Tag Archives: shoals

Videos: Part 3, Knights Ferry to Nankin Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-22

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Here’s Part 3, in which Melissa Stewart retrieves a yellow toy ramp, jsq chainsaws, there was a drizzle, we went through the rapids to get to Clyattville-Nankin Boat Ramp, and Darrell Stewart planted water trail signs.

The whole thing took about nine hours, with the paddle taking about 6.5 hours.

The 200-or-so pounds of trash collected included Melissa’s RCA TV from the river and another TV found at Nankin Boat Ramp.

Thanks to Will Hart and Scotti Jay for leading this paddle, and to all for participating.

[Part 3, Knights Ferry to Clyattville-Nankin, Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-12]
Part 3, Knights Ferry to Clyattville-Nankin, Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-12

Here are some video clips:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1255447706414873

https://youtu.be/T_QOEz8Eb7o Continue reading →

Pictures: Knights Ferry to Nankin Clean Up, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-22

Update 2025-12-02: Where does this little creek by Knights Ferry Boat Ramp come from? 2205-11-22.

At Knights Ferry Boat Ramp we collected some trash, including three mattresses. Our shuttle provider was Will Hart’s State Line River Outfitters.

We installed new versions of the signs for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT). Thanks to Micah Cofield for digging the posthole. The third try found a spot with no rocks. These signs were mostly paid for by a generous grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR).

I’ve lost count how many sets of signs we’ve installed at Knights Ferry. I think this was the fourth set. Y’all don’t shoot them up this time, eh?

[Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, Mattresses, signs, and trash, Old Bridge pilings, Canoe on the bottom 2025-11-22]
Knights Ferry Boat Ramp, Mattresses, signs, and trash, Old Bridge pilings, Canoe on the bottom 2025-11-22

Thanks to Maya Loizeaux for collecting trash. Micah and Maya did not paddle, but they helped.

Thanks to Pam Maxwell for coming down to join WWALS. She did not paddle.

This is part one of the WWALS cleanup from Knights Ferry to Nankin Boat Ramp, on November 22, 2025, led by Will Hart and Scotti Jay.

Our seven paddlers saw the pilings of Old Knights Ferry Bridge sticking out. Before that bridge was built, there was Knights Ferry. Now there is no bridge and no ferry, but you still get there on Knights Ferry Road.

Will Hart spotted a boat on the bottom. We did not raise it. We did raise a bunch of other things later.

We snaked through a couple of sets of rocks in the first quarter mile downstream.

Here’s a video:

https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/853304003762459

https://youtu.be/gwKm-c1ObpM Continue reading →

Pictures: Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2025-07-05

Shirley Kokidko sent these pictures of the 11.2-mile paddle on the upper Suwannee River from Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge. Thanks to her for leading. She remarked, “I didn’t take many pictures, just loved soaking up a beautiful day on the river with Joyce Ball and Steve Shaw.”

[Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge, Suwannee River 2025-07-05, Thanks to Shirley Kokidko]
Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge, Suwannee River 2025-07-05, Thanks to Shirley Kokidko

Also, “It was perfect weather, we bobbled around in our PFD’s in the river just to make sure they are still buoyant enough to keep us afloat, talked about self rescue, assisted rescue and other fun things. Two kayak campers passed us going upstream for a couple of nights. Otherwise we were the only ones out until we got to the ramp at Cone Bridge. Lots of big bass boats with BIG motors, in and out of the water, nobody was there to fish, just river fun. Maybe it was a club, everybody very friendly. I love this Turner to Cone section. Easy shuttle and beautiful paddle. We should do it again sometime.”

See also Continue reading →

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

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 →

Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2025-07-05

Update 2025-07-11: Pictures: Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River 2025-07-05.

Join us for an 11.2-mile paddle on the upper Suwannee River.

This is beautiful part of the river has one section of small shoals to paddle through. There can also be some tree debris in the river to work our way around.

Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. Both ramps are on long dirt roads that are usually well maintained. Please come on time, the shuttle leaves promptly at 9:30.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:15 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, July 5, 2025

Put In: Turner Bridge Ramp, From White Springs, travel north on SE CR 135; cross over SE CR 6 onto NE 180 Boulevard (Woodpecker Route); travel north to NE 38 Trail; turn right and follow road to ramp, in Hamilton County.

GPS: 30.524333, -82.728167

[Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, July 5, 2025]
Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, July 5, 2025

Continue reading →

Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2024-05-18

Join us for a 11.4 mile paddle on the Suwannee River from Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge.

