Slightly earlier kayak raffle drawing for Big Tuna with paddle and seats 2022-12-07

Update 2022-12-07: Video: Kayak raffle winner @ Banks Lake Full Wolf Moon paddle 2022-12-07.

Due to the time change, the drawing will be slightly earlier, at 4:15 PM, still at Banks Lake Boat Ramp, just west of Lakeland, Georgia, before the Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle, Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

You do not have to be present to win this Jackson Big Tuna fishing kayak with two seats, a paddle, and PFDs.

[Raffle kayak at Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11]
Raffle kayak at Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11

You do have to get at least one raffle ticket: Continue reading

Pictures: Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11

I didn’t know there was a Hahira Veterans Day Parade.

Turns out that’s because there wasn’t one since the 1950s, until Friday. WWALS was invited to participate, so we did.

[Hahira Veterans Day Parade, WWALS Booth, Inside]
Hahira Veterans Day Parade, WWALS Booth, Inside

Among the many WWALS members who are veterans, Vanessa and Nick Kroening rode in the parade with their children Jonah and Primrose. Continue reading

Videos: Suwannee River Nights –Emmett Carlisle @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

Emmett Carlisle from Gainesville, Florida, won Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin with Suwannee River Nights, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. That came with $50 and a plaque.

[Collage @ LCC 20 August 2022]
Suwannee River Nights by Emmett Carlisle @ LCC 20 August 2022

Thanks for playing, Emmett!

Continue reading

Good river water quality, but rain 2022-11-10

Update 2022-11-15: Creeks bad, mostly OK River Water Quality 2022-11-13.

For once my recommendation is not directly based on the most recent water quality test results, rather on the weather. Because of the recent rain, I wouldn’t paddle on the Withlacoochee or Little Rivers except downstream from the GA-FL line. The Alapaha and Suwannee will probably be OK.

[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide]
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide

All WWALS water quality results for Thursday are pretty clean, with several of them actually showing zero E. coli. No new sewage spills have been reported in the Suwannee River basin in Georgia or Florida (yet). Valdosta did get high numbers at US 41 and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River last week, but their Monday results (the most recent we’ve seen from them) are normal. Continue reading

Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle, 2022-12-07

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

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

Take a mid-week break on Banks Lake, with a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle.

When: Gather 4 PM, launch 4:30 PM, moonrise 5:07 PM, sunset 5:31 PM, end 6:30 PM, Wednesday, December 7, 2022

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]
Sunset

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Videos: Judges play, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

MC Chuck Roberts introduced all three judges, and Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers each played a song, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022.

[Judges Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 20 August 2022]
Judges Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 20 August 2022

Here’s a WWALS video playlist: Continue reading

Florida Right to Clean Water: get petition signatures for court review 2022-11-10

Update 2023-04-01: Florida Right to Hunt and Fish breezing through legislature towards 2024 ballot 2023-03-27.

Floridians, now’s the time to get the petition through the first hurdle: Florida Supreme Court review by March 1, 2023. 223,000 signatures is doable if enough people help.

If you’re a registered Florida voter, go here and sign the petition:
https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/

[Unite for Clean Water flyer]

And join the campaign:
https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/uniteforcleanwater

Individuals, groups, businesses, or non-profits: all can help get constitutional protection for our rivers, creeks, springs, sinks and swamps, not to mention drinking water.

More about Right to Clean Water in Florida and Georgia here:
https://wwals.net/issues/right-to-clean-water/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

NFRWSP Constraint Meeting, 2022-11-15

Update 2022-11-16: Videos: North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan meeting @ SRWMD 2022-11-15.

Update 2022-11-15: Figures and Tables from NORTH FLORIDA SOUTHEAST GEORGIA GROUNDWATER MODEL (NFSEG V1.1) 2019-08-01.

January will be six years since SRWMD and SJRWMD passed the North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan (NFRWSP), mostly ignoring input from interested parties. It’s back for renovations, with public comment at the end of the workshops. Maybe you’d like to attend and comment, or send them written comments.

When: 2 PM, Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Put In: District Headquarters, 9225 CR 49, Live Oak, FL 32060

Figure C3: Aquifer surface change due to withdrawals in north Florida and south Georgia
Figure C3: Aquifer surface change due to withdrawals in north Florida and south Georgia

Continue reading

Tickets: Floyd’s Island Okefenokee Camping, 2022-11-19

Update 2022-11-08: Tickets for the Refuge fee:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/okefenokee-paddle-and-floyds-island-camping-tickets-464297485277?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Because of the time change from DST to EST, the sun will set at 5:30 PM, so Shirley has moved the gather and launch times an hour earlier, to “give everyone time to get to Floyd’s and set up camp before it gets dark. Saturday we will be on the water by 9 a.m. so come early enough (8 AM) to have your boat loaded. Remember to have a bow line on your kayak to tie off at Minnie’s Shelter, the only rest stop. It may also come in handy if we have to get out and drag through low spots. If we want a campfire, it helps to carry firewood. I’ll bring some that we can divide up and everyone can carry a piece or two. Sunday will be a leisurely launch time.”

This is primitive, wilderness camping and paddling at its best.

To come on this outing be sure that you are comfortable paddling your loaded boat for 9 miles against a moderate current with only 1 stopping point to get out for a break. Minnie’s Lake platform is the 4 mile lunch stop, then 5 more miles to Floyd’s Island.

Yes, there will be alligators in the heart of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

[Gator and kayak]
Gator and kayak

Continue reading

WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11

Update 2022-11-13: Pictures: Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11.

WWALS was invited to participate in the annual Hahira Veterans Day Parade. Some WWALS veterans will be in the parade; others are invited to help at the WWALS booth.

All WWALS members are also invited to help at the booth.

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 11 AM, Friday, November 11, 2022

Put In: Downtown Hahira, between the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers, on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

Event: facebook,

[WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade]
WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade

Continue reading