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).
![[Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21, West of Lakeland, GA, Probably with bats]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-07-21--banks-lake-full-buck-moon/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Buck Moon Paddle 2024-07-21, West of Lakeland, GA, Probably with bats
Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for leading and sending these pictures of the Banks Lake Full Flower Moon Paddle, Thursday evening, May 23, 2024.
![[Banks Lake Full flower Moon --Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-05-23--banks-lake-full-flower-moon-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full flower Moon –Kim Tanner 2024-05-23, Sunset, Moonrise
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading
Update 2024-05-24: Clean Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, and Ichetucknee Rivers 2024-05-22.
After the big rains Monday and Tuesday, the Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers tested dirty this Wednesday, as did almost every creek location in Valdosta’s followup testing, including Sugar Creek at Gornto Road, just above Valdosta’s Sugar Creek WaterGoat trash trap, and the last test site before the Withlacoochee River.
If I were you, I’d avoid the Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers this weekend. Maybe try the Suwannee River upstream from the Alapaha River, or the Santa Fe River upstream from the Ichetucknee River. Also, rain is predicted.
WWALS has cancelled the Suwannee River paddle for tomorrow, due to predicted thunderstorms. It will be rescheduled later.
Dirty Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers and creeks 2024-05-15;
The river tested too high in E. coli at all three of Valdosta’s test sites, North Valdosta Road (NVR), GA 133, and US 84, and way too high at Russ Tatum’s WWALS test site at Holly Point, below Allen Ramp in Florida. NVR (US 48) is upstream from all of Valdosta’s creek test sites for this week. There are a couple more creeks upstream from there that come out of Valdosta, but we also know something comes down Cat Creek after big rains. We have a grant application in to fund more testing up there. Continue reading
Update 2024-03-29: Rain and river contamination 2024-03-28.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Withlacoochee River and Alapaha Rivers. and for Thursday for the Alapaha River.
Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results for Wednesday are good, all two sites.
![[Chart, Clean Rivers, Map 2024-03-20]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-20--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Clean Rivers, Map 2024-03-20
There are no Valdosta Monday results, because, as we learned last week from Acting Utilities Director Jason Barnes, “we are collecting once a week.”
As previously noted, Valdosta’s last downstream tests were September 1, 2023. Since for two weeks now Valdosta has reported “No Sample” for North Valdosta Road, we guess they’re not collecting there any more, either.
Perhaps it is not coincidental that it is now three years (minus one month) since the March, 2020, GA-EPD Consent Order on Valdosta that required downstream testing as a way to reduce the amount of the fine.
It rained today, and more is predicted for tomorrow. That may wash some contamination into the rivers. I’d recommend the Suwannee, Alapaha, or Santa Fe Rivers for this weekend.
For example, join Shirley Kokidko and others Sunday, Suwannee River Wilderness Paddle, Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo 2024-03-24.
The rivers are at pretty good paddling levels, and it’s not cold. So watch the weather, bring rain gear, and happy paddling, fishing, and maybe swimming this weekend. Continue reading
Join us for a leisurely paddle on our watery living room, to see the sun set and the moon rise. The bats may be out, at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 6:45 PM, launch 7:15 PM, Sunset 7:48 PM, Moonrise 8:21 PM, End 9:00 PM, Monday, March 25, 2024
Put In:: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, just west of Lakeland.
![[Banks Lake Paddle, 2024-03-25, Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-03-25--banks-lake-full-worm-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Paddle, 2024-03-25, Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA
Update 2024-02-24: Clean Withlacoochee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers and Franks Creek 2024-02-21.
Update 2024-02-22: Valdosta Boone Drive and Knob Hill small sewage spills 2024-02-20.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers, and Franks Creek.
Valdosta’s recent upstream Withlacoochee River results through Wednesday are good.
Rain is predicted for this weekend, through Saturday. But if there is not much rain, paddling Sunday should be OK. If you like high water, since the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers are up from previous upstream rains. The Santa Fe River is coming back down. The Suwannee was never especially high.
WWALS has two outings coming up on Saturday, February 24, 2024: the morning paddle from Knights Ferry to Nankin on the Withlacoochee River, and the evening Full Snow Moon paddle on Banks Lake.
And of course don’t forget that Saturday, March 2, is the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle from Langdale Park to Troupville on the Withlacoochee River. That one is free, thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power.
![[Chart, Clean Franks Creek and Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers 2024-02-14, Map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-14--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Clean Franks Creek and Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Suwannee Rivers 2024-02-14, Map
No sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida in the past week.
But one was reported in Georgia. Ashburn had a spill of 3,000 gallons of raw sewage into Ashburn Branch, which flows into the Little River. Continue reading
Update 2024-02-16: Clean rivers and creek 2024-02-14.
