We found surprisingly little trash at the Withlacoochee River below Franklinville Road, but plenty of yellowjackets and deadfalls. Also, Cat Creek stinks like sewage.

Franklinville Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-08-16, Yellow Jackets and Chainsaws, Deadfalls, and Cat Creek Stinks

Thanks to Cindy Vedas for organizing this expedition, and for bringing lunch.

Thanks to landowner Robbie McMillan for access, including mowing a path down to the Withlacoochee River at the Hahira-Moody AFB power line, for swimming, and for chainsawing.

I actually did most of the chainsawing this time, from my kayak, but there are no pictures of that.

Early on, I was chainsawing an opening in the brush towards Tyler Bridge, when something started stinging me. I backed off, but they followed me: Southern Yellowjackets, Vespula squamosa.

Southern Yellowjackets, Vespula squamosa, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

Tenacious little critters. I still have a red spot on my back where one kept at it.

Robbie later sprayed ammonia into their hole in the dirt, so walking to Tyler Bridge is much safer now.

Gretchen retrieved a chair from the river just above the bridge.

This chair, 2025:08:16 09:10:27, –jsq for WWALS 30.9814555, -83.2679322

Turns out it is used by a friend of Robbie’s for fishing, so she gave it to Robbie to return to owner.

We saw two examples of bottle on log. Very little other trash. Probably it all washed downstream in the various hurricanes and floods.

Bottle on log, 2025:08:16 10:43:22, –jsq for WWALS 30.9776803, -83.2626328

Robbie and I agreed that next time we’ll take a canoe, so both of us can be in the boat.

Robbie swimming, 2025:08:16 10:12:12, –jsq for WWALS 30.9782352, -83.2636470

There’s plenty more to do, for example upstream from the power line to the bridge.

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, Jomn 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

Before

Tyler Bridge, 2025:08:16 08:53:14, –jsq for WWALS 30.9813652, -83.2679430

WR

Across, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

TC

Gretchen wading to the chair, 2025:08:16 09:10:03, –jsq for WWALS 30.9814555, -83.2679322

CbtR

Cindy Vedas by the Withlacoochee River, 2025:08:16 09:11:14, –jsq for WWALS 30.9816543, -83.2681303

PL

Hahira-Moody AFB Power Line, 2025:08:16 09:23:53, –jsq for WWALS 30.9798852, -83.2686326

AtR

Cindy, Gretchen, and Robbie McMillan at the river, 2025:08:16 09:31:42, –jsq for WWALS 30.9797373, -83.2651786

YD

Yo Dawg, 2025:08:16 09:31:50, –jsq for WWALS 30.9797835, -83.2652389

OH

Overhanging, Withlacoochee River, Franklinville, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

YDWR

Yo Dawg likes the Withlacoochee River, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

ItR

jsq at the deadfall, Robbie McMillan with a saw, Yo Dawg, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

DF1

First deadfall, 2025:08:16 09:44:09, –jsq for WWALS 30.9795847, -83.2650754

RWS

Robbie Wading Saw, 2025:08:16 09:47:24, –jsq for WWALS 30.9792541, -83.2647489

DF2

Second deadfall, 2025:08:16 10:13:28, –jsq for WWALS 30.9782160, -83.2636758

RSawing

Robbie sawing, 2025:08:16 10:34:22, –jsq for WWALS 30.9776607, -83.2627609

OSBR

Old Scruggs Private Boat Ramp, 2025:08:16 11:27:57, –jsq for WWALS 30.9773964, -83.2607581

CC

Cat Creek, 2025:08:16 11:37:54, –jsq for WWALS 30.9755800, -83.2615821

CCDF

Cat Creek Deadfall, 2025:08:16 11:38:07, –jsq for WWALS 30.9755800, -83.2615821

CCS

Cat Creek stinks, 2025:08:16 11:38:38, –jsq for WWALS 30.9755800, -83.2615821

RdWB

Robbie decided to walk back, 2025:08:16 11:54:29, –jsq for WWALS 30.9756288, -83.2616132

GWR

Green Withlacoochee River, 2025:08:16 11:58:48, –jsq for WWALS 30.9763301, -83.2607338

RMI

Robbie McMillan Island, 2025:08:16 12:23:36, –jsq for WWALS 30.9779377, -83.2633839

DFuttB

Deadfalls up towards the bridge, 2025:08:16 12:34:17, –jsq for WWALS 30.9805625, -83.2641082

BB2

Banner, water trail signs, Tyler Bridge, 2025-08-16 –Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS

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