Tag Archives: Banks Lake Outdoors

Lanier County Commission, Lakeland, Georgia 2025-08-11

I went to thank the Lanier County Commission for letting WWALS use the boats at Banks Lake Outdoors in our Full Moon Paddles. WWALS Outings Committee Co-Chairs Kim Tanner and Janet Martin are getting good use out of those boats.

[Lanier County Commission, Lakeland, Georgia, 2025-08-11, Boats at Banks Lake Outdoors, Comprehensive Plan and ARWT]
Lanier County Commission, Lakeland, Georgia, 2025-08-11, Boats at Banks Lake Outdoors, Comprehensive Plan and ARWT

And to ask if they mind if we put a small shed inside the outdoor fence for the paddles and PFDs so they don’t get left out in the rain and the sun. They said yes, they would accept that free gift.

This is what Janet suggests we get:

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Pictures: Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09

Thanks to Janet Martin for organizing this first in a series of casual Meet and Greets. This one was at beautiful Banks Lake. Where it rained the whole time, so we set up tables for the food on the porch at Banks Lake Outdoors and had a fine time.

[Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09, Rain and Thunder, Food and Cheer]
Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09, Rain and Thunder, Food and Cheer

Kim Tanner canceled the Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle afterwards because of rain an thunder, but the social went well anyway.

The next social is inside on a Sunday afternoon, Meet and greet at Georgia Beer Company, 2025-10-19.
https://wwals.net/?p=67851

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Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09

Update 2025-08-11: Pictures: Meet and Greet at Banks Lake 2025-08-09.

Join WWALS Watershed Coalition for a casual Meet and Greet at beautiful Banks Lake before our popular Full Moon Paddle! This is a great chance to meet WWALS members, chat about upcoming outings and advocacy work, and enjoy the evening air by the lake.

When: 6 PM to 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

[Meet and Greet at Banks Lake, 6 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025, Bring a chair, snacks; drinks; Paddle later or just sit and chat]
Meet and Greet at Banks Lake, 6 PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025, Bring a chair, snacks; drinks; Paddle later or just sit and chat

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Pictures: Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle –Kimberly Godden Tanner, 2024-11-15

“A great paddle with 8 boats and 13 paddlers! Beautiful sunset and moonrise!” said expedition leader Kimberly Godden Tanner about the Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle 2024-11-15 at Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

[Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2024-11-15 Sunset and Moonrise]
Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2024-11-15 Sunset and Moonrise

She added, “We had people from Tennessee, Alabama, and Tallahassee, Florida on this paddle.”

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading

Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, 2024-11-15

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

Since things are still unsettled after Hurricane Helene, bring extra PFDs and paddles if you have them, just in case.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, moonrise 5:18 PM, sunset 5:35 PM, end 7 PM, Friday, November 15, 2024

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

[Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA]
Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA

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Banks Lake closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene damage 2024-10-09

We will not be paddling for the Full Hunters Moon is tomorrow, Thursday, October 17, 2024, because Banks Lake is closed.

[Closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene Damage 2024-10-09: Banks Lake Outdoors and Banks Lake NWR]
Closed indefinitely due to Hurricane Helene Damage 2024-10-09: Banks Lake Outdoors and Banks Lake NWR

Banks Lake Outdoors facebook page, October 9, 2024:

Many of you have seen the massive number of trees down at the lake. Banks Lake Outdoors thankfully made it through Hurricane Helene with minimal damage. Much of the trees have been cleared; however, many upright trees remain unstable. Banks Lake, and the concession, will be closed to visitors until further notice.

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge:

Refuge CLOSED Due to Hurricane Helene Damage

Banks Lake NWR is CLOSED to all public access due to Hurricane Helene storm damage. Refuge staff have conducted initial inspections and clean up, however, conditions are still unsafe for public access. A date for reopening has not been determined. For more information, please contact refuge staff at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge at 912-496-7836.

We look forward to Banks Lake being reopened, and WWALS offers assistance.

Meanwhile, for other WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21

A dozen people were ready to paddle on a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, probably with bats, on Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.

[Banks Lake Full Buck Moon, Paddle didn't 2024-07-21, A dozen people, No paddles or PFDs]
Banks Lake Full Buck Moon, Paddle didn’t 2024-07-21, A dozen people, No paddles or PFDs

A few people brought their own paddles and PFDs, and they paddled anyway.

But there was a mixup with getting the paddles and PFDs from Lanier County.

Kimberly Godden Tanner, the outing leader, did not have those, so the WWALS paddle did not happen.

We will investigate a better way.

And thanks again to Lanier County for providing free rental of the kayaks and canoes and the paddles and PFDs.

Thanks to Kim for trying, and better luck next lunar month.

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.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, probably with bats.

When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 9:17 PM, sunset 8:34 PM, end 10 PM, Sunday, July 21, 2024

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

[Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21, West of Lakeland, GA, Probably with bats]
Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21, West of Lakeland, GA, Probably with bats

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Pictures: Banks Lake Full Buck Moon 2023-07-03

Thanks, Gee Edwards for leading us to see bats and impressive sunsets, on the Banks Lake Full Buck Moon paddle 2023-07-03.

[Pictures: Banks Lake, Full Buck Moon 2023-07-03, Bats, crimson sunset, aqua and indigo lake]
Pictures: Banks Lake, Full Buck Moon 2023-07-03, Bats, crimson sunset, aqua and indigo lake

Here are a couple of video snippets.

Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QzPJWtR07OYYYWky668-g1o&si=B4DHyUhinb-9t4Yd

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

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Pink Moon Paddle 2024-04-23

The bats were flying on a fine calm clear spring night as the sun set and the Full Pink Moon rose over Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia, Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

[Banks Lake Full Pink Moon, Paddle 2024-04-23, Thanks, Shirley Kokidko, and the bats]
Banks Lake Full Pink Moon, Paddle 2024-04-23, Thanks, Shirley Kokidko, and the bats

Here are some video highlights:
https://youtu.be/f4Tra_fSZDo?si=5o7e87acCR9Xf7KH

And as a facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/396221352796424

Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this expedition, and to Chris “Turtleman” Adams for paddling, along with everyone else.

Thanks to Lanier County for the free boat rental.

Join us this Friday for the WWALS Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon Paddle 2024-06-21.

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