Both ramps are down dirt roads that are usually well maintained. This paddle is appropriate for all levels. Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. We’ll probably stop along Prospect Church at Hunter Creek for a lunch break.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:45 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2024

Put In: Turner Bridge Ramp, From White Springs, travel north on SE CR 135; cross over SE CR 6 onto NE 180 Boulevard (Woodpecker Route); travel north to NE 38 Trail; turn right and follow road to ramp, in Hamilton County, Florida.

GPS: 30.524333, -82.728167

[Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18]
Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18
Note the antique lally columns, which are pillars for a former bridge, made of steel columns filled with concrete. Continue reading →

Pictures: Sullivan Launch to Madison Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2024-06-08

We paddled over more small shoals than expected, and both Chitty Bend East Swallet and Sullivan Slough were acting as springs, not sinks, on our paddle down the Withlacoochee River between Hamilton and Madison Counties, Florida.

Between Sullivan Ramp and Madison Boat Ramp we stopped at Hardee (Rossetter Spring) and Madison Blue Spring. Pot Spring was a bit crowded and there is not much place to park a kayak.

There was swimming and lunching with okra.

[Sullivan Landing to Madison Ramp, 2024-06-08: Shoals, Springs, and Sloughs, Withlacoochee River between Madison and Hamilton Counties, Florida]
Sullivan Landing to Madison Ramp, 2024-06-08: Shoals, Springs, and Sloughs, Withlacoochee River between Madison and Hamilton Counties, Florida

Thanks to Shawn O’Connor for leading this expedition, and to everybody else for paddling.

Here are a few video highlights:
https://youtu.be/TVnzQ3FB9NU

https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/posts/pfbid025r3ohs2ATvnzivcBLKjG2pMRSmmFb55EuRENJmtr4yuzuh9gowtiVUPPqU9ykFHpl

The Pinetta Gauge (right at Sullivan Launch) read 9.78 feet (56.28′ NAVD88) at 1:30 PM.

For more Continue reading →

Pictures: Mayday to Statenville, Alapaha River 2024-05-11

We saw many creeks and seeps, and a few shoals barely visible as waves, on the Alapaha River from Mayday to Statenville, all in Echols County, Georgia, Saturday, May 11, 2024.

[Creeks, seeps, waves over shoals, and many power boats, Mayday to Statenville, Alapaha River 2024-04-11]
Creeks, seeps, waves over shoals, and many power boats, Mayday to Statenville, Alapaha River 2024-04-11

We had two chainsaws and two handsaws, but did not need to saw any deadfalls to get through.

We did see more power boats than I’ve ever seen on that river.

Thanks to Shawn O’Connor for leading, and to everyone else for paddling.

Continue reading →

Turner Bridge Ramp to Cone Bridge Ramp Suwannee River Paddle 2024-05-18

Update 2024-05-17: Cancelled due to predicted thunderstorms; to be be rescheduled later.

Join us on an 11.4-mile paddle on the Suwannee River from Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge.

Both ramps are down dirt roads that are usually well maintained. There could be one small section of shoals to paddle over if the river is low but this paddle is appropriate for all levels. Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. We’ll probably stop along Prospect Church at Hunter Creek for a lunch break.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:15 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2024

Put In: Turner Bridge Ramp. From White Springs, travel north on SE CR 135; cross over SE CR 6 onto NE 180 Boulevard (Woodpecker Route); travel north to NE 38 Trail; turn right and follow road to ramp, in Hamilton County.
Note the antique lally columns, which are pillars for a former bridge, made of steel columns filled with concrete.

GPS: 30.524333, -82.728167

[Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18]
Turner Bridge Ramp to, Cone Bridge Road Ramp, Suwannee River, 11.4 miles, 2024-05-18

Continue reading →

A 19th-century navigable definition does not work for 21st-century river economies

Update 2024-07-26: Help keep paddle access to Georgia rivers 2024-07-22.

We never had bales of cotton boated down the Withlacoochee River, because there are too many shoals.

[19th-century navigable definition; 21st-century river economy]
19th-century navigable definition; 21st-century river economy

But we do get fishing both from the shore and in paddle and power boats up and down our rivers, and for other recreation, There are massive investments by nearby cities and counties and other organizations in cleaning up the rivers for those purposes.

The state of Georgia needs to revise its 19th-century definition of navigability and passage to match the 21st-century present.

The antique 19th-century definition

The Georgia 1863 definition says a navigable stream “is capable of transporting boats loaded with freight in the regular course of trade either for the whole or a part of the year.” See Georgia Navigability Report, 3rd Edition and O.C.G.A. 44-8-5 (2010)

Some people once tried boating down the Withlacoochee River to the Suwannee to establish commerce. They sold the remains of the boat and returned to the former Lowndes County seat of Troupville, at the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River. Atlanta Constitution, January 29, 1889, Continue reading →