The opposite of what I expected: just west of Hamilton County High School, Cat Creek under SW 55 Drive flows north, not south.
This matters for figuring out what is upstream and downstream from a site on Cat Creek.
![[Movie: Cat Creek south of SW 55 Drive, 14:56:38, 30.4736975, -82.9406837 (31M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-24--hamilton-county-creeks/20240824_145638.jpg)
Movie: Cat Creek south of SW 55 Drive, 14:56:38, (31M) 30.4736975, -82.9406837
Update 2024-08-12: Cancelled due to water too high and fast, especially in the Suwannee River, which is still rising.
Due to Tropical Storm Debbie, pushed back a week to August 17, 2024.
Paddle 12.3 miles on two rivers.
Our takeout is very close to the Alapaha River Confluence, so most of the day we will enjoy this last section of the Alapaha River. The river has been fluctuating from too low to too high so we are hoping to hit it just right for paddling. There could be some deadfall but this outing is appropriate for anyone.
We will paddle under the ever-busy I-75, but passing that we will reenter quiet wilderness. Everyone must wear a PFD.
We will also paddle up into the Alapaha Rise, off of the Suwannee River, where the Alapaha reemerges after traveling miles underground.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, August 17, 2024
Put In: US Hwy 41 Alapaha River Landing. South side of the road, under the power line, between Jennings and Jasper, FL, in Hamilton County.
![[Alapaha River to Suwannee River 2024-08-17, US 41 to Gibson Park, Up to Alapaha River Rise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-17--alapaha-river-to-suwannee/fbmany.jpg)
Alapaha River to Suwannee River 2024-08-17, US 41 to Gibson Park, Up to Alapaha River Rise
Update 2024-09-25: Georgia House Navigable Streams Committee in Nahunta 2024-10-11.
Update 2024-08-15:
The livestream is here:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house/AQIARgAAAxpEc5CqZhHNm8gAqgAvxFoJAGeQLC1kSDdIixjC7EHFmfIAAAJaYAAAANZQGGA2fqFiaHBHrewZqJ2eET4ABFxyjiQAAAAuAAADGkRzkKpmEc2byACqACGGA2fEWgMAZ5AsLWRIN0iLGMLsQcWZ8gAAAlpgAAAA
A new Georgia House Study Committee was established March 28, 2024, on the fraught issue of navigability of waterways: HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE ON NAVIGABLE STREAMS AND RELATED MATTERS.
Maybe you’d like to contact your statehouse member before the meeting, since there seems to be no opportunity for public input during the meeting.
If you want to see water levels throughout the Suwannee River Basin, for example after a hurricane, there are at least three ways:
They all get their data from the USGS gauges.
What’s your favorite way? One of these, or something else?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides this color-coded map: Continue reading
Update 2024-08-12: Cancelled: Alapaha to the Suwannee River Paddle 2024-08-17.
Due to Tropical Storm Debbie, pushed back a week to August 17, 2024.
Paddle 12.3 miles on two rivers.
Our takeout is very close to the Alapaha River Confluence, so most of the day we will enjoy this last section of the Alapaha River. The river has been fluctuating from too low to too high so we are hoping to hit it just right for paddling. There could be some deadfall but this outing is appropriate for anyone.
We will paddle under the ever-busy I-75, but passing that we will reenter quiet wilderness. Everyone must wear a PFD.
We will also paddle up into the Alapaha Rise, off of the Suwannee River, where the Alapaha reemerges after traveling miles underground.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, August 17, 2024
Put In: US Hwy 41 Alapaha River Landing. South side of the road, under the power line, between Jennings and Jasper, FL, in Hamilton County.
Alapaha River to Suwannee River 2024-08-17, US 41 to Gibson Park, Up to Alapaha River Rise
Update 2024-08-12: Cancelled: Alapaha to the Suwannee River Paddle 2024-08-17.
Update 2024-08-04: Rescheduled: Alapaha to the Suwannee River Paddle 2024-08-17.
Paddle 12.3 miles on two rivers.
Our takeout is very close to the Alapaha River Confluence, so most of the day we will enjoy this last section of the Alapaha River. The river has been fluctuating from too low to too high so we are hoping to hit it just right for paddling. There could be some deadfall but this outing is appropriate for anyone.
We will paddle under the ever-busy I-75, but passing that we will reenter quiet wilderness. Everyone must wear a PFD.
We will also paddle up into the Alapaha Rise, off of the Suwannee River, where the Alapaha reemerges after traveling miles underground.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, August 10, 2024
Put In: US Hwy 41 Alapaha River Landing. South side of the road, under the power line, between Jennings and Jasper, FL, in Hamilton County.
