Update 2022-09-20: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2022-09-10.
Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. It’s a Saturday, and it should be cooler, so join us on our watery living room.
When: Gather 6:45 PM, launch 7:15 PM, moonrise 8:17 PM, sunset 7:44 PM, end 9 PM, Saturday, September 10, 2022
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Update 2022-09-06: Pictures: State Line to Turner Bridge, Suwannee River 2022-03-06.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division wants evidence of intentional full-immersion swimming to redesignate river segments from Fishing to Recreational for tighter pollution limits. OK, here are some movies. Plus grandmas in a tree.
![[Movie: Full immersion swimming, 16:30:59, 30.6006764, -82.6839565 (161M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-05--fargo-downstream-suwannee-river/20220305_163101.jpg)
Movie: Full immersion swimming, 16:30:59, (161M)
30.6006764, -82.6839565
Here is a WWALS video playlist.
Intentional swimming, Suwannee River, Echols County, GA 2022-03-05
30.6006764, -82.6839565
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.
For more swimming, see the still pictures from the same stretch of the river.
For context, see the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. While the SRWT formally runs from White Springs, Florida, to the Gulf, WWALS maps the entire Suwannee River.
For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings/
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Tickets are now available on eventbrite
for the WWALS Boomerang paddle race from Georgia into Florida and back
on the idyllic blackwater Withlacoochee River.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwals-boomerang-2022-tickets-411307641227
That’s $20 online until October 15, 2022, then $30 online or at the event.
For everything else about this event, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22–boomerang
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Update 2022-08-31: Tickets now available.
Hahira, GA, August 30, 2022 — Paddle down the Withlacoochee River from Georgia three miles into Florida, and back upstream, in the WWALS Boomerang! Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are welcome to register starting at 9 AM, Saturday, October 22, 2022, to be on the water by 10:45 AM. There will be prizes, and food, and drink.
“Bringing the outdoors community together and showcasing the recreational opportunities we have to offer locally, for the fifth year,” said Boomerang mastermind Bobby McKenzie. “You can blaze ahead and take first place overall, or push yourself for a personal achievement on the main course or one of the modified routes. Or just come do a leisurely paddle with like minded outdoor enthusiasts. Remember to make your way back within 2.5 hours.”
Tickets will be on sale soon,
$20 online until October 15, then $30 online or at the event.
For tickets and everything else, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22–boomerang
State Line Boat Ramp is Continue reading
Bobby McKenzie videoed in the rain: One Mile Branch backflowing upstream from Lakeland Avenue, with runoff under and beside the street carrying trash on past Fire Station No. 2 and under E Park Ave.
![[One Mile Branch and Fire Station No. 2]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-09--one-mile-branch-backflow/many.jpg)
One Mile Branch and Fire Station No. 2
All that rain no doubt scoured trash from all the yards and parking lots around into the creek. One Mile Branch continues down to Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River.
Here’s the video. Continue reading
Update 2022-12-14: Pictures: Barack Obama Blvd. @ Ricardo St. 2022-12-01.
“In Conjunction With Valdosta Block Club” has been pasted onto the Pepsi Adopt-A-Spot sign. Thanks to whoever did that.
In our previous episode, Continue reading
Update 2022-09-24: Rescheduled: Chainsaw Cleanup Withlacoochee River, 2022-10-16.
We need volunteers with boats to pick up trash while a few people chainsaw some deadfalls.
We aim to collect the trashjams we didn’t have room for last time, and to chainsaw the remaining Withlacoochee River deadfalls between Sugar Creek and the Little River Confluence. Then we’ll paddle up the Little River to take out at Troupville Boat Ramp.
Unlike last time, we’re scheduling seven hours for the shuttle, for chainsawing and trash collecting, and for the four-mile paddle. With luck, nobody will get stuck this time.
All dependent on the weather, of course. Could be hurricane season finally by then, or could be plenty low to make this easy.
When: 9 AM, Sunday, September 25, 2022
Put In: Meet at the back of the Salty Snapper parking lot, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.
![[Trashjam, deadfall, chainsaws]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-09-25--chainsaw-withlacoochee/many.jpg)
Trashjam, deadfall, chainsaws,
2022-07-30; Photos: John S. Quarterman.
Update 2022-09-02: Good river water quality 2022-09-01.
WWALS got good water quality results downstream on the Withlacoochee River for Thursday, and good upstream results for the Withlacoochee, Little, and Alapaha Rivers. Valdosta’s Wednesday and Monday results concur. So happy fishing, swimming, and boating this weekend.
![[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-08-25]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-25--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-08-25
No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida. We did get an update on the Quitman spill of week before last; see below.
Of course, there was some heavy rainfall upstream in spots, and that could wash something into the river. But by the test results we have now, have a good time on the water. Continue reading
Mala Vallotton’s son Wesley Vallotton accepted the raffle kayak for her.
Thanks again to Georgia Beer Co. for donating this kayak, worth more than a thousand dollars.
Thanks to all the sponsors who got a raffle ticket for each $100 donated, especially including Mala Vallotton who put in $500. Continue reading
Hahira, GA, August 25, 2022 — WWALS and Georgia Power gathered at the Little River to discuss “a great partnership that works for everybody here” with Georgia Power again providing a grant for WWALS water quality testing.
“We want to say a giant thank-you to Georgia Power for funding our program,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. ”Our water quality program helps us to have clean water, so that when people come to use the river they know when it’s safe to swim or fish or go in their boats.”
“I want to thank y’all for what you do to keep our rivers clean, and make people aware of our wonderful natural resources,” said Joe Brownlee, Southwest Director, Georgia Power. “And help take care of those natural resources. It’s a great partnership that works for everybody here. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
“It’s really just Continue reading
![[Sunset and moonrise, 2020-10-01]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-09-10--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon/sunsetmoonrise.jpg)
![[Tickets]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22--boomerang/2022-08-31--tickets.jpg)
![[Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22--boomerang/WWALS-Boomerang-Flyer-2022-0001.jpg)
![[Old, new, improved]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-28--pepsi-sign-obama-blvd/many.jpg)
![[Delivered and Drawn]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-24--songwriting-kayak-delivery/many.jpg)
![[WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman, Georgia Power SW Director Joe Brownlee, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Georgia Power SREAM Don Hutchinson]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-12--gapower-wq-grant/still.jpg)