Tag Archives: ARWT

Two Valdosta sewer projects from new municipal bonds, plus one from user fees @ VCC 2025-04-10

This should help Valdosta get ahead of sewer spills, maybe even fix sewer lines before they break. And maybe use competitive bids instead of sole-source emergency contracts.

Back at the April 10, 2025, Valdosta City Council meeting, two agenda items were for Professional Design Services Proposals financed from the recently-approved $67 million in municipal bonds. Both are related to the sewer line near Knights Creek that notoriously has spilled sewage multiple times.

Knights Creek runs into Mud Swamp Creek just below the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (MCWTP) and on to the Alapahoochee, Alapaha, and Suwannee Rivers.

[Two Valdosta sewer projects from new municipal bonds, plus one from user fees @ VCC 2025-04-10]
Two Valdosta sewer projects from new municipal bonds, plus one from user fees @ VCC 2025-04-10

That’s $485,010 for Continue reading →

Pictures: Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-05-12

Janet Martin led the evening paddle Monday, and wrote:

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s Full Moon Paddle at Bank’s Lake! We had 9 participants in 6 boats, including two wonderful ladies who drove all the way from Tallahassee to join us!

A special shout-out to Kim Tanner for bringing the banner and capturing the moment with a great group picture!

[Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-12, Lakeland, GA, Alapaha River Water Trail]
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-12, Lakeland, GA, Alapaha River Water Trail

The weather was absolutely perfect, and the sunset was nothing short of breathtaking. Huge thanks to Janet for leading and Pam for being our fantastic sweep for the night, ensuring everyone stayed safe and together.

And we are excited to welcome Nina as our newest member! Let’s give her a warm WWALS welcome!

Did you know? Continue reading →

Pictures: Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-03-14

It was perfect weather to see the sun set and the moon rise.

One person flew a thousand miles to paddle on Banks Lake at the Full Worm Moon.

Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for organizing this one.

[Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, 2025-03-14]
Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, 2025-03-14

Join us tomorrow for Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-05-12.
https://wwals.net/?p=67005

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see Continue reading →

Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-08-09

Update 2025-08-11: Cancelled due to rain and thunder. Pictures: Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09.

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:52 PM, sunset 8:20 PM, end 9:30 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025

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

[Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Saturday, August 9, 2025]
Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Saturday, August 9, 2025

Continue reading →

Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-07-10

Update 2025-07-18: Video: Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-07-10.

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Buck Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.

When: Gather 7:45 PM, launch 8:15 PM, moonrise 8:59 PM, sunset 8:39 PM, end 9:45 PM, Thursday, July 10, 2025

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

[Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Thursday, July 10, 2025]
Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA, Thursday, July 10, 2025

Continue reading →

Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-06-11

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Strawberry Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 9:25 PM, sunset 8:36 PM, end 10 PM, Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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

[Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025]
Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Continue reading →

Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River –Etta Lee 2025-05-04

Etta Lee tried paddling the Alapaha River from Lakeland Boat Ramp to Naylor Boat Ramp, in Lanier County, Georgia, but things did not go as planned.

[Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River @ 79.91 feet NAVD88, --Etta Lee, Sunday, May 4, 2025]
Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River @ 79.91 feet NAVD88, –Etta Lee, Sunday, May 4, 2025

She wrote, “I crashed on the rocks. There is a limb.in the middle that I caught. I am sorry that I added to litter with paddle and back pack 😥 All fine. I just should have had my paddle on a rope and backpack tied better.”

She provides warnings, Continue reading →

A Day in the Woods, Alapaha River, Gaskins Forest Education Center, 2025-04-12

Come see the WWALS Booth at this festival near Alapaha, Georgia. WWALS Members can volunteer to help with this education opportunity.

When: Gather 12 PM, festival 1 PM, end 5 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025

Put In: Gaskins Forest Education Center, 3359 Moore Sawmill Rd., Alapaha, Georgia 31622

GPS: 31.345454, -83.178356

[A Day in the Woods, Gaskins Forest Education Center, Alapaha River, Alapaha, GA 2025-04-12]
A Day in the Woods, Gaskins Forest Education Center, Alapaha River, Alapaha, GA 2025-04-12

According to the Gaskins Forest Education Center (GFEC), A Day in the Woods “is a non-commercial community event for people of all ages and backgrounds. Over 40 presenters with hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations related to natural resources. Varied fire demonstrations.” Continue reading →

ARWT signs planted at Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26

Update 2025-03-12: Mayday Landing ARWT Signs 2025-02-26.

Thanks to Echols County Manager Alan Levesque and the Echols County Road Crew for planting the Statenville Boat Ramp signs next to the ramp.

[ARWT signs planted, Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26, Thanks, Alan Levesque, Echols County Manager]
ARWT signs planted, Statenville Boat Ramp 2025-02-26, Thanks, Alan Levesque, Echols County Manager

I delivered them the previous day at an Echols County Comprehensive Plan Five-Year Update meeting. Continue reading →

Clean Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers 2025-03-06

Update 2025-03-14: Dirty Withlacoochee River 2025-03-12.

For the Withlacoochee River this week, WWALS got good results upstream and down, and Valdosta Utilities got good results for the Withlacoochee River at GA 133 and US 84.

We have no new water quality test results for Sugar Creek. Chances are that the previous sewage spill has washed out, although more testing would be good.

WWALS got excellent results for the Alapaha River at Naylor Park Beach.

No new sewage spills were reported in Florida or Georgia.

Saturday is supposed to be mostly rainless, before thunderstorms Sunday. River levels are good.

So happy fishing, swimming, paddling, and boating Saturday!

[Clean Alapaha and, Withlacoochee Rivers, 2025-03-05, 2025-03-06]
Clean Alapaha and, Withlacoochee Rivers, 2025-03-05, 2025-03-06

Join us tomorrow for the Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08
https://wwals.net/?p=67153

Or come on down to the WWALS Booth at Azalea Festival, One Mile Branch, Drexel Park, Valdosta, GA 2025-03-08.
https://wwals.net/?p=67089

And Saturday week join us for the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle.
https://wwals.net/?p=66833

Continue reading →