Every few years Banks Lake gets drained is an effort to stymie unwanted aquatic vegetation.
Hydrilla verticillata forms dense mats at the surface of the water. The dense mats can Continue reading
Tag Archives: Lakeland
Capt. Henry Will Jones Bridge, Alapaha River, Lakeland, Lanier County, GA
Nobody seems to know the bridge just east of Lakeland has a name: Captain Henry Will Jones Bridge. Just below it is Lakeland Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). We’ll be going by there in a few months on the Alapaha Quest.
Scott Thompson, Pieces of Our Past, November 30, 2015, CAPTAIN HENRY WILL JONES,
Henry Will Jones was born about 1917 in what became Lanier County just as our country was entering World War I. After Continue reading
Cherry Creek and Grand Bay Creek
Does Cherry Creek come from Grand Bay? This question came up about Valdosta’s Cherry Creek Lift Station Spill. No, but you weren’t alone if you didn’t know that.
Cherry Creek (lower left) and Grand Bay Creek (right)
Cherry Creek runs into the Withlacoochee River, and comes from very near Grand Bay, but not Continue reading
Pafford’s Landing, Alapaha River
Plenty of trash to pick up on the site of the WWALS Rivers Alive Cleanup and Paddle Outing, Alapaha River 2017-09-10.
Such a nice river. Come help clean it up!
See also one reason we always give a safety lecture before boating.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
Continue readingBurnt Church access to Alapaha River 2017-08-18
Historic church, steep downhill access to the Alapaha River, and lots of trash.
Why would anybody trash a nice river like that? Continue reading
Pictures: Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle 2017-07-08
Lights! Full Moon! Paint! Rice and watermelon! Fun was had by all last Saturday on the WWALS watery living room, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, GA on GA 122.
Only saw one gator, and he got scared away by all the boats. Didn’t see any moccassins, but I bet they were there in the lily pads on the west side across the lake, where we turned back.
Paddlers with WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper Banners, 31.0351925, -83.0965187
The total I think was seventeen paddlers in sixteen boats, some not pictured here due to not arrived yet, or something.
Movie: Tom Cramer and his wife Barb are the volunteers at Banks Lake Outdoors (26M)
Continue readingBanks Lake Outdoors 2017-05-05
Yes, there are kayaks for rent! And Tom says he’s happy to stay open this Saturday, July 8, 2017, for the Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle.
If the store’s not open, knock on the RV next to it. Continue reading
Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle 2017-07-08
Bring bon-bons, lights, and boats to paddle the moonlit mysteries of our own mini-Okefenokee: Banks Lake, as the sun sets between Lakeland, GA and I-75.
Bring something somewhat more substantial
and we will have a brief pot-luck at the gazebo before paddling.
No cooking at the site.
When: 8PM Saturday, July 8, 2017
Where:
Banks Lake Boat Ramp,
1099 W Main St. (GA 122), Lakeland, GA 31635.
Or: 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, Lanier County
GPS: 31.03492, -83.09619
Duration: Continue reading
Berrien Beach Landing (GA 168) to Lakeland (GA 122), WWALS Outing 2017-02-11
12 + 4 boats and about 18 paddlers went even faster down the Alapaha River than we expected: six hours on the water between GA 168 and GA 122, including a lunch stop. That’s about 3 miles per hour on a chilly morning and a fine breezy warm day. And there were bon-bons and kumquats!
WWALS banner at lunch stop; picture by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS.
Lots of native vegetation, no invasive species, some birds (buzzards, ducks, heron, flycatcher, cardinals), no animals on the land or in the water. People fishing at Lakeland said they didn’t even get a nibble. I did see a few fish beds below a creek confluence.
The water level was Continue reading
GA 168 (Berrien Beach) to GA 122 (Lakeland) Alapaha River Outing 2017-02-11
Long, but if the water is high, should be fast: 16 1/2 miles from Berrien Beach Landing
to Lakeland Boat Ramp on the lovely wild
Alapaha River Water Trail.
As long as the rains keep coming, the river should be high and it should take less
time than the usual estimate of eight hours.
Bring the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
There is no good place to take out before the end point, so be prepared to paddle all day.
When: 7:00AM, Saturday, February 11th, 2017
Put In: Berrien Beach Ramp, on GA 168 east of Nashville, Berrien County, Georgia, at 31.159076, -83.045554. Continue reading