A collection of haiku and poems from Paddle Georgia 2022
Contributor: Paddle Georgia
Stream Name: Chattahoochee River
In June, the Georgia River Network hosted it’s annual Paddle Georgia trip. With the pandemic still in the picture, 35 hearty souls made the weeklong journey down the Chattahoochee instead of the usual 300-400 participants.
These poems are paddlers’ personal reflections of moments in time of the trip in just a few short words.
Some are insightful, some are funny, some are inside jokes that could make no sense at all.
Read through them and reminisce or imagine what it was like on a week long paddle trip.
Contributor: Anne Ledbetter
Stream Name: Poplar Creek
Location: Cobb County, GA
(map)
The EPA has stated that polluted storm water runoff is the main cause of water quality problems. Rain water runoff picks up pollutants like motor oil, pet waste, fertilizer and yard waste and carries them along on to the streams. Non-porous surfaces do not allow the water to gradually sink into the earth and thereby exacerbate runoff issues.
Suburban rain travels down street side gutters into storm drains.
The storm drain (which is different then a sanitary sewer system; see last image for more in depth definition) carries water run-off directly into the nearest body of water.
The image shows a storm drain in use as well as the inside of the drain on a dry day. Notice how the pine straw and other debris can remain stuck in the drain.
Beyond the drain, runoff travels by pipe, conduits or other open channels. The images are pipes on a low rain day versus a heavy rain. Notice how much more power and volume the water has on rainy day.
This increased force of the water can easily pick up bigger pollutants such as cigarette butts and pet waste.
The water rushes into the stream which can damage the stream’s ecosystem not only with pollutants, but the sheer force can damage the plants and animals living in the stream. Forceful run off also changes the course of the stream too. Straightening it out, causing erosion of the banks which sets a pattern for more and more damage.
Here’s how you can help make the community aware of storm drain run off issues. The pamphlet was put out by the Cobb County Ga Water System and also contains a contact where you can learn more and learn how to help
Observing water in different states provokes thoughts about different states of mind and mood. Each scene seemed to fit my mood at the moment I was taking these photos, which is probably what provoked me to pick up the camera and capture them. In which one did I feel small; joyful; anxious; invigorated; sad; relaxed; immersed, light-hearted. Water is amazing in all its forms, in all its moods. This collection of water images shows each form is as much part of a stream as the stream is itself.
Contributor: Alicia Windham
Stream Name: Silver River
Location: Marion County, FL
These are photographs from the pristine Silver River in North Central Florida. It contains one of Florida’s 1stmagnitude springs and has one of the largest artesian springs in the world. The river’s entire length is surrounded by Silver Springs State Park which protects it from development. It is a wonderful habitat for manatees, wading birds and other wildlife. Not only is the Silver River a great place for canoeing and kayaking but also provides a perfect educational venue where the general public can learn about the river environment. With the ongoing degradation of nearby coastal and riverine systems, some manatees are seeking healthier habitats with abundant food and clean water like the Silver River. Healthy riverine systems such as these are necessary to the survival of animals such as manatees. Given the interconnected nature of our river systems, Florida residents, legislators and environmental managers need to continue to work together to restore the ecological balance of all our waterways and to provide suitable habitat for its wildlife.
Swimming is strictly forbidden in the Silver River, the underwater shots were taken with a point-and-shoot camera held over the side of a boat.
Contributor: Anne Ledbetter
Stream Name: Flint River
Location: GA
Sometimes, rivers just make people happy. I went on Paddle Georgia this June on the Flint River. Organizers pared down participation from a usual 300 to 400 participants to around 30 due to Covid, thereby making the trip a much more intimate experience. Another wonderful aspect of the trip was camping right by the river.
This week was a first for me, I had been a very tight quarantine bubble, focusing on keeping my 94 year old dad safe. The trip was a release, providing hope of returning to “normal”.
It was the joy of hanging out with people and being with someone long enough to get into interesting conversations. I have this wonderful appreciation of folks, both new friends and old. I love those silly little running jokes and random observations you hear from people that would not translate in any other situation but that very moment.
At one point I was hanging out with folks on a sandbar, we had pulled over for a hang out and a swim. Well, I started laughing and laughing an uncontrolled laugh that I had not had since the start of Covid. I felt all that Covid stress and anxiousness drift away. I felt a bit normal and comfortable and realized I would indeed be able to relax and just be with people in a post Covid world. I think it would be hard to mend and heal like this in any place but on the water.
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