Tag Archives: Lanier County

Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River –Etta Lee 2025-05-04

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Etta Lee tried paddling the Alapaha River from Lakeland Boat Ramp to Naylor Boat Ramp, in Lanier County, Georgia, but things did not go as planned.

[Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River @ 79.91 feet NAVD88, --Etta Lee, Sunday, May 4, 2025]
Deadfall just above The Rocks, Alapaha River @ 79.91 feet NAVD88, –Etta Lee, Sunday, May 4, 2025

She wrote, “I crashed on the rocks. There is a limb.in the middle that I caught. I am sorry that I added to litter with paddle and back pack 😥 All fine. I just should have had my paddle on a rope and backpack tied better.”

She provides warnings, Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Cold Moon Paddle 2024-12-15

Thanks, Kim Tanner, for leading this paddle.

[Banks Lake Full Cold Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA 2024-12-15]
Banks Lake Full Cold Moon, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, GA 2024-12-15

Thanks to Lanier County and Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.

See also Video: Kayak raffle drawing for Skimmer 128 Hurricane kayak at Banks Lake 2014-12-15.

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

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle 2024-08-19

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]
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 →

Alapaha River Flooding 2024-10-03

Update 2024-10-04: Clean Withlacoochee River after Hurricane Helene, but much flooding and storm damage 2024-10-02.

The Alapaha River already flooded at Irwinville, Georgia and is back down. It is still in Minor Flood at Alapaha and Lakeland. If you are near the Alapaha River between US 82 and US 84, you may want to consider heading for higher ground. However, at Lakeland the river has crested and is dropping.

The river soon will be in flood at Statenville, Georgia, and Jennings, Florida. However, all of the bridges are still open.

[Alapaha River Flooding, Alapaha and Lakeland 2024-10-03, Soon at Naylor and Statenville, Then Jennings]
Alapaha River Flooding, Alapaha and Lakeland 2024-10-03, Soon at Naylor and Statenville, Then Jennings

You can see all the Alapaha River gauges at a glance on the WWALS web page Alapaha River water levels. 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.

For more Continue reading →

Lanier County new campground and recreation facility beside Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge –GOSP 2024-03-21

Congratulations, Lanier County, for getting a GOSP grant to enhance Banks Lake!

Lanier County
Improving Recreation & Water Quality; $1,491,057

Lanier County will construct a new campground and recreation facility that would serve the visitors to Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This project features wildlife viewing platforms, new waterway access and kayak launch, disc golf course, walking trail, boardwalk, and green space. The proposed campground will be equipped with full utility hookups, sanitary sewer, and shower and laundry facility.

This project also includes invasive species removal at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

[Lanier County new campground, and recreation facility, beside Banks Lake NWR, $1,491,057 from GOSP 2024-03-21]
Lanier County new campground, and recreation facility, beside Banks Lake NWR, $1,491,057 from GOSP 2024-03-21

This was the only GOSP grant awarded in the Suwannee River Basin.

Lanier County applied in several previous years, and finally got the grant.

If I am not mistaken, this project will mostly be on county-owned land east of Banks Lake Boat Ramp, west of the Rivers Farm House. Continue reading →

Trash at Mayday Landing Hotchkiss Road Landing on the Alapaha River 2022-02-03

At Mayday Landing on Howell Road Hotchkiss Road Landing a WWALS member saw the beautiful Alapaha River in Echols Lanier County.

But she also saw trash.

ARWT Access

That’s a shame for such a conveniently located spot, a mile upstream from Naylor Boat Ramp and 12 miles downstream from Burnt Church Landing, with many beaches and small rapids in between, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

I will try contacting Echols Lanier County to see if they have a cleanup crew.

If not, maybe WWALS can organize a cleanup there. Continue reading →

Ockolocoochee, Little River 1889-01-29

Who knows the Ockolocoochee River? No, not the Ochlockonee River; that’s a bit to the west.

[Withlacoochee River labeled Suwanee R. in 1823 Irwin and 1834 Lowndes County maps; current WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail map]
Withlacoochee River labeled Suwanee R. in 1823 Irwin and 1834 Lowndes County maps; current WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail map

You do know the Ockolocoochee River as the Little River, of the Withlacoochee, of the Suwannee.

Here is news from 1889 that also includes the boat that didn’t survive from Troupville to Ellaville, which was apparently not a paddlewheel steamer. Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04

A dozen people paddled four miles around Banks Lake on Labor Day morning. We saw three trees with bats, and the old one with no bats.

[Flyers, bat tree, etc. @ Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04]
Flyers, bat tree, etc. @ Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04

I forgot the banners, so people are holding up flyers for the WWALS River Revue. Continue reading →

Banks Lake Morning Paddle 2023-09-04

Update 2023-09-04: Pictures: Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04.

Join us for a four-mile paddle around Banks Lake.

If you want to take a break from the hurricane cleanup, come enjoy this peaceful, morning paddle around the perimeter of a beautiful cypress pond. There are no places to get out of your boat for a break once we launch. We’ll paddle at a leisurely pace, on flat water with no current, so it should take two hours.

[Morning Paddle around Banks Lake 8:30 AM 2023-09-04]
Morning Paddle around Banks Lake 8:30 AM 2023-09-04

This is different from the traditional WWALS Banks Lake paddles: it’s in the morning (not in the evening), it’s not on a full moon, and it’s a different route.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9 AM, end 11 AM, Monday, September 4, 2023

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 Continue reading →