Rescheduled to March 22 due to high water.

Join us for a leisurely paddle on the Withlacoochee River: three miles to an early takeout, or another eight miles to Spook Bridge, with a mid-point lunch stop.

The first stretch is along the Little River frontage recently purchased by Lowndes County for Troupville River Camp and Nature Park. The right bank the whole way is Brooks County.

The second stretch goes by Valdosta’s cleaned up Outfall from its Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on the left bank in Lowndes County.

Paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter.

Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Little River, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Shuttle vans provided by Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA).
Early takeout provided by Paul DeLoach.
Spook Bridge takeout and midpoint provided by The Langdale Company.
Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition and Phil Royce for being sweep.

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 22, 2025

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
By the boat ramp, see the WWALS water trail signs about the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

On the Ramp, 2023-03-04, 10:12:38, 30.8514557, -83.3475863

Take Out: Spook Bridge Landing, US 84 west from Valdosta, left on Ousley Road, right on Old Quitman Highway, park at Martin Lane.
Thanks to Steve Miller for providing a 4-wheeler for getting boats and people from Spook Bridge back to the paved road.

Spook Bridge, 2023-03-04, 14:40:38, 30.7909281, -83.4522522

Boats: Bring your own kayak or canoe if you can.
If you do not have one, WWALS will have a few canoes and kayaks, first come, first served.

Paddlers near and far, 2023-03-04, 10:29:41, 30.8459195, -83.3514804

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat, paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Please follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash, avoiding damage to vegetation, and respecting wildlife.

Safety: Be on time. If you miss the safety briefing, you cannot paddle with us.
Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Free: This outing is free to everyone, thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power.

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1603504050556169/
https://www.meetup.com/withlacoochee-alapaha-suwannee-rivers-wwals-outings/events/305789933/

Duration: 6 hours

Paddle: 11 miles, 6 hours.

Valdosta WWTP clean outfall, 2023-03-04, 10:50:40, 30.8361045, -83.3595411

Shuttle: 24 miles, 30 minutes.
Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for providing shuttle vans.

Chairman, Mayor, City Manager on Deloach Private Boat Ramp, 2023-03-04, 11:13:14, 30.8380884, -83.3701976

Lunch Stop: Withlacoochee Hunt Club Private Boat Ramp, thanks to The Langdale Company.

Lunch stop at Withlacoochee Hunt Club Private Boat Ramp, 2023-03-04, 13:02:56, 30.8158549, -83.4250226

Gauge: Quitman @ US 84, Highest safe 10.5 feet, 94 NAVD. Lowest boatable 2.0 feet, 85.5 NAVD.

Host: Phil Hubbard

Contact: wwalswatershed@gmail.com or 850-290-2350

Backup: in case of bad weather or high or low water is: Reschedule

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

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