We got good results for Wednesday for the Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe Rivers.
Valdosta’s Monday upstream Withlacoochee River and Three Mile Branch results were too high after the Sunday rain. Thanks to Valdosta Acting Utilities Director Jason Barnes for the Valdosta Wednesday results at GA 133 (OK) and US 84 (bad). He promises those and the US 41 (North Valdosta Road) Wednesday results will be on valdostacity.com website next week.
No rain is predicted for this weekend.
In the past week, no sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida.
So I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River from US 84 to the state line, but other than that, happy fishing, paddling, and swimming this weekend.
![[Chart, Three Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-07]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-02-07--wq/igmany.jpg)
Chart, Three Clean Rivers, Map 2024-02-07
Or join us tomorrow (Saturday) for Ichetucknee Polar Plunge and Paddle or Sunday for Sugar Creek to Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup. Continue reading
Update 2024-01-28: Four more Valdosta sewage spills 2023-12-17.
We got good results for Wednesday and Thursday for five rivers: Alapaha, Withlacoochee, Ichetucknee, Santa Fe, and Suwannee, plus Mud Swamp Creek, a tributary of the Alapaha. Valdosta’s Wednesday upstream Withlacoochee River results concur.
There is a 50% chance of rain on Sunday, but you can get on the water before then.
So happy fishing, paddling, and swimming this weekend.
Or join us tomorrow (Saturday) for Try again: Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, 2024-01-27.
![[Chart, Clean Rivers and Creek, Map 2024-01-25]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-01-25--wq/igmany.jpg)
Chart, Clean Rivers and Creek, Map 2024-01-25
One sewage spill was reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia last Thusrday: Ashburn spilled 100,000 gallons of raw sewage into Ashburn Creek, which ends up in the Little River far above Reed Bingham State Park.
In Florida, Lake Butler reported a spill at its airport, which apparently wasn’t enough to get into any waterway, much less the New River of the Santa Fe. Continue reading
Update 2024-01-19: Three Clean Rivers 2024-01-17.
We got bad results for Thursday for one Alapaha River site and horrible results for one Withlacoochee River site.
Russ Tatum’s Holly Point site went from zero E. coli for Wednesday to 5,000 for Thursday. We don’t know whether this is related to Valdosta’s Wednesday 100,000-gallon sewage spill into Three Mile Branch to the Withlacoochee River, but it could be. In the last week, no other pollution spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia, and none at all in Florida.
The most recent City of Valdosta Withlacoochee River results we have are for Monday, and they are all too high after last Saturday’s rain. There was more rain Tuesday, and a bit more yesterday (Friday).
If I were you, I would avoid the Withlacoochee and Alapaha Rivers this weekend. Maybe even the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers.
We shall see whether the Withlacoochee is clean enough and low enough Sunday week for the Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2024-01-21.
WWALS tester Kimberly Godden Tanner tested the Alapaha River at Lakeland Boat Ramp @ GA 122 and at Naylor Park Beach @ US 84. She wrote, “Both locations were clean [of trash]. The only additional item of note was a couple a dead fish on the ground at the boat ramp in Lakeland. I am not a fisher, so I am unaware of why this might be.” Continue reading
Update 2024-01-13: Valdosta sewage spill, Three Mile Branch, Withlacoochee River 2024-01-10.
We got excellent results for eleven sites on three rivers for Thursday: Alapaha, Withlacoochee, and Santa Fe. Valdosta’s Wednesday results on the Withlacoochee River in Georgia concurred. Even Valdosta’s weekly test results on Knights Creek concurred.
However, there was almost an inch of rain upstream this Saturday morning, so that may have washed E. coli into the rivers, but probably not a lot.
More rain is predicted starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, the rivers are back down to reasonable levels. So if you don’t mind being chilly, happy fishing, swimming, and boating this weekend, and once again Happy New Year!
Please join us on zoom this Thursday as Fannie Gibbs kicks off the new WWALS Webinar series.
Please join us in two weeks for a Sunday Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2024-01-21.
In the last week, no pollution spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida.
And no new ones in Georgia. But GA-EPD corrected the December 11 Valdosta major spill location on December 28 to 1850 E Park Ave. That’s better, since that is where the problem sewer line is. I still don’t know why latlong GPS coordinates cannot also be included. Florida requires them for every report.
On January 2, GA-EPD corrected the December 17 Quitman wastewater plant lift station spill to Quitman instead of DeKalb County.
Thanks, GA-EPD, for the corrections, after Suwannee Riverkeeper asked you to look into it. Continue reading
![[Chart, Rivers, Map 2024-01-11]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-01-11--wq/many.jpg)
![[Chart, Rivers, Map 2024-01-04]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-01-04--wq/many.jpg)