Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. Maybe the bats will be flying.
When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:20 PM, moonrise 8:14 PM, sunset 7:40 PM, end 9 PM, Friday, March 14, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake 2025-03-14, Kimberly Godden Tanner, Maybe with bats]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-14--banks-lake-full-worm-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake 2025-03-14, Kimberly Godden Tanner, Maybe with bats
Update 2025-02-13: Pictures: Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12.
Join us or a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia, on GA 122.
When: Gather 5:30 PM, launch 5:55 PM, moonrise 6:35 PM, sunset 6:18 PM, end 7:30 PM, Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Sunset, Moonrise, Possibly bats]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-02-12--full-snow-moon-banks-lake-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Sunset, Moonrise, Possibly bats
Update 2025-01-26: Cleaner but still dirty Sugar Creek 2025-01-24.
Due to the ice storm, nobody sampled this week since Monday: not WWALS and not Valdosta.
So here is what data we do have from Friday about Sugar Creek (filthy), Sunday about Franks Creek and the Withlacoochee River (good), and Monday about the New River in Tifton (good).
Valdosta Utilities drew samples today from Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River, and their results should be up tomorrow on their 2025 Sugar Creek Spill Testing web page. More about Sugar Creek below.
Most of the river gauges we follow couldn’t handle the sleet, snow, or rain Wednesday, so we don’t know how much preciptation fell. From the few that did register, probably up to an inch or more.
Which means more contamination probably washed into the waterways.
Since the weather prediction is freezing at night and cold during the day this weekend, I wouldn’t be paddling. If you must go out in a power boat while the rivers are up a bit, best not to get the water on you.
Or join us tomorrow for an on-land cleanup on One Mile Branch at Wainwright Driver in Valdosta, on the Azalea City Trail.
https://wwals.net/?p=66659
Update 2025-01-24: Filthy Sugar Creek 2025-01-17; Clean Withlacoochee River and Franks Creek 2025-01-19; Clean New River 2025-01-20.
Thursday WWALS water quality samples showed the Alapaha River clean at Lakeland and Naylor.
But Valdosta Thursday samples showed Sugar Creek worse again at Gornto Road.
As noted yesterday, the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers also seem clean, although I’d avoid the Withlacoochee near Sugar Creek, and Sugar Creek itself.
We hear there is a Sugar Creek bypass, but that creek is still filthy from the sewer line break upstream of Gornto Road on down to the Withlacoochee River.
If you like rain (Saturday) or cold (Sunday), this weekend may be good to paddle, motor, swim, or fish, elsewhere, such as the Little, Alapaha, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, or Suwannee Rivers.
![[Alapaha River clean, Sugar Creek worse 2025-01-16, Rain coming Saturday, Cold all next week]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-16--wq/many.jpg)
Alapaha River clean, Sugar Creek worse 2025-01-16, Rain coming Saturday, Cold all next week
WWALS tester Kimberly Godden Tanner for Thursday got zero (0) E. coli at Lakeland Boat Ramp. Can’t get cleaner than that. Continue reading
It was fun, the Sasser Landing Cleanup on the Alapaha River 2024-07-13. We also went to Jannings Bluff Landing and the Dead River Sink, all by land.
![[Sasser Landing Cleanup, Alapaha River 2024-07-13, Jennings Bluff, Dead River Sink]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-07-13--sasser-cleanup-pictures/many.jpg)
Sasser Landing Cleanup, Alapaha River 2024-07-13, Jennings Bluff, Dead River Sink
Thanks to Dennis J. Price for leading this expedition in Hamilton County, Florida.
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter. Continue reading
Expedition leader Janet Martin prudently cancelled the Full Wolf Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, because it was cold and still raining.
![[Cancelled Full Wolf Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Quite cold, still raining]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-13--banks-lake-wolf-moon-paddle-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Cancelled Full Wolf Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Quite cold, still raining
The sky was uniformly moon colored, but no moon or sun was to be seen.
Thanks to Lanier County, WWALS does have access to the kayaks and canoes, PFDs and paddles. Continue reading
Update 2025-01-17: OK Little and Withlacoochee Rivers, Dirty New River, Filthy Sugar Creek 2025-01-15.
