Semi-precious gemstones in the Withlacoochee River bed, during Day 2 of #PaddleGA2019, above Knights Ferry Boat Ramp.
![[Withlacoochee River, Lowndes County]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-06-15--agatized-coral-locohist/2019-No.-Online-A-0002.jpg)
Withlacoochee River, Lowndes County
Tag Archives: Paddle Georgia
When the water was really high at Spook Bridge 1928-08-19
The Withlacoochee River is higher this morning than yesterday, so conditions are fine for #PaddleGA2019!
Those people on Spook Bridge during the 1928 flood were crazy:
![[During flood of-1928 with Blue Springs sign]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/1928-08-19--withlacoochee-river-flood-us-84/Withlacoochee-River-bridge-GA-38-during-flood-of-1928-with-Blue-Springs-sign--Copy.jpg)
During flood of-1928 with Blue Springs sign
Don Davis of the Lowndes County Historical Society, who sent these old pictures, wrote:
Constructed in 1921? the bridge in the 1928 flood photo is the old US84 (GA38) bridge that the group will paddle under as “Spook Bridge.”
According to the USGS Quitman (US 84) gauge, that flood crested on August 19, 1928, which actually wasn’t quite as high as in 2013, 1948, or 2009.
Historic Crests
(1) 118.17 ft on 04/05/2009
(2) 115.20 ft on 04/04/1948
(3) 114.98 ft on 03/01/2013
(4) 114.80 ft on 08/19/1928
(5) 114.29 ft on 02/13/1986
Gauges
Right now the USGS Quitman (US 84) gauge reads 86.15 feet NAVD 88, which is well above the 85.9 feet Joe Cook wanted for Paddle Georgia. And it has been rising since yesterday morning. The fellow who left his kayak at the bottom of Troupville Boat Ramp may be in for a surprise….
![[Quitman]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/1928-08-19--withlacoochee-river-flood-us-84/qutg1_hg.jpg)
Upstream, the gauges are even higher, and that water is coming downstream.
Paddle Georgia on Scott James Radio 8AM 2019-06-14
All about Paddle Georgia #PaddleGA2019, PaddleGA2019 (back on the original route, starting at Troupville!) on the radio 8:00 AM tomorrow, Friday, June 14, 2019, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman with Scott James on his Talk 92.1 drive-time radio show, out of Valdosta, Georgia.
We’ll be working out the final details for Scott James broadcasting from the Suwannee Riverkeeper Aircraft Carrier Saturday morning, as Paddle Georgia’s 300 paddlers set out downstream from Troupville Boat Ramp, just west of Valdosta.
Also Saturday morning, 8AM to 10AM, Helen Tapp and WWALS will be set up at the Little River Confluence, with water trail and other information. That’s on land Helen and her cousins are trying to get funded to turn into a park.
Photo: John S. Quarterman, Scott James radio 2019-02-22.
Friday WWALS will be planting signs at Troupville Boat Ramp for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT), and at Knights Ferry, Nankin, and State Line.
Tickets are still available for the Journey’s End Feast, Friday, June 21st, in Dowling Park, Florida, on the Suwannee River. That Feast is catered by WWALS by The Salty Snapper of Valdosta, Georgia.
The Salty Snapper will also be the venue for the Second Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Saturday August 24.
When: Approximately 8:00 AM, Friday, June 14, 2019
Where: You can listen on the air, or through the radio show’s own website, or through several online listening services.
Event: facebook.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Tickets for Paddle Georgia Journey End Feast, June 21, 2019
Update 2019-06-19: Ticket sales are closed. See you there!
Even if you aren’t paddling on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee with Paddle Georgia, you can still enjoy the end of trip feast with this dinner ticket, if you buy within a week.
Live entertainment by First Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest Winner Laura D’Alisera and catering of catfish (with vegetarian option) by The Salty Snapper of Valdosta.
Dinner is served at 6PM but entertainment will be before and after the meal.
Spend a relaxing evening with good food and entertainment and support your local rivers. The venue is right next to the Suwannee River, in Dowling Park, Suwannee County, Florida.
Tickets: $25 each, online
When:
Get your tickets online by noon, Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Dinner: 5:30 PM, Friday, June 21, 2019
Where:
Advent Christian Village,
10680 Dowling Park Dr, Live Oak, FL 32060
Remember to get your tickets by noon, Wednesday, June 19, so we can get a final count to the caterer, The Salty Snapper.
And coming up Continue reading
Low water reroute of Paddle Georgia 2019-06-05
The same day as Jay Ricks, Paddle Georgia #PaddleGA2019, PaddleGA2019, sent an exploratory expedition, with WWALS board member Bobby McKenzie acting as local guide.
