Category Archives: Cleanup

Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle 2025-04-19

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Here WWALS videos of the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, and the talks before the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle 2025.

We didn’t get video of Gretchen Quarterman giving the host talk, but she got video of Gee Edwards giving the Safety Lecture as the leader of this expedition.

[Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19, Langdale Park Boat Ramp to Sugar Creek]
Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19, Langdale Park Boat Ramp to Sugar Creek

And of the two elected officials: Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, and Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter.

And of Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, who thanked Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce for the then most recent WWALS chainsaw cleanups between Langdale Park and Troupville. TJ Johnson also led three of the ten chainsaw cleanups on the Withlacoochee River since Hurricane Helene.

Here are the videos:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QwGbCYD8RS6O2a9Gbde6KiW&si=3AXMuak4qXkl4DB5

Also thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the grant that kept this paddle free to everyone.

And thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for the two shuttle vans and drivers. And to Lowndes County Fire Rescue for paddling. And to Lowndes County Public Works for grading the access road to Langdale Park Boat Ramp.

Thanks to Steve Miller and son for bringing a golf cart to the take-out at Sugar Creek. They and WWALS President Sara Squires Jones held the fort at Sugar Creek while the rest of us were paddling.

Here are the individual videos in this playlist: Continue reading →

Pictures: Last Mile, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-13

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Update 2025-04-20: Pictures: Chainsaw from Troupville up the Withlacoochee River towards Sugar Creek 2025-04-18.

At Langdale Park Boat Ramp Sunday Phil Hubbard got the big chainsaw working again. That’s the Husqvarna 24-inch chainsaw that we dunked in the Withlacoochee River Wednesday.

Then we drove by Sugar Creek for a look-see. There’s a big logjam, which we dealt with later. And geese swimming in the creek by the WaterGoat.

We decided to put in at Troupville Boat Ramp and go down around the Little River to its Confluence and upstream on the Withlacoochee River. All the way to Langdale Park Boat Ramp and back down.

[Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-04-13, Troupville Boat Ramp up to Langdale Park]
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-04-13, Troupville Boat Ramp up to Langdale Park

We found plenty of new deadfalls, and some old ones in the way at this kind of water level. The Valdosta Gauge at US 41 read 122.79 feet NAVD88 at 9:15 AM and 122.87 feet at 5 PM, rising as we did this chainsaw cleanup.

Videos: Continue reading →

Last Mile, Withlacoochee River, Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2025-04-13

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Update 2025-04-15: Pictures: Last Mile, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-13.

Get the last mile of deadfalls below Sugar Creek and anything else we see.

You can join us in a kayak or canoe; it’s all downstream.

You do not have to use a saw of any kind.

You can photograph, pick up trash, or just paddle.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 4 PM, Sunday, April 13, 2025

Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602, downstream from the North Valdosta Road (US 41) Bridge, in Lowndes County.

GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395

[Last Mile Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-13, From Langdale Park, by Sugar Creek, to Troupville Boat Ramp]
Last Mile Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-13, From Langdale Park, by Sugar Creek, to Troupville Boat Ramp

Continue reading →

Pictures: Withlacoochee Upstream from Troupville 2025-04-09

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Update 2025-04-15: Pictures: Last Mile, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-13.

Update 2025-04-14: Videos.

Yesterday Phil Hubbard and I found and dealt with two big new deadfalls on the Withlacoochee River near the Little River Confluence.

[Two new Deadfalls, Withlacoochee Upstream from Troupville Boat Ramp, April 9, 2025]
Two new Deadfalls, Withlacoochee Upstream from Troupville Boat Ramp, April 9, 2025

Phil also tried to match my record for getting a saw stuck in a river. But we retrieved the WWALS 24-inch Husqvarna chainsaw, minus its bar and chain cover. That does not match me leaving my similar saw in the Suwannee River for six months, so Phil has to try harder.

Videos:

And we picked up some trash from a few trashjams, including Phil got a baby leg.

The original plan for yesterday afternoon was to go down the Withlacoochee River, plant a sign at the midpoint (Withlacoochee River Hunt Club private boat ramp, courtesy of The Langdale Company), and motor back up.

Since there is some doubt as to which route the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle will take on April 19.
https://wwals.net/?p=67242

That route will depend on water levels, any contamination in Sugar Creek or the rivers, and whether we can get the rest of the deadfalls out of the Withlacoochee River near Sugar Creek. Yesterday we decided to head up the Withlacoochee River instead. Good thing we did, what with those new deadfalls.

Sunset soon meant we did not get up to the last mile of deadfalls below Sugar Creek. That is scheduled for this Sunday, April 12 13.
https://wwals.net/?p=67422 Continue reading →

Signage, Withlacoochee River, Troupville to midpoint 2025-04-09

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Update 2025-04-10: Pictures: Withlacoochee Upstream from Troupville 2025-04-09.

We will motor down to the midpoint of the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, checking the route and hanging signs.

We will take the usual chainsaws, although we don’t expect to find anything to saw.

If you have a boat and motor, please join us.

