Flint River Where the Water Goes 2016, Part V

Georgia’s Flint River is the focus for this year’s river odyssey, where we follow a Georgia river from its headwaters to the ocean. Named by Native Americans for the flint rocks found near the river, the Flint flows for over 300 miles from its Atlanta headwaters to its confluence with the Chattahoochee River at the Florida state line where the two rivers join to become the Apalachicola, which flows on to create the rich estuary of Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.

This part of our Flint River odyssey takes us on a canoe trip along a beautiful stretch of river near Newton, Georgia where we’ll be guided by Flint Riverkeeper, Gordon Rogers. Gordon is an avid fisherman and shares the latest science and ways to keep a river clean and ecologically healthy as easily as he tells about a lifetime of experience on Georgia rivers.  It’s a treat to listen and learn from Gordon on this special section of river.

As the Flint reaches South Georgia, it becomes part of the huge and complex Floridan aquifer, which provides water for the immense agricultural industries of South Georgia. Surface waters from Atlanta and southwest Georgia find their way into the limestone labyrinthine system called the Dougherty Plain which releases waters even as far as the Atlanta coast at Savannah and Brunswick.

“Blue holes,” where upwellings of fresh water from the aquifer are found in the river, make this section of the Flint particularly rich and beautiful. We’ll paddle through forests, croplands and orchards and see botanically rich limestone bluffs, giant sycamores and cypress trees draped with Spanish moss, and experience the deep, clear blue holes.

We’ll meet in Albany, Georgia Friday afternoon at 3:00 to tour the Flint River Aquarium, then have an early supper in Albany before heading out to our retreat by the river. We’ll stay Friday night in cabins right by the river at the Rocky Bend Retreat.

We’ll plan to be on the River from about 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday with a picnic lunch on the banks. Our cabins are fully furnished with kitchens.

$135.00 and includes Friday night accommodations, canoe rental and shuttle. (Couple/family discount available)

This event is made possible in part by the Ecology Wildlife Foundation.

 To register, click HERE  – Details and directions will be sent to registered participants. 
A donation of $15 or more helps sustain our programs.

Above photos of the lower Flint River: courtesy Flint Riverkeeper