Update 2025-01-13: Sugar Creek still filthy Saturday in Valdosta test results 2025-01-11.
Update: 2025-01-11: Samantha Carr, WWALS Intern and water quality tester 2025-01-10.
Sugar Creek is still filthy from the sewer line break upstream of Gornto Road on down to the Withlacoochee River.
The Little River tested clean at Troupville Boat Ramp Sunday, and the Withlacoochee River tested clean Thursday at Langdale Park upstream of Valdosta and OK Wednesday at Holly Point, a few miles from the Suwannee River.
The Alapaha River tested clean Thursday at Lakeland Boat Ramp and Naylor Park Beach.
Valdosta Utilities has not yet posted its Withlacoochee River results for this week.
No new sewage spills have been reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida, but in Georgia the Valdosta Sugar Creek broken sewer pipe finally showed up today.
This weekend, I’d avoid Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River near downstream from it. If you like cold, this weekend may be good to paddle, motor, swim, or fish, elsewhere, such as the Little, Alapaha, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, or Suwannee Rivers.
![[Filthy Sugar Creek, OK Withlacoochee River, Clean Alapaha River, 2025-01-09]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-09--wq/many.jpg)
Filthy Sugar Creek, OK Withlacoochee River, Clean Alapaha River, 2025-01-09
Update 2025-01-14: Pictures: Cancelled Full Wolf Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-01-13.
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
Please be aware that the weather prediction is high 53 low 39F. Sunny during the day, but temperatures will drop rapidly after dark. Dress warmly and bring a dry clothes bag just in case.
When: Gather 5 PM, launch 5:20 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:52 PM, end 7 PM, Monday, January 13, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake paddle, Full Wolf Moon 2025-01-13, Maybe bats, Certainly cold]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-13--full-wolf-moon-paddle-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake paddle, Full Wolf Moon 2025-01-13, Maybe bats, Certainly cold
Thanks, Kim Tanner, for leading this paddle.
![[Banks Lake Full Cold Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA 2024-12-15]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-12-15--banks-lake-full-cold-moon-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Cold Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA 2024-12-15
Thanks to Lanier County and Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
See also Video: Kayak raffle drawing for Skimmer 128 Hurricane kayak at Banks Lake 2014-12-15.
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading
Update 2024-01-04: Filthy Sugar Creek and Withlacoochee River 2025-01-02.
Update 2024-12-29: Sugar Creek sewer lines, Valdosta, GA 2024-12-29.
Sugar Creek is still filthy from Gornto Road to the Withlacoochee River.
Rain is predicted for this weekend, which will probably make it worse.
The Alapaha River is OK at Sheboggy Boat Ramp near Alapaha, Georgia.
We have no other river results, due to the holidays.
No new sewage spills have been reported in the past week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
No flooding is shown on any river gauge in the Suwannee River Basin. The Santa Fe River at Fort White is still too low to paddle.
So if you like cold and wet, this weekend may be good to paddle, motor, swim, or fish, as long as you avoid the vicinity of Sugar Creek and get out before the big rain Sunday.
Please note that the WWALS cleanup at Wainwright Drive on Sugar Creek for this Sunday has been rescheduled because of predicted rain. The new date is Saturday, January 25, 2025.
![[Sugar Creek still filthy, Alapaha River OK 2024-12-26 Thunderstorms predicted this weekend]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-12-26--wq/many.jpg)
Sugar Creek still filthy, Alapaha River OK 2024-12-26 Thunderstorms predicted this weekend
WWALS tester Heather Brasell for Thursday got OK results at the outflow creek from the Alapaha, Georgia, wastewater plant: 267 cfu/100 mL, which is below the 410 one-time-test limit.
She got 233 for the Alapaha River above Sheboggy Boat Ramp, also OK.
WWALS tester John S. Quarterman drew four Sugar Creek samples on Thursday.
At Baytree Road, the results were OK, with 200 cfu/100 mL.
At Gornto Road, we got Too Numerous to Count (TNTC). Continue reading
![[Filthy Sugar Creek 2025-01-17, Clean Withlacoochee River 2025-01-19, Clean Franks Creek 2025-01-19, Clean New River 2025-01-20]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-20--wq/many.jpg)