price of Hamilton County, Florida.
We will meet at 9:30 AM at Jennings Bluff Cemetery. On a short stop there, we will climb down a steep bank to explore a spring. Then we will drive into public lands to the Dead River Sink where we will hike out to the Alapaha River and hike the river bed.
From Jennings, Florida, go south on US 41 approximately 2.25 miles and turn left onto NW 25th Lane, which dead ends at the Jennings Bluff Cemetery on the Alapaha River. GPS: 30.56693, -83.035297
This area has recently been designated a State of Florida Geological Site.
Much of the year, the Alapaha River is dry for the last eighteen miles from Jennings Bluff to the Suwannee River, because its water flows into the Dead River and down into the Dead River Sink. On June 22, 2016, several Florida agencies put fluorescent green dye into the Dead River Sink. The dye came back up four days later in the Alapaha River Rise, and eight days later in Holton Creek Rise, both off of the Suwannee River.
Bring sturdy boots or shoes, clothes for woods with stickers, water, and snacks.
Also Continue reading
Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff 2025-11-01
Update 2025-10-30: Press release, Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River 2025-11-01.
Join us on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed.
Initial meetup at Jennings Bluff Cemetery. Short stop there where we will climb down a steep bank to explore a spring. Then a drive into public lands to Dead River Sink where we will hike out to the Alapaha River and hike the river bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price.
This area has recently been designated a State of Florida Geological Site.
When: Gather 9:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 1 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2025
Put In: Jennings Bluff Cemetery. On US 41 go approximately 2.25 miles south from center of Jennings and turn left onto NW 25th Lane, which dead ends at the cemetery on the Alapaha River.
GPS: 30.56693, -83.035297
Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price 2025-11-01
McIntyre Spring with boats, Withlacoochee River –Google Earth Pro 2025-05-27
One of only six second magnitude springs in the state of Georgia, McIntyre Spring is about half a mile upstream from where the Withlacoochee River crosses into Florida for the first time. Here it is seen with kayaks, in Google Earth Pro, for May 17, 2025, looking south and downstream.
McIntyre Spring with boats, Withlacoochee River –Google Earth Pro, May 27, 2017
Previously I speculated that the kayaks in this Google Earth Pro map were from the WWALS paddle of October 14, 2017. Since then, Google Earth Pro has supplied a more specific date of May 27, 2017 for this map, so the dates do not seem to match.
Brooks County claims the entire river to its left (usually east) bank, so McIntyre Spring is in that county. It is also on private land, inaccessible by road without permission.
To see McIntyre Spring in the river, the water level must be low. Preferably no higher than about 1.75 feet (85.26 NAVD) on the US 84 Quitman gage, and about 6.57 (53.08 NAVD) on the the Pinetta gage.
Those were the readings on July 9, 2016. Continue reading
Arnold Springs, Mozell Spells, Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14
Update 2025-10-13: better picture format, and links to the previous parts.
A fine fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition and Suwannee Riverkeeper, diving and landowners at Arnold Springs, Old Clyattville Road Bridge, exotic invasive Japanese Climbing Fern, Horn Bridge. and Mozell Spells (State Line Ramp). Thanks to all who came to paddle from as far as two hours from Gainesville, Florida and four hours from Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Clear spring water, 2017-10-14, 15:13:01, –jsq for WWALS 30.6410851, -83.3367726
Blue-green Arnold Springs water meets tea-colored Withlacoochee River water.
The Quitman Gauge (US 84) read 2.17 feet (85.67 NAVD88), which was slightly above our recommended low level, and just fine for Arnold Springs. Here are some pictures and a Google Map. A few videos will follow.
This part of the outing was all in Georgia, but we paddled downstream from Florida to get there; see Continue reading
Cleanup and outing, Nankin, Mcintyre and Arnold Springs, Mozell Spells, Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14
Update 2025-10-13: improved image format, and separated the shoals into another post.