PADDLE GEORGIA 2019 LOW WATER UPDATE!!!!!
Due to low water levels on the upper Withlacoochee, the Georgia River Network staff and Paddle Georgia safety advisory committee has concluded that if water levels do not rise significantly, we will be forced to abandon our original Paddle Georgia route entirely.
This will mean all paddlers will travel on our “alternate route” which will involve repeating our original Day 4 and Day 5 routes during the week and paddling only a portion of our Day 3 route.
We have made this decision in an effort to Continue reading
Pictures: Troupville to US 84 –Jay Ricks 2019-06-05
Local resident Jay Ricks paddled the Withlacoochee River Wednesday, from Troupville Boat Ramp (which locals call the prison boat ramp, due to the state prison across the highway), to US 84.
![[Rather low]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-06-05--jay-ricks-troupville-us-84/61836825_335217030497404_9158751371963400192_n.jpg)
This was the same day as the Paddle Georgia exploratory expedition.
Jay saw this odd sight at Troupville Boat Ramp: Continue reading
Shoals and Springs, Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River 2019-06-01
This Saturday, four shoals (Battery, Wipe-Out, Deer, and Melvin) and four springs (Powerline, Fairy, Corbett, and second-magnitude Suwannacoochee), all on the Withlacoochee River, from Allen Ramp to Suwannee River State Park.
![[Shoals and springs]](https://wwals.net/pictures/2019-06-01--allen-ramp-srsp-withlacoochee-river/2019-05-30--allen-ramp-srsp-smaller.jpg)
Location of shoals from Chris Mericle, Blackwater River Guide. River mile calculations for them by Shirley Kokidko, both in the interactive map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.
For outing details, see: Continue reading
Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River: Paddle Georgia Preview, 2019-06-01
Update 2019-05-30: Map of shoals and springs along the way.
Wild and beautiful Withlacoochee River to the Confluence. We will pass numerous rocky shoals requiring some skills so this outing may not be appropriate for beginners and young children. There are clear springs to explore, such as Suwannacoochee Spring at Ellaville. This is a preview of part of Paddle Georgia 2019. #PaddleGA2019
When: Gather 8:00 AM, launch 9:30 AM, Saturday, June 1, 2019
Put In: Allen Ramp, From Jasper, travel north on US 41 to SR 6; turn left; travel south on SW CR 141 to SW CR 143; turn right and follow SW CR 143 to SW 64 Way and follow to ramp. Also known as CR 143 ramp (SRWMD).
Take Out:
Suwannee River State Park Ramp, 3631 201st Path, Live Oak, FL 32060, in Suwannee County.
Taking out requires a very brief paddle upstream on the Suwannee River.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Don’t forget a rope in case you need to drag your boat across shoals. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Park: Remember to have $5 cash for the state park fee, for each vehicle that will be shuttled to the take out at Suwannee River State Park.
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, Allen Ramp, 2014-09-21.
Naylor Boat Ramp, Water Trails, and Paddle Georgia: WWALS to Lowndes County Commission 2019-05-13
Thanks and invitations from WWALS to the Lowndes County Commission, delivered in a letter via email and on paper Monday morning and in Citizens Wishing To Be Heard Tuesday evening.
- Lowndes County Utilities Director Steve Stalvey and the Commissioners for fixing a force main before it breaks.
- County Engineer Mike Fletcher and Project Manager Chad McLeod for soon being finished with the Naylor Boat Ramp.
- Public Works Director Robin Cumbus for planting road signs for the Water Trails.
I invited the Commissioners to pass Water Trail resolutions (see below).
And I invited them to Paddle Georgia and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
Letter
Continue readingPaddle Georgia 2019 Educator Scholarship 2019-04-20
South Georgia K-12 educators, you can get a scholarship to paddle for a week in June 2019 on the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers from Georgia to Florida, with 300 people on Paddle Georgia.
Your assignment afterwards will be to write an essay about your experiences on that paddle.
![[Description]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-04-20--paddle-georgia-educator-scholarship/Paddle-Georgia-2019-Educator-Scholarships-Flyer-Application-0001.jpg)
To apply, you need to write on the application form “why you want to participate and how you would use the experience and environmental education curriculum in your classroom.”
There are many opportunities for you and your classes, such as backpack water quality monitoring, cleanups, more paddles, taking accounts of wildlife and native and invasive species, and interning with your local watershed nonprofit organization, WWALS Watershed Coalition to help organize outings and advocacy. WWALS and its program Suwannee Riverkeeper® will be here after Paddle Georgia moves on to another river next year.
Let’s use this opportunity to get local youth and educators engaged with fishable, swimmable, drinkable water!
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!