We thanked the Atkinson County Commission for this letter, and later got a copy of it. The letter probably helped with GA-EPD deciding to redesignate Recreational an upper segment of the Alapaha River Water Trail, one containing Willacoochee Landing in Atkinson County. More redesignations are possible later. There’s a GA-EPD Update Meeting next week.
![[Letter, Commission, Willacoochee Landing]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-06-23--atkinson-county-epd-recreational/many.jpg)
Letter, Commission, Willacoochee Landing
Below there is WWALS video of the winning song, described by Amanda M. Usher, Valdosta Daily Times, August 23, 2021, By the Riverside: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest winners revealed,
VALDOSTA — Sweet William Billy Ennis of Palatka, Fla., is the first-prize winner of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
![[First Prize Winner Sweet William Billy Ennis]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-23--songwriting-winners-vdt/many.jpg)
First Prize Winner Sweet William Billy Ennis.
Top: receiving the prize from Judge J.J. Rolle, introduced again by M.C. “Big Country” Wes James WAAC FM to play again.
Bottom: Sweet William Billy Ennis and his band playing his winning song, “Flat Bottom Boats.”
Photos: Angela Duncan for WWALS.The annual competition was sponsored by WWALS and took place Saturday Continue reading
Reaching into the fall sunset and moonrise begin to come earlier in the evening. This will be the last full moon with the most bat activity. Starting in October, bats begin to hibernate or migrate and we will not see them very active again until March or April 2022.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7 PM, moonrise 7:45 PM, sunset 7:31 PM, end 9 PM, Monday, September 20, 2021
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat, paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Lights: You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset. You must wear a PFD. A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.
Boats: Kayaks are available to borrow but please let us know at least 2 days prior to the event. Bring your own if you have it. Thanks to Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members.
You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net/outings
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join
![[Bats in that tree]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-07-23--banks-lake-full-moon-pictures/20210723_210034.jpg)
Bats in that tree,
Photo: John S. Quarterman, 2021-07-23.
The Lowndes County Commission started the process of taking over two flooded private roads, they adopted a fire department millage rate for all real and personal property in the unincorporated parts of the county, and they discussed how that millage was to aid population growth in the unincorporated areas, apparently including building closer to and perhaps in wetlands that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had recently decided were not Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). All these actions at their August 24, 2021, Regular Session, at least taken together, would seem to support sprawl.
![[Mud Swamp Road and Swamp Edge Drive adopted by Lowndes County, GA]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-24--mud-swamp-road/map-mud-swamp.jpg)
Mud Swamp Road and Swamp Edge Drive adopted by Lowndes County, GA,
in the lower left corner of this map, between two arms of Mud Swamp Creek,
in the WWALS
map of all public landings in the Suwannee River Basin.
Better would be to build only close in to existing services, instead of sprawling farther out, where no taxes will ever pay enough for sending school buses, Sheriff, and Fire. See this report the County commissioned: The Local Government Fiscal Impacts of Land Use in Lowndes County: Revenue and Expenditure Streams by Land Use Category, Jeffrey H. Dorfman, Ph.D., Dorfman Consulting, December 2007. As Dr. Dorfman summarized in a different presentation,
Continue readingLocal governments must ensure balanced growth, as
sprawling residential growth is a certain ticket to fiscal ruin*
* Or at least big tax increases.
Update 2021-09-10: Bad Little, Withlacoochee Rivers, good Alapaha River 2021-09-09.
In a very unusual configuration, the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers at GA 122 showed too much E. coli in Thursday samples, while everywhere downstream tested clean, also clean on the Alapaha River.
Whatever got into the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers upstream is no doubt washing downstream. Probably it will pass by in a day or two.
The Alapaha River would be a better choice for swimming, boating, and fishing this weekend.
The Folsom Bridge Gauge on the Little River at GA 122 showed very heavy rain Wednesday, 2.74 inches. Probably the same storm also rained on or above GA 122 on the Withlacoochee River at Hagan Bridge. Something washed into both rivers. Continue reading
Update 2021-09-03: Filthy upstream Little, Withlacoochee Rivers, clean downstream 2021-09-02.
Madison County, Florida, Health Department got very bad E. coli results for its Tuesday sample at Horn Bridge just north of the GA-FL line on the Withlacoochee River. And today, Thursday, Madison Health issued a Health Advisory.
The usual alert limit for E. coli is 1,000 cfu/100 mL, and this Tuesday result is more than three times that.
As you can see in the chart, there was not much rain upstream beforehand to wash anything into the river. Seems like something different than usual got into the Withlacoochee River. Continue reading
In addition to the Alapaha and Withlacoochee River segments GA-EPD has accepted to be redesignated Recreational, according to today’s update letter several others still could be considered with certain additional information, and still more can be nominated. This would be for the next Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards, which starts next year, 2022.
Read the whole thing here: PDF.
Excerpts related to the Suwannee River Basin are below. I’ve added a few comments in [square brackets].
The following waterbody segments are being proposed for designated use change to recreation for the 2019 Triennial Review. EPD has received complete nomination packages for each of these waterbody segments, including thorough documentation of year-round primary contact recreation throughout the length of the segment, current and planned investment data, and letters of support from community and stakeholders. A map of these waterbody segments can be found at
https://arcg.is/1i0ezv
![[Stretches redesignated Recreational]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-09-01--ga-epd-triennial-recreational/map-redesignated.jpg)
Stretches redesignated Recreational on the GA-EPD map.