If you have a canoe or kayak, we can tow you.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 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.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Placing Signage, Withlacoochee River, Troupville to midpoint, April 9, 2025]
Placing Signage, Withlacoochee River, Troupville to midpoint, April 9, 2025

Continue reading →

Pictures: DeLoach private boat ramp to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

We continued on March 22 from Paul DeLoach’s private boat ramp, the early takeout for the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, 2025-04-19.

[Deloach private BR, many creeks, Langdale Company midpoint landing, US 84, CSX RR, to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22]
Deloach private BR, many creeks, Langdale Company midpoint landing, US 84, CSX RR, to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

On March 22, we stopped at the midpoint lunch spot and on to Spook Bridge, with several creeks, bridges, and other sights in between.

Thanks to The Langdale Company for access at the midpoint and Spook Bridge.

Stay tuned for Okapilco Creek and on to Knights Ferry Boat Ramp. The left bank is Lowndes County all the way, while the right bank and Okapilco Creek are in Brooks County.

Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition in the WWALS jon boat with the 9.9 hp outboard bought with a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 24-inch Husqvarna chainsaw, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteris.

Thanks to Phil Royce for bringing his jon boat and 3.5 hp outboard. We brought a bunch of other saws, too, but were happy enough not to have to use them for once on a chainsaw cleanup. Continue reading →

Pictures: Expert paddle, Troupville to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Update 2025-03-30: Pictures: DeLoach private boat ramp to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.

Last Saturday, Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce and I took two jon boats down the Withlacoochee River on the route of the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, which will be April 19, 2025.
https://wwals.net/?p=67242

The water levels were high and fast. Even on the Little River, there were some risks for novice paddlers, and more on the Withlacoochee River.

[Expert high-water paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22, Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp]
Expert high-water paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22, Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp

These pictures go as far as the early takeout, at Phil DeLoach’s private boat ramp.

You’ve already seen some of them, along with some historical pictures and videos, in Erosion and sign missing at Valdosta WWTP Outfall 2025-03-22.
https://wwals.net/?p=67276

Stay tuned for more pictures farther downstream.

The only time we used a chainsaw was when Phil Hubbard tuned the idle on the 24-inch Husqvarna, paid for by a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 9.9 hp outboard, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteries. Continue reading →

Expert paddle with jon boats: Troupville to Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22

Update 2025-03-27: Pictures: Expert paddle, Troupville to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.

Update 2025-03-23: Erosion and sign missing at Valdosta WWTP Outfall 2025-03-22.

This is a 20-mile high water expert scouting of the route of the upcoming Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle and beyond.

We can tow a few kayaks or canoes. But experts only, please. The many overhanging branches and no places to get out on shore make this no paddle for novices. And bring ropes for the front and back of your boat.

[Expert high-water paddle with jon boats 2025-03-22, Troupville to Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River]
Expert high-water paddle with jon boats 2025-03-22, Troupville to Knights Ferry, Withlacoochee River

In case of deadfalls, we will be carrying the usual chainsaws in the WWALS jon boat with the 9.9 hp outboard. So this is a chainsaw cleanup, but you do not have to saw. You can photograph, pick up trash, pull brush aside, or just come along.

When: Gather 9 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.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536 Continue reading →

Another Clean up One Mile Branch at Azalea City Trail, Valdosta, GA 2025-04-26

Rescheduled due to thunderstorms to April 26.

Come clean up trash along Azalea City Trail in Valdosta. Start near the notorious Wainwright Drive manhole on Sugar Creek, and go upstream and downstream.

When: 10 AM, Sunday, April 26, 2025

Put In: Wainwright Drive between Baytree Drive and Brookhaven Drive, and maybe also downstream, in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.

GPS: 30.84287, -83.30113

[Azalea City Trail, Cleanup 2025-04-26, Start at Wainwright Drive, One Mile Branch]
Azalea City Trail, Cleanup 2025-04-26, Start at Wainwright Drive, One Mile Branch

Continue reading →

Pictures: Troupville Withlacoochee Upstream Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08

Phil Hubbard and I got 2.6 miles up the Withlacoochee River from the Little River Confluence, so almost 3 miles including the third of a mile down the Little River from Troupville Boat Ramp.

We stopped at a cluster of big deadfalls at the top of Riverhill Drive, as sunset approached, so we could get back to Troupville Boat Ramp before dark.

That’s 2.3 miles more than the previous WWALS chainsaw cleanup on this stretch, four days before.

And a bit more than a mile to go up to Sugar Creek.

[2.6 miles done, One mile to go, Withlacoochee River Upstream, Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08]
2.6 miles done, One mile to go, Withlacoochee River Upstream, Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-03-08

The only casualty was one Husqvarna 24-inch chainsaw bar; I did salvage the chain. Fortunately, we had another bar. That’s the chainsaw paid for by the grant from Wild Green Future.

Which also paid for the 9.9 hp outboard motor. Which worked fine this time, except when we ran it into something going pretty fast and choked it down. Then it did not want to start.

But Phil tried something new: take off the cowling and put water on the ignition module to cool it. That worked! Back in action. Continue reading →