![[Alapaha River to Suwannee River 2024-08-10, US 41 to Gibson Park, Up to Alapaha River Rise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-10--alapaha-river-to-suwannee/fbmany.jpg)
Alapaha River to Suwannee River 2024-08-10, US 41 to Gibson Park, Up to Alapaha River Rise
Update 2024-08-09: Georgia House Navigable Streams Study Committee 2024-08-15.
The Georgia legislature is trying to define which creeks and rivers are navigable. They are using an antique law to do so.
You can help keep Georgia rivers and creeks navigable by logging your river trips here:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/32bc9531a62e4c83971b162a58eb25f2
The goal of this mapping project is to document the upstream extent of recreational descents on as many Georgia rivers as possible. Paddlers documenting their descents through this survey could help protect access to streams for generations to come. We encourage paddlers to submit their earliest and farthest upstream descent on as many rivers as possible.
Maybe you’d also like to explain to the Georgia statehouse that the 1863 definition of navigable is outdated: “is capable of transporting boats loaded with freight in the regular course of trade either for the whole or a part of the year.”
Nowadays we fish, paddle, and motor in forms of recreational commerce that were not common in 1863.
Here is one way to contact your Georgia state legislators:
https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/protect-the-publics-right-to-paddle-in-georgia_7_24 Continue reading
Update 2024-08-02: Three more Ashburn sewage spills reported more than a week late 2024-07-20.
Update 2024-07-26: Clean Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe Rivers 2024-07-25.
Thanks to the reporter for doing this story, especially for including the material about the stigma of sewage spills, which affects even Suwannee Basin rivers that are not even downstream from Valdosta, and about the economic damage of such stigma.
Please note that while Valdosta is the biggest sewage spill problem, because it is the most populous city in the Suwannee River Basin, it is far from the only city that spills sewage, and not all E. coli contamination comes from sewage; see other sources.
As noted in the story, Valdosta is spending millions of dollars to fix its sewage problems. Nobody will be happier when there are no more sewage spills than Valdosta staff and elected officials, many of whom are new since most of the notorious sewage spills happened. But that day is still some time in the future.
I’ve noted a few errata below, plus I’ve added some links and some more images.
Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, WUFT, July 23, 2024, North Central Florida river task force reactivated following raw sewage spills across Georgia state lines, Continue reading
Update 2024-07-30: Cancelled due to too strong flow for the upstream Suwannee Paddle to Suwannee River State Park Ramp.
Come along for this fun 8.44 mile paddle on the Withlacoochee River from Allen Ramp to Suwannee River State Park. There will be beautiful springs to enjoy and several sets of shoals to paddle through, possibly requiring some basic skills. Everyone must wear a PFD at all times on the river and have a bow line for your boat. There will also be an upstream paddle of 1/4 mile from the confluence of the rivers to the ramp at SRSP.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:30 AM, end 3 PM, Thursday, August 1, 2024
Put In: Allen Ramp,
2726 SW 64th Way Jasper, FL 32052, in Hamilton County, Florida.
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.
![[Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River 2024-08-01, Double Window Spring, Melvin Shoals]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-01--allen-ramp-srsp-withlacoochee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River 2024-08-01, Double Window Spring, Melvin Shoals
Update 2024-08-12: Packet: Return of the proposed 2,109-acre rezoning for Planned Unit Development in floodplain –City of Chiefland, FL 2024-08-12.
Here is audio of the applicant’s answers to citizen questions in the June 24, 2024 Chiefland City Commission meeting, as well as the applicant’s slides.
If somebody wants to transcribe these audio files, that would be most helpful.
Here is part 1 of audio from the June 24, Chiefland City Commission meeting:
Continue reading![[New Navigable Streams Georgia House Studay Committee 2024-08-15: Ownership, Property Rights, Recreation, Economy]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-15--ga-house-navigable-streams-committee/many.jpg)
![[River Water Levels, Suwannee River Basin, NOAA, USGS, SRWMD, WWALS, Action Stage, Flood, Georgia, Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-08-07--noaa-gauges/many.jpg)
![[Help keep paddle access to Georgia rivers, Contact your statehouse members, Record your paddle outings]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-07-22--ga-recreational-navigation-mapping/fbmany.jpg)
![[Downstream dozen Florida counties task force reactivated after raw sewage spills across Georgia state line --WUFT 2024-07-23]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-07-23--wuft-pbs-task-force/many.jpg)
![[Applicant slides, sound recordings 2024-06-24, Proposed 2,109-acre PUD, Chiefland, FL, Manatee Springshed]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-06-24--chiefland/fbmany.jpg)