Update 2018-07-24: Deadfalls and an oxbow cutoff downstream by Troupville, with a map including the deadfall in this post.
Yet another deadfall in the Withlacoochee River, this one just upstream from the I-75 bridge, discovered by intrepid WWALS explorer Aaron Sirmons.
Deadfall
Finding out what’s in the rivers is part of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).
More pictures: Continue reading
You’ve seen who won the eleven awards. Now here are the rest of the paddlers in the 6th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, from more counties, states, and watersheds than ever before. Also more Solo Female Kayaks than Solo Male Kayaks, and several whole families of paddlers.
43 Boats
37 kayaks
6 canoes
49 Paddlers
29 male
20 female Continue reading
Previously you saw the overall winner of the 6th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, organized by WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) and Friends of Reed Bingham State Park (FORB), Saturday, April 28, 2018. Update 2018-07-16: Plus pictures of all the paddlers.
Here are all the winners:
The prize category is included for each winner.
Somebody asked recently whether it is possible to paddle a week on the Withlacoochee River in Georgia in June. Sure, as long as you start not too far upstream on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT), you can paddle past shoals and little-known Georgia springs into the Florida springs heartland, and then continue a day or two on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). WWALS has paddled many of the most interesting stretches multiple times, often in June.
Troupville to Suwannee River Rendezvous
Here’s some history of the Withlacoochee River: fishing weirs, shoals, ghost towns, and springs.
Here is a list of access points on the Withlacoochee River with recommended water levels.
Your first put in will actually be on the Little River, slightly upstream from its confluence, at Troupville Boat Ramp.
27 April 2016, GA 122 Hahira Little River Gauge 70.9′ (140.6′ NAVD88).
Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA)
fixed the Troupville access road back in April 2016.
Photo: Julie Bowland
21 April 2018, GA 122 Hahira Little River Gauge 7.2′ (140′ NAVD88).
WWALS did a cleanup at Troupville, in which you can see our water trail signs.
See also some history of
Troupville, the previous county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia.
At Troupville Boat Ramp,
by the
signs for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
that
Phil Hubbard planted yesterday (2018-04-20).
Three of the six second-magnitude springs in Georgia used to be in Brooks County, Georgia, before somebody apparently tried to Continue reading
Steve Nichols said on the radio yesterday morning:
“It sounds like a wonderful time, to sit there in a great atmosphere, and listen to some good, original music.”
That’s the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest coming up 1-5PM, this Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Salty Snapper, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.
“Finalists will play, and will be judged. The prizes will be awarded, and of course the acknowledgment of the sponsors.”
Plus a buffet of snacks prepared by the Salty Snapper, including some vegetarian, all for $10 in advance online, and there will be a silent auction and kayak raffle tickets.
Gretchen Quarterman was on the radio with Steve Nichols, WVGA 105.9FM (I was scheduled, but the flu said otherwise; I’m better now).
Gretchen said you don’t need to write a song, just come listen to the finals this Saturday afternoon, with judges
Plus the Outings Committee has organized a paddle 9AM Saturday morning from Langdale Park to Sugar Creek Landing, just across the railroad tracks from the Salty Snapper, so you can paddle to the songwriting contest. Steve Nichols remarked:
“As a kid, I used to go down that stretch of the river with my friends. When I say as a kid, I was in high school in the early eighties. It would be fun for me to do that trip as a nostalgic trip, and going back and look at that beautiful stretch of river right there.”
Gretchen said the water is high so probably there will be no dragging, and the river is different every time.
Gretchen also showed Steve copies of the metal signs WWALS Outings Chair Phil Hubbard made and planted at Troupville Boat Ramp. She said those would be at all the landings on the Alapaha Water Trail (ARWT) and the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT) as we raise money to put them there.
She showed the metal Sheboggy Boat Ramp signs Phil made to sell so people maybe won’t keep stealing them off the GDOT signposts for their man cave or woman cave.
Here’s a LAKE video playlist:
Videos: Gretchen Quarterman about Songwriting Contest on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-06-18
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).
I’ll be on the radio Friday morning; stay tuned for a post about that.
For more WWALS outings and events, see the WWALS Calendar or the Outings and Events list.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
A leisurely two-mile morning paddle from the recently reopened Langdale Park on the largest river through the biggest city in the Suwannee River Basin, arriving at the recently rediscovered Sugar Creek Landing, well in time for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the afternoon.
When: 9AM, Saturday, June 23, 2018
Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602.
GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395
Take Out: Sugar Creek Landing, 2410 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602, recently rediscovered next to the YMCA, and just across the railroad tracks from The Salty Snapper, venue of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup. If you don’t have a boat, let us know; we may able to loan you one.
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!
Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 1 November 2017, when the water was much lower.
Tomorrow morning, 8:30AM, Tuesday, June 19, 2018, I’ll be on the radio with Steve Nichols, 105.9FM, talking about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest coming up 1-5PM, this Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Salty Snapper, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602. When Gretchen was on his show last month, he said he wanted to hear more, so tomorrow morning it is.
Plus WWALS advocacy, and upcoming paddle outings: Continue reading
Coming up tomorrow, Thursday, May 31st: it’s the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta. WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman noted you can still buy tickets online or at the door.
Radio host Steve Nichols yesterday first wanted to know about the the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the Salty Snapper in Valdosta, GA, June 23, 2018.
They also talked about Continue reading
The rainiest season in south Georgia and north Florida is the summer, yet that’s when rivers are usually the lowest. Here are seven years of data from the USGS Withlacoochee River Gauge at US 41 (North Valdosta Road) in Valdosta, Georgia. Rain is pretty steady through the year (except when there’s no rain), yet the river level varies wildly, highest in the winter, usually. Unless there are hurricanes in the fall, as happened in 2017 and 2016.
Rain Years 2010-2018
Level Years 2010-2018
Why does this happen? Continue reading
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival WWALS is holding 7PM Thursday, May 31, 2018 at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta, GA is about:
Celebrating fifty years of Wild and Scenic River designations by Congress, this film festival showcases frontline issues and activism with stunning cinematography. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that individuals propel the groundswell of the environmental movement. Collectively, we CAN make a difference!
There aren’t any Wild & Scenic rivers in the Suwannee River Basin, although maybe after seeing this film festival, people will be motivated to fix that.
We have river gems unknown even to most of the people who live here: the Alapaha, the Little, the Withlacoochee, and the Suwannee River.
Some Atlantans paddled the Alapaha River Water Trail last month, and confirmed its A+ rating for scenery. Even portaging around a deadfall didn’t dampen their spirits.
Consensus: we love the Alapaha!
Photo: Robert Marshall of
First Camp: a beach on a point
When retired outfitter Continue reading
![[Finish]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-04-28--blrpr-hubbard/4063062-28Apr18.jpg)