New outfitter: Banks Lake Outdoors Experience

300x159 ARWT Lakeland, in Alapaha River Water Trail, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 27 March 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service PR of 11 February 2015, New Partnership Announced for Concession Operation at Banks Lake NWR

Folkston, GA… Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is proud to announce the ground-breaking partnership that will aid in the operation and visitor services of the Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Lakeland, GA. An unstaffed refuge, Banks Lake is administered by Okefenokee, nearly 120 miles away, making work at this remote refuge often difficult. Refuge staff will now be working with Lanier County to aid in the concession operation and visitor services offered at Banks Lake. “I am excited Lanier County has the opportunity for this partnership with the Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Lakeland-Lanier Chamber” said Alex Lee, Lanier County Board of Commissioners Chairman. “Our board is ready to make this happen.”

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Summary judgement sought by Sabal Trail pipeline company in Leesburg, GA

Come to the courthouse Leesburg, GA Tuesday at 11:30 AM or write a letter, if you want help stop the unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline.

Remember last July when landowners countersued a Houston pipeline company in Leesburg, Georgia? When the judge refused to grant any judgement for the pipeline, while protesters from as far as nine hours away watched attentively? WALB TV covered the hearing and three newspapers carried the WWALS op-ed that followed.

This Tuesday morning the same pipeline company will be back asking for a summary judgment for eminent domain against the same landowners.

If you can’t come in person, for letters here is contact information Continue reading →

Videos: Valdosta Wastewater meeting with slides 2015-03-17

Calls from Atlanta and from downstream in Florida about the three Valdosta wastewater overflows in February prompted WWALS as the local watershed organization to contact the City of Valdosta about organizing a presentation to the interested parties. Valdosta presented less than two weeks later, and brought their entire hierarchy related to this issue, from the mayor on down. Plus Lowndes County, which isn’t even responsible for Valdosta’s wastewater, was represented by their Chairman and a Commissioner. In Valdosta’s slides and the LAKE videos of that meeting of Tuesday 17 March 2015, you can see many questions were answered, but some are still open. Continue reading →

Third Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race

Saturday May 16th 2015 at Reed Bingham State Park, 300x388 Flyer, in Third Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 16 May 2015 you can join the annual fun paddling down our south Georgia blackwater Little River past herons and alligators to the lake in Reed Bingham State Park, between Adel and Moultrie, equidistant from Tifton and Valdosta.

You can register online or at the event.

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How many Valdosta overflows into Knights Creek and the Alapaha River watershed?

And how many into Dukes Bay Canal, which also flows into Mud Creek, to the Alapahoochee River, to the Alapaha River, to the Suwannee River, to the Gulf? It’s great the Valdosta City Council Thursday will consider more fixes to wastewater problems in the Withlacoochee River watershed. But what is Valdosta doing about problems in the Alapaha River watershed?

The three Valdosta overflows into the Alapaha River watershed in February 2015 weren’t the first. How many others have there been?

This report is from 19 March 2014: Continue reading →

Video: River etiquette and invitation to the Alapaha River Water Trail Conference and outing

WWALS Treasurer Gretchen Quarterman invited everyone to discuss river etiquette and private property and to see the prizes awarded to the high school logo contest winners at the Alapaha River Water Trail Conference tomorrow, and to go on the river outing afterwards.

She spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard at the Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 10 March 2015.

Here’s the video:

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Prizes to high school logo contest winners Saturday at Alapaha River Water Trail Conference

Update 2015-03-16: South Georgia talent won the Alapaha River Water Trail Logo Contest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Prizes to high school logo contest winners Saturday at Alapaha River Water Trail Conference

Adel, March 10th 2015 — WWALS Watershed Coalition will award prizes to high school student artists for first, second, and third place logo contest winners and an honorable mention at the Alapaha River Water Trail Conference this Saturday March 14th, near Alapaha, Georgia. The winning logo will appear in an Alapaha River Water Trail brochure along with lists of prize contributors and Water Trail sponsors. The afternoon’s festivities will conclude with an easy paddle outing on the Alapaha River. facebook event.

The logo will be used on the Alapaha River Water Trail website, on promotional brochures, and on information at access points along the river that will be posted on kiosks.

Many thanks to the prize donors: Wild Adventures Theme Park, Hometown Handyman Chris Mericle, Camping World Retail Store, Dr. Bret Wagenhorst, Jasper Hardware, and Garry Gentry.

Winners will be announced, prizes awarded, and their logos unveiled at the

WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail Conference Continue reading →