Tag Archives: Alapaha River Water Trail

Creek and river water quality problems 2022-11-03

Update 2022-11-11: Good river water quality, but rain 2022-11-10.

Downstream of the Little River Confluence should be fine for boating, swimming, or fishing in the Withlacoochee River this weekend, and apparently same for the Little and Alapaha Rivers.

On the Withlacoochee River, I got a high E. coli result at Langdale Park Boat Ramp, but there’s not enough water to paddle there anyway.

No new sewer spills have been reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.

[Chart, Creeks and Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-11-03]
Chart, Creeks and Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-11-03

WWALS tested 23 sites yesterday: the usual 1 on the Alapaha River, 2 on the Little River, and 9 on the Withlacoochee River and 11 on its upstream creeks Cat Creek, Beatty Branch, and Beaverdam Creek, plus Sugar Creek.

We are trying to find the source of the high E. coli Valdosta keeps finding at US 41 and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Frost Moon Paddle, 2022-11-08

Update 2022-11-18: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Frost Moon paddle 2022-11-08.

Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our mini-Okefenokee, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia. There may also still be bats.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, moonrise 5:52 PM, sunset 5:39 PM, end 7 PM, Tuesday, November 8, 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 and Moonrise, 2022-10-09, jsq & EB]
Sunset and Moonrise, 2022-10-09, jsq & EB

Continue reading →

Pictures: Alapaha, Dead Rivers, Sink 2022-10-02

Not many miles, but packed with sinks, a beach, two rivers, and the big one: the Dead River Sink, on October 2, 2022. Thanks, Dennis Price, for leading us, and for chainsawing our way in.

[Sasser Landing, Alapaha River, Dead River Sink 2022-10-02]
Sasser Landing, Alapaha River, Dead River Sink 2022-10-02

Thanks to Randy Madison for the ropes that got the boats up the cliff at the Confluence.

Thanks to Phil Royce for helping haul a couple of boats up the Jennings Bluff stairs.

More pictures are below. They’re also in a facebook photoset.

See also facebook photosets by: Continue reading →

WWALS at Alapaha Station Celebration 2022-11-12

Update 2023-10-29: Pictures.

Join us at the historic railroad station in Alapaha, Georgia, near Sheboggy Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, the most upstream public landing on the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail.

The Alapaha Station Celebration theme this year is “Alapaha Strong! On November 12 the celebration will deliver a parade and free entertainment.” Plus food vendors.

When: 9 AM, Saturday, November 12, 2022

Put In: Alapaha Station, 245 NE Railroad Street, Alapaha, Georgia 31622

GPS: 31.38103, -83.222412

[2019 Alapaha Station Celebration]
2019 Alapaha Station Celebration

Continue reading →

Pictures: Alapaha Station Celebration 2019-11-09

2019 was the last year the Alapaha Station Celebration was held, and WWALS was there for the sixth year running.

[WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman, Berrien County photographer Wenda Gaile Bailey, WWALS booth]
WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman, Berrien County photographer Wenda Gaile Bailey, WWALS booth

Yes, it’s back this year, at the historic railroad station in Alapaha, Georgia, near Sheboggy Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, the most upstream public landing on the WWALS Alapaha River Water Trail. We will be back there. Stay tuned. WWALS at Alapaha Station Celebration 2022-11-12. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Hunters Moon 2022-10-09

Bonus Jupiter above and to the right of the full moon, at Banks Lake Saturday.

[Banners, paddlers, sunset, moonrise]
Banners, paddlers, sunset, moonrise

This expedition was honoring Farmers and First Responders, got in free. Phil Royce spoke up for First Responders, but he’s a WWALS member, so he got in free anyway. I’m a Farmer, but I had relatives back at the farm, so I didn’t paddle.

Thanks to novice expedition leaders Scotti Jay and Nic Cole for leading this one. And to Elizabeth Brunner for mentoring them.

Special thanks to Nic Cole for paddling back in with the key to get gear for three latecomers. Everybody please remember to show up on time. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Full Hunter’s Moon Paddle 2022-10-09

Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, our mini-Okefenokee, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia. The bats are still flying.

This Outing is honoring Farmers & First Responders, who get free entry.

When: Gather 6 PM, launch 6:30 PM, moonrise 7:17 PM, sunset 7:08 PM, end 8 PM, Sunday, October 9, 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

[Paddlers, Sunset, Moonrise 2019-10-13; Photos: Bobby McKenzie]
Paddlers, Sunset, Moonrise, 2019-10-13; Photos: Bobby McKenzie

Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Hunters Moon paddle –Bobby McKenzie 2019-10-13

Three years ago on the Banks Lake Full Hunters Moon paddle.

[Sunset and Moonrise]
Sunset and Moonrise

Thanks, Bobby McKenzie for leading and for the pictures.

Banks Lake, our watery living room, our mini-Okefenokee, is part of the Alapaha River Water Trail.

For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings/ Continue reading →

Directions: Sasser Landing and Jennings Bluff, Alapaha River 2022-10-02

Update 2022-10-31: Pictures: Alapaha, Dead Rivers, Sink 2022-10-02.

Expedition leader Dennis Price reported on access for this morning’s Sunday: Paddle Sasser Landing to Jennings Bluff, Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, 2022-10-02.

[Signs to Alapaha River]
Signs to Alapaha River

Getting to Sasser Landing to deposit boats is still simple. From Jennings, Continue reading →

Pictures: Berrien Beach Cleanup, Alapaha River 2022-09-24

We got quite a bit of trash on a fun morning at Berrien Beach Boat Ramp in Berrien County and across the Alapaha River at Berrien Beach in Lanier County, in the September 24, 2022, River Alive cleanup.

[Banners, trash, and people at Berrien Beach Boat Ramp and Berrien Beach, Alapaha River 2022-09-24]
Banners, trash, and people at Berrien Beach Boat Ramp and Berrien Beach, Alapaha River 2022-09-24

The most unusual item was cash. Most of the rest was water, beer bottles, and plastic bags. And the usual used diapers. Plus a bumper. Continue reading →