- Alapaha River – Cherry Creek to Stateline
- Alapaha River – Willacoochee River to Dampier Branch
[Those two Alapaha River stretches omit Sheboggy Boat Ramp downstream from Alapaha, and Lakeland Boat Ramp, Pafford’s Landing, and Rowetown Church Landing downstream from Lakeland.]- Withlacoochee River – Tiger Creek to State Line
[Plus Reed Bingham State Park Lake on the Little River was already Recreational, even though it does not appear on the above GA-EPD map. The rest of the Little River we can resubmit.]
Incomplete nomination packages were received for the following waterbodies. EPD will continue to solicit information from the nominators to complete these packages. If EPD receives complete nomination packages, EPD will review the complete packages and consider changing the designated use of these waterbodies to recreation as part of the 2022 Triennial Review:
Missing Documentation of year-round primary contact recreation:
Continue reading
Update 2023-11-20: Vegetative Buffer Encroachment on Mud Swamp Creek for Valdosta Old Clyattville Road Widening 2023-10-19.
WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman heard it on Valdosta’s facebook livestream. The result was surprising only in that it was unanimous.
Bryce Ethridge, Valdosta Daily Times, Aug 24, 2021, City denies de-annexation request, approves park projects,
VALDOSTA — After tabling it at the last meeting, Valdosta City Council denied the de-annexation of 310 acres from the city.
This was a request made by the Uvalde Land Company for the city’s portion of the Cherry Creek Wetlands Mitigation Bank property located between the Withlacoochee River and Cherry Creek residential neighborhoods.
The company wanted the change for “wildlife management and recreational use” for a hunting ground.
The request, even before being brought up in the council meeting, was opposed by nearby residents, some of whom were concerned about being in the path of stray bullets because of their homes’ proximity to the area.
Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Carroll said the applicants can seek permits to hunt on the land while it remains within the city.
“None of the reasons given warrant the de-annexation of the property, especially when you consider there are a host of homeowners that have homes above this property,” he said. “They are citizens of Valdosta and they deserve to have their voices heard by their representatives.”
Carroll motioned to deny the request, followed by a unanimous vote in favor of the action.
![[Aerial of proposed de-annexation]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-05--vcc-pictures/20210805_180421.jpg)
Aerial of proposed de-annexation in
2021-08-05 Regular Session, Valdosta City Council
The picture is from the preceding City Council meeting, when they held the Public Hearing, before tabling at the landowner’s request.
Tim Carroll is visible behind the small monitor at the speaker’s podium. The de-annexation would have been from his City Council district, so, as is usual in such cases, the other Council members followed his lead, although some of them also had other reasons to deny.
See also: Continue reading
Kayakers wanted to volunteer to pace swimmers for the annual TCT7.
Kayakers will need to be there by 6:45 AM on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
There is the Lake Park 4-H Camp, 5000 4-H Club Road, Lake Park, GA US 31636, on the banks of Long Pond.
Anyone interested in volunteering to kayak can contact Andy Woods at (614) 312-9897.
They are expecting a huge turn out of swimmers since the event is going to be a qualifying event for local swim teams. Please see the following information from John Eunice, whose son the event memorializes.
Thank you for your support of the TCT7 Swim and the James Eunice Charity Fund. This year’s event is Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hahira, GA, August 30, 2021 — For the fourth year, people will paddle down the Withlacoochee River from Georgia three miles into Florida, and back upstream, in the WWALS Boomerang! Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are welcome to register starting at 9 AM, Saturday, October 23, 2021, to be on the water by 10:45 AM. There will be prizes, and food, and drink.
“This is a great way to bring the outdoors community together and showcase the recreational opportunities we have to offer locally,” said Boomerang mastermind Bobby McKenzie. “This event caters to all ages and skill levels, you can either blaze ahead and take first place overall, or push yourself for a personal achievement on the main course or one of the modified routes. You can even just come do a leisurely paddle with like minded outdoor enthusiasts. Just remember to make your way back before the time expires, at most will be 2.5 hours.”
Tickets are on sale now, $20 online until October 15, then $30 online or at the event.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwals-boomerang-paddle-race-2021-tickets-168646372841
State Line Boat Ramp is at 6461 Madison Highway, Valdosta, GA 31601. Heading south down I-75, take Exit 11, turn west, and keep going until you see the boat ramp sign, then turn right. From Madison, Florida, head up CR 150 until you cross the river, make a U-turn, and head down to the ramp.
Or use this GPS: 30.637844, -83.311149
From either direction, you’ll see a WWALS road sign for State Line Boat Ramp on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail. And down by the boat ramp we have two informational signs: what to see downstream and up, safety, etiquette, etc.
“Elected officials from Florida or Georgia are invited to come say a few words,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. The course starts in Lowndes County, Georgia, and goes through Brooks County, GA, and Madison and Hamilton Counties, Florida.
Bobby McKenzie added, “”We will have VSU CORE Outdoors and new Outfitter Madison Outpost Adventures once again offering canoe and kayaks for free. So your registration includes free boat rental if you don’t have anything to paddle. Just let us know what you need so we can match you up. We will also have food available for purchase from B’s Backporch BBQ in Clyattville!”
“Special thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA), whose park this is,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. “We always welcome additional sponsors!”
Bobby McKenzie said, “Also thanks to Olympia Bend Plantation for supporting us again this year. That shooting range neighbors Continue reading
![[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-09-02--wq/many.jpg)
![[Chart, Alert]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-31--wq/many.jpg)
![[Banner]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-09-12--tct7/banner.jpg)
![[Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-10-23--boomerang/big/WWALS-Boomerang-Flyer-2021-0001.jpg)