Join us as we chainsaw passage for kayaks, canoes, and jon boats through hurricane deadfalls.

You do not have to use a saw: you can pull sawed limbs aside, collect trash, photograph, or just paddle along.

The river is very low. This is convenient for sawing through dead trees while standing on the river bottom. But beware there will be much dragging of boats.

We are preparing for the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, if the river level rises enough to avoid rescheduling.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, February 14, 2026

Put In: Gather at the bottom of the Salty Snapper parking lot, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602-2232.
We’ll put in on Sugar Creek if there’s enough water,
otherwise on the Withlacoochee River under the railroad trestle.

GPS: 30.861251, -83.318900

Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to Troupville, 9 AM, Saturday, February 14, 2026

Take Out: Troupville Boat Ramp
Or we may just haul the boats back upstream, depending on water level.

Boats: We will be taking a WWALS canoe with the 24-inch Husqvarna Rancher chainsaw and the 86 lb thrust trolling motor paid for by a grant from Wild Green Future, plus other saws, electric and gas.
Phil Hubbard recently repaired that chainsaw.

Phil Hubbard fixed the Husqvarna 24-inch chainsaw 2025-12-21, Thanks for the grant to WWALS from Wild Green Future

Kayaks and canoes are welcome to paddle along.
Once we get down past the GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) bridge,
you can also walk along the Withlacoochee River right bank in the park.

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.
If you have a chainsaw and know how to use it, bring it along.
Or a sawzall or handsaw, which is especially good for small underwater limbs.
But you do not have to saw: you can pick up trash, or photograph, or just paddle along.

Holland Deadfall, 2025-04-18, 14:25:42,, jsq for WWALS 30.8602222, -83.3251806

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 PFD.

Another deadfall upstream, 2025-04-18, 14:25:42, –Phil Royce for WWALS 30.8602222, -83.3251806

Free: This outing is free to everyone, because it is a cleanup!

We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1206162208386968/

meetup

Duration: 5 hours

Paddle: 4.26 miles, 4 hours.

Shuttle: 9 miles round trip, 30 minutes.
This outing includes the traditional WWALS shuttle. Everybody takes their boats to the put-in, most people drive to the take-out, and the drivers pile into one or two vehicles and go back to the put-in.

Gauge: Valdosta at US 41 (North Valdosta Road), USGS 02317755.
Highest safe 12.7 feet, 123′ NAVD. Lowest boatable 5.7 feet, 116′ NAVD.

As of February 9, 2026, the Valdosta Gauge reads 114.53 feet NAVD 88, which is five feet lower than when the pictures in this post were taken on April 18, 2025.

Host: Phil Hubbard

Contact: John S. Quarterman

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

Map: Holland Deadfall in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

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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