Rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma – date tba

Eco-A features the South River for our Where the Water Goes Series in 2017! 

Big sand bars are common along the lower Ocmulgee and Altamaha Rivers.

This year we partner with the South River Watershed Alliance, highlighting the South River, which is born from Atlanta’s southern and eastern springs and streams, from East Point and Perkerson Park east along the south side of Decatur. When the South River joins the Yellow River at Jackson Lake, it becomes Georgia’s signature Ocmulgee River, which drops down through Macon and then bends east to join the Oconee River, becoming the mighty Altamaha. The Altamaha drains nearly a quarter of the state of Georgia and is one of the largest freshwater systems reaching the eastern coast of North America.

Our series features five outings, including walks and canoe trips, along the South River, from its headwaters in Atlanta neighborhoods to its outfall at the Atlantic Ocean.

Sept 16, 17  – Trip 4: Ocmulgee/Altamaha Canoe trip

in partnership with the South River Watershed Alliance

cost: $125 per person, includes canoe and shuttle

We’ll paddle again in South Georgia with guide Scott Taylor on a section lower section of the Ocmulgee as it reaches the Altamaha, spending one night “primitive” camping on a sand bar.  We’ll experience the river in its classic coastal plain form, with many “S” curves and sandbars.

Morning light, across the river from Eco-A camp, 2014.

This section of the river has seen many changes in a handful of decades, from Native American communities to the massive logging floats of the late 180os, to today’s farms and pine plantations.  We’re now out of the Piedmont and into the distinctive Coastal Plain ecosystem, where Cypress trees are now commonplace along the river banks, and native mussel shells can still be found on some sand bars. Egrets, herons and other wading birds share the river with beaver, otter and yes, a few alligators too. We will likely also see the swallow-tailed and Mississippi kites, Osprey and Bald Eagle, beginning to bounce back from depleted populations. There are always plenty of Egrets, Herons and perhaps some colorful migrating songbirds, threading their way along the river corridor.

Bring your own tent and food items–we’ll cook on a camp fire and camp stoves. All we take with us will be packed in our canoes. Dry bags are helpful if you have them.

To register, click HERE.  Details and directions sent to registered participants. 

Cypress “knees” in the Ocmulgee River

A donation of $15 or more helps sustain our programs.

Eco-A Ocmulgee/Altamaha canoe trip, 2014