Shirley Kokidko reported, “Not much full moon viewing with all the clouds tonight but a relaxing time and fun conversations make for a very pleasant evening.”
![[Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon, Cloudy but good conversation 2024-08-19]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-19--banks-lake-full-blue-moon-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon, Cloudy but good conversation 2024-08-19
Previously she noted, that Sturgeon moon was also a super moon and a seasonal blue moon, which occurs when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, instead of the usual three, according to Space.com. Continue reading
It was a gorgeous evening for a glassy Banks Lake paddle, with bats, sunset, and full moon, September 17, 2024.
![[Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Shirley Kokidko, expedition leader]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-17--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Shirley Kokidko, expedition leader
Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this expedition. Continue reading
You don’t have to be in Georgia, and you don’t have to wait until Tuesday,
to donate to this fundraiser to support WWALS:
https://www.gagives.org/story/Wwals-Gagives2024
WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.
“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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-15--banks-lake-full-beaver-moon-pictures/many.jpg)
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
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).
![[Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-15--banks-lake-full-beaver-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA
After we asked several weeks for input on water trail signs and rack cards, the WWALS Outings Committee provided many opinions.
Here are the images that went to press Monday, September 30, 2024. That’s 10,000 copies each for the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT) and the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).
They’re the same size as the WWALS z-fold brochures for the same water trails. But rack cards are a single sheet, front and back. They are much less expensive to print, so more appropriate for Interstate highway welcome centers and such.
They each have a QR code and a URL for finding more information.
I especially like the ARWT front. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-26: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17.
Come out and join us for a leisurely sunset and full moon paddle.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7 PM, moonrise 7:31 PM, sunset 7:35 PM, end 8:30 PM, Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-17--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia
Some of the WWALS water trail signs have been stolen, others shot up, and some places and rivers we never placed any.
Due to generous grants from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR) and the Hamilton County, Florida, Tourist Development Council (TDC), we are working up new signs.
After spending many months rationalizing river miles and icons, we solicit your input as we start designing the new signs.
What landmarks or interesting sites do you think should be mentioned on the signs?
Please enter your suggestions here:
https://forms.gle/LTryv7yqdHFd54rq8
The GA-DNR grant funds road signs, which are in a fixed format, at-water signs, which will have details upstream and downstream. They are for:
Follow the links for what we have so far for each of these water trails.
https://wwals.net/water-trails/
The GA-DNR grant also funds rack cards. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-28: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2024-08-19.
August’s full moon, called the Sturgeon moon, will be a super moon and a seasonal blue moon, which occurs when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, instead of the usual three, according to Space.com. These two events make this moon fairly rare, so it will be a sight to see.
When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:29 PM, sunset 8:10 PM, end 9:15 PM, Monday, August 19, 2024
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Full, Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Seasonal Blue Moon 2024-08-19]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-19--banks-lake-full-blue-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full, Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Seasonal Blue Moon 2024-08-19
Thanks to Emily Ferrall for the overview of the bats of Georgia. She including species likely to occur at Banks Lake, and footage of the Douglas warehouse bats. She mentioned the Anabat Acoustic Survey Volunteer Project. There was discussion of the Okefenokee Swamp, in a lively question and answer period.
Here’s the zoom video:
https://youtu.be/vLrNyShslSI
Emily Ferrall is a Wildlife Biologist, in the Wildlife Resources Division of the Wildlife Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR).
She specializes in research and monitoring for nongame mammals in Georgia and spends much of her time working with bats. Emily has been with GA DNR since 2016. Emily earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Georgia with an emphasis in wildlife science.
Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman said a few words about what WWALS does, and WWALS Board President Sara Jay Jones gave a brief introduction, before Emily Ferrall spoke for about 45 minutes, followed by the Q&A period. Continue reading
![[Day of Giving 2024: Banks Lake, Alapaha River Rise, Juneteenth, Festivals, Chainsaw Cleanups, Sewage, Water Quality, Okefenokee Swamp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-21--day-of-giving/fbmany.jpg)
![[Rack Cards for the Alapaha River Water Trail and the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail 2024-09-30]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-30--rack-cards/many.jpg)
![[Input Solicited for Water Trail Signs on the Withlacoochee, Little, Alapaha, Alapaha, and Suwannee Rivers in Georgia and Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-05--water-trail-signs/fbmany.jpg)
![[Bats of Georgia, Emily Ferrall, GA-DNR 2024-08-15, A WWALS Webinar, Banks Lake, Douglas, GA, Okefenokee Swamp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-15--bats-webinar-pictures/fbmany.jpg)