This is part 2 of the Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup of Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Part 1 was downstream.
Here we go upstream, with Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta in her canoe, helping pull limbs aside and photographing, and Russell Hassenstab of Kona Ice paddling the Suwannee Riverkeeper Old Town Canoe, while Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman chainsaws.
Here are some video snippets.
Thanks to Continue reading
Update 2026-04-26: Pictures: Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Upstream, Withlacoochee River 2026-03-29.
Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman did some sawing from the Suwannee Riverkeeper Old Town Canoe, but most of the work downstream from Langdale Park Boat Ramp on the Withlacoochee River was done by Austin Roark and his equipment and crew from Roark’s Land Clearing and Restoration.
They removed the snaggly tree just downstream from the boat ramp that was making fishing and paddling difficult. And a tree a bit farther down that stuck so far across it was eroding the right bank.
Cindy Vedas come to staff a WWALS table at the boat ramp.
Phil Hubbard couldn’t come because he had the flu.
Here are a few video snippets:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/931293323150513/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXjp9PFCLct/
After we went upstream and back (stay tuned for that report), whole families were fishing where those trees had been.
So that looks like success.
Thanks to all, and to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for their cooperation.
Continue readingValdosta Utilities got an even higher E. coli number for Monday at GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) on the Withlacoochee River, but a good result at US 84 that same day.
WWALS results downstream in Florida for Thursday were cleanest.
We also have good water quality results for Thursday for reported standing water in a drainage easement at Gornto Road near Sugar Creek in Valdosta.
Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend, if you can find any water.
It might rain, but not enough to wash much contamination into the river. Maybe it will at least dampen some wildfires.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
If it seems smoky, that may be because there’s a wildfire nearby, in the current extreme drought.
![[Wildfire map, --watchduty.org 2026-04-20, Suwannee River Basin, Numerous wildfires]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-20--watchduty-fire-map/many.jpg)
Wildfire map, –watchduty.org 2026-04-20, Suwannee River Basin, Numerous wildfires
For wildfires at a glance, see https://app.watchduty.org/, which appears to draw its data from state forestry services. Continue reading
Update 2026-04-24: Withlacoochee River filthy upstream, clean downstream 2026-04-23.
Valdosta Utilities got a high E. coli number for Monday at GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) on the Withlacoochee River, but a good result at US 84 that same day.
WWALS results for the Santa Fe River for Tuesday were cleanest.
Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
As always, we can only advise with the results we have. I’d avoid the Withlacoochee River above the Little River Confluence. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend, if you can find any water.
Maybe join us for >Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp 2026-04-18.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
Thanks to Georgia Power for another generous grant for water quality testing!
Thanks to Don F. Hutchinson, Area Manager, Southwest Region, Georgia Power, and his Admin Assistant Peyton Avrett for coming to Troupville Boat Ramp on the Little River so we could thank them.
For more about the WWALS Volunteer Water Quality Testing Program, see:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing
![[Thanks, Georgia Power, for a water quality testing grant, At Troupville Boat Ramp, April 16, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-16--thanks-georgia-power/fbmany.jpg)
Thanks, Georgia Power, for a water quality testing grant, At Troupville Boat Ramp, April 16, 2026
Here’s the video:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/953491027626147/
Good idea.
![[Valdosta Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15, 2026, Published 2026-04-14]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-14--valdosta-mandatory-water-use-restrictions/igmany.jpg)
Valdosta Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15, 2026, Published 2026-04-14
Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restrictions Take Effect April 15 (published 2026-04-14)
The City of Valdosta is reminding residents and businesses that mandatory outdoor water use restrictions will take effect beginning April 15, 2026. These measures are being implemented in response to ongoing drought conditions, reduced rainfall, and increased water demand that have significantly impacted local water source levels.
In addition to local enforcement, the City will enforce provisions outlined in the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, which has been in effect statewide since June 2, 2010. Violations may result in fines or water service disconnection.
Watering Guidelines:
Continue reading
Update 2026-04-18: Mixed Withlacoochee River 2026-04-13, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-04-14.
More waterbodies heard from since the Friday weekly water quality report:
Sugar Creek tested clean for the first time anybody can remember, and the Alapaha River also clean.
Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
![[Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-10--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
Update 2026-04-12: Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2026-04-10.
With no rain to wash contamination in, the Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers still look clean in the test results we have.
No new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
![[Clean Withlacoochee 2026-04-06, and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-04-07, So far as we know, Happy paddling]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-07--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Withlacoochee 2026-04-06, and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-04-07, So far as we know, Happy paddling
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
Update 2026-04-10: Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-04-07.
The Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers look clean in the test results we have.
No new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
There was some rain Friday, so some contamination may have washed in. As always, we can only advise with the results we have.
Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
![[Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-04-01, No sewage spills, Some rain 2026-04-03]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-01--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers 2026-04-01, No sewage spills, Some rain 2026-04-03
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
![[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Upstream from Langdale Park BR, Towards US 41 Bridge, Sunday, March 29, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-29--langdale-park-chainsaw-pictures/many.jpg)
![[Pictures: Downstream chainsawing, Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2026-03-29, Roark Land Clearing and Restoration, Trail4Valdosta, WWALS]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-29--langdale-park-chainsaw-pictures-downstream/many.jpg)
![[Withlacoochee River filthy upstream 2026-04-20, clean downstream, Plus a drainage easement 2026-04-23]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-23--wq/igmany.jpg)
![[Mixed Withlacoochee River 2026-04-13, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-04-14, Very low water, Avoid Withlacoochee above Little River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-14--wq/many.jpg)