Tag Archives: Blueway

4th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race @ BLRPR16

Update 2016-03-05: Poster, flyer, registration form, and a way to pay online!

7AM Saturday May 21st at Reed Bingham State Park, it’s the annual fundraiser for WWALS and Friends of Reed Bingham, back again by popular demand (facebook event, meetup event):

Paddling downstream A fun event for good causes. This four mile downstream paddle on flatwater takes you on a winding course through pretty south Georgia forest, under towering cypress trees, past live oaks, coppices of ogeechee tupelo, and majestic pines. The tannin stained blackwaters reflect the beautiful scenery and are typical of the coastal plain. Paddle it to win or just to enjoy. Cash prize to the paddler who finishes first. Medals to top finishers in several categories: male and female solo canoe, male and female solo kayak; male 2 person canoe, female 2 person canoe, mixed 2 person canoe, male tandem kayak, female tandem kayak, mixed tandem kayak. Entrance fee includes a free lunch at the end of the race. Fastest paddlers will complete in under an hour; slow paddlers in 1.5-2 hours. Bring your own boat or rent one from Reed Bingham State Park (advance reservations recommended).

There will be a registration fee, well worth it for the fun, community, and to support your friendly local watershed organization; details to come. Here are last year’s winners.

Meanwhile, these other events coming up sooner are free, Continue reading →

Pictures: A lovely short Little River paddle on a warm winter day 2016-01-16

Gretchen said: “Oh, what a lovely short paddle on a warm winter day!” Getting in the flow. She’d rather be on the river than in an airplane, as you can see in these pictures she took of the WWALS outing from GA-122 in Lowndes County to Lawson Millpond Road in Brooks County yesterday, 16 January 2016.

More outings and events coming up:

Watch the Continue reading →

Video: WWALS outings on Chris Beckham drive-time radio WVGA 105.9 FM 7:30 AM 2016-01-15

Here’s WWALS video of the radio interview this morning on WVGA 105.9 FM. It’s an invitation to tomorrow morning’s events, both at 10AM:

Chris also got me to say a few words about why WWALS formed in the first place, and why you should all join WWALS; it has to do with the 700-year flood in 2009.

Plus some plugs for Valdosta’s wastewater fixes and their recent LiDAR flight.

The one thing I realized on the way out I forgot to mention, the one item that caused me to schedule this interview, was the workshop at VSU February 27th about the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, featuring the visual beauty of all WWALS’ rivers in an art exhibit and silent auction, the geology on display by Dennis Price, and the remains of past people and cultures still visible along the river by Tom Baird.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on the Little River, or other WWALS members look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on the Suwannee River. If not tomorrow, there’s plenty more to do on our beautiful south Georgia and north Florida blackwater rivers!

Here’s the video:

Continue reading →

WWALS outings on Chris Beckham drive-time radio WVGA 105.9 FM 7:30 AM 2016-01-15

Everybody listens to the radio in the car on the way to work, and Friday morning 8:30 AM I’ll be talking about paddling this Saturday morning 10AM on the Little River from GA 122 between Hahira and Barney to Lawson Millpond Road; it’s a nice brief 2.5 hour paddle along the Brooks-Lowndes County river border: you can do it!

When: 7:30AM Friday January 15th 2016

Where: 105.9 FM WVGA, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia

What: John S. Quarterman, president of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., on Chris Beckham drive-time radio show

How: Continue reading →

Staten Road bridge to Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River through Valdosta 2016-03-20

Update 2016-03-24: Pictures.

Explore the Withlacoochee River as it meanders thru the edge of Valdosta, past Shadrick Sink, Cherry Creek, and under North Valdosta Road, Back along the bank on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail. Wave at some of your friends in the houses nearby.

Update 2016-03-19: Yes, there are potholes at Staten Road Bridge, but that never stopped us from paddling. Come on down!

Update 2016-03-14: Langdale Park will be closed, but VLPRA will let us in.

Event: facebook or meetup.

When: 9AM Sunday March 20th 2016

Put in: Staten Road Bridge, 7.1 miles north of Valdosta, Lowndes County.

Take out: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602, Lowndes County.

Distance: About 5 miles

Duration: About 2.5 hours

Shuttle: About half an hour

Take out: Langdale Park Boat Ramp

Also passing: Bay Branch, Sermons Branch (if that is its real name), Withlacoochee Slough at Cherry Creek, Cherry Creek Sink, and Stillhouse Branch coming out of Valdosta Country Club.

Responsible party: Chris Mericle

Local host: John S. Quarterman

Directions from Valdosta: head north on Ashley Street, turn left on Oak Street Extension,

Directions from I-75: take exit 22, go east on North Valdosta Road, left on Perimeter Road, left on Oak Street, continue onto Staten Road, cross Orr Road, and after about 2/3 of a mile just before the bridge, turn off to the right.

Map from Staten Road Bridge to Langdale Park Boat Ramp

Too low: we’re guessing 2 feet on either the at Skipper Bridge or US 41 gauges.

Too high: flood stage is 15 feet at Skipper Bridge and at US 41.

This outing is Free! But we encourage you to join WWALS today to support our fun outings and important work: /donations/. See our newsletters, and the press Releases and news. And consider joining the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail Committee.

Backup in case of low or high water:

Where: Ray’s Millpond

When: 9AM March 20th 2016

Directions: From Valdosta, north on Bemis Road (GA 125) to Ray City, right on Jones St. to boat ramp.

Coming up even sooner:

For more outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar.

-jsq

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Staten Road Bridge, Withlacoochee River

About 7 miles north of the Lowndes County Courthouse in Valdosta, Georgia, Looking back 30.9328365, -83.2886352 you can get to the Withlacoochee River at the new(-ish) Staten Road Bridge, 30.9324760, -83.2883453. This is at Mile 73.3 on the Withlacoochee River Water Trail.

From Valdosta, go north up Oak Street until Continue reading →

Satilla River Water Trail in Brunswick News

WWALS is pleased to see our neighbors to the east following suit and working toward establishing a water trail like the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). With time, the beautiful blackwater rivers of the coastal plains may become a paddling destination of choice for northern paddlers looking for a pleasant and scenic place to paddle in winter and for locals wishing to reconnect with their regional natural heritage.

-Bret Wagenhorst, WWALS board member

And don’t forget the logo contest for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT), with prizes to be announced at the WLRWT workshop February 27th at VSU.

Gordon Jackson, Brunswick News, 10 Decewmber 2015, Support growing for Water trail along Satilla,

WOODBINE — Organizers believe a proposed 175-mile water trail on the Satilla River could help Southeast Georgia meet the growing demand for outdoor recreation activities.

The Satilla River Water Trail would stretch from Pierce County to Camden County, with public access points with boat launches and highway bridge crossings.

The Camden County Commission joined a long list of municipalities from Pierce, Ware, Brantley and Charlton counties to express support for creating a water trail. They hope to take advantage of the growing demand for outdoor recreation activities in the state. There are more than 1 million paddlers in Georgia, and more than $23 billion is spent Continue reading →

WWALS Outings and Events late 2015 – early 2016

Update 2016-04-03: Extra Withlacoochee outing by popular demand.

Coming up soon!

See the WWALS calendar for any more events already scheduled.

All these outings are in Georgia. Which is a switch, since Continue reading →