Tires and trash cleaned up at Nankin Boat Ramp, saw Clyatt Mill Creek, and swimming and diver tales at McIntyre Spring. This was also a Georgia Rivers Alive cleanup, all on a fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition and Suwannee Riverkeeper. Thanks to all who came to paddle from as far as two hours from Gainesville, Florida and four hours from Pine Mountain, Georgia.
A free diver, 2017-10-14, 12:47:33, –jsq for WWALS 30.6416153, -83.3661699
Here are some pictures. There are more in the following two parts. Continue reading
Pictures: Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07
The Suwannee Board of County Commissioners agreed to support the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone. Specifically, they support the no wake zone. They expressed no opinion on the personal watercraft ban.
That was yesterday, Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Suwannee County is for the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone, October 7, 2025
You can also write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
Before a dozen people spoke for the zone, and none against, Parks & Recreation Director Alden Rosner presented the FFWC request for input as item 14 in the Suwannee County Commission agenda, which took up pages 88-130 of the board packet. Here’s who was who up front. Continue reading
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07
Update 2025-10-08: The Commissioners agreed to support the no wake zone. Pictures: Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07.
Come on down to Live Oak to speak or be seen in support of the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone.
That’s 5:30 PM today, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
at the Judicial Annex Building, 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida
32064
It’s item 14 the Suwannee County Commission agenda, and it takes up pages 88-130 of the board packet.
Florida Parks “does not oppose,” and FFWC Research and SRWMD recommend more study.
Suwannee County could support more study, or it could say the evidence is already convincing enough.
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Linda Dicker says:
The petition will be presented by Mr. Alden Rosner, Parks & Recreation Director for Suwannee County. I will not be permitted to present the petition and will be in attendance only to address any questions the commission may have.
It is critical that our community express their support of this petition and let the county commission know that we are passionate about preserving the Ichetucknee. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts to sign in for public comments.
You can also write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
What FFWC says it wants from Suwannee County is: Continue reading
Request: Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone –Citizens to FWC 2025-07-29
If you like Linda’s request for a Springs Protection Zone on the Lower Ichetucknee River, you can join many others in writing to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
Request to Florida FWC, Ichetucknee Springs Protection Zone, No Wake Zone, Turtles and Personal Watercraft
Date: July 29, 2025
To: Captain Rachel Bryant (Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com)
Major Bill Holcomb (William.holcomb@myfwc.com)
Rob Klepper (Robert.klepper@myfwc.com)From: Linda L. Weseman
Subject: Request to Create a Springs Protection Zone on the Lower Ichetucknee River
Current recreational use by motorized vessels on the lower half of the Ichetucknee spring run is resulting in shoreline erosion and turbidity that is detrimental to the overall health of the spring run. These issues are primarily and predominantly caused by motorboats and personal watercrafts (PWCs). It is recommended that the Commission establish a Springs Protection Zone that creates a no wake zone on the Ichetucknee from the boundary of Ichetucknee Springs State Park to the confluence at the Santa Fe River, the “lower Ichetucknee”. It is additionally recommended that personal watercrafts, PWCs, be restricted from operating on this section of the Ichetucknee spring run.
The purpose of establishing a no wake zone on the lower Ichetucknee is to Continue reading
Pictures: Georgia Rivers Alive Trash Pick Up, Alapaha River, Mayday Landing, 2025-09-20
Participants got a Georgia Rivers Alive t-shirt for helping clean up this sand-slope party spot on the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Thanks to Gretchen Quarterman to organizing, and to Shirley Kokidko and an anonymous for picking up trash along with Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.
This was at Mayday Landing, 749 Howell Road, Stockton, GA 31649. left bank, east side of the Alapaha River, south of Howell Road, north of the railroad bridge, in Echols County. GPS: 30.82827, -83.017179
Georgia Rivers Alive Trash Pick Up 2025-09-20, Alapaha River, Mayday Landing
We collected several hundred pounds of trash. Continue reading

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