Category Archives: Chainsaw Cleanup

Videos: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek 2026-02-28

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We continued chainsawing downstream on the Withlacoochee River, starting at the train trestle.

Phil Hubbard and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman cut passage for kayaks, canoes, and jon boats through hurricane deadfalls. We got through a bunch of deadfalls, past the other train trestle beside the river, before paddling back up.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson came to see us off, wearing a tie, on his way to a day of funerals.

[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream, 2026-02-21]
Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream, 2026-02-21

Here is some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1458995909184651/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZGwxMiPky/

https://youtu.be/j1xd3FdCw-M

We are preparing for the Mayor andd Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Saturday, March 7, 2026.

We used several of our own chainsaws, and the Husqvarna 460 Rancher 24-inch chainsaw bought with a generous grant to WWALS from Wild Green Future.

We will continue chainsaw cleanups later.

There are many pictures below.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading →

Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to Troupville 2026-02-28

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Update 2026-03-02: Videos: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream 2026-02-28.

Update 2026-02-20: Rescheduled to Saturday, February 28, 2026, due to continued bad water quality.

Last time was fun and productive, so we’re continuing chainsawing downstream on the Withlacoochee River.

Meet at the Salty Snapper parking lot. Unless it’s raining; then we’ll try for Sunday.

We will cut 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.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, February 28, 2026
We may continue the following day, Sunday.

Put In: Gather in Salty Snapper parking lot, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602-2232

GPS: 30.861251, -83.3189

[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek, Downstream 2026-02-21]
Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek, Downstream 2026-02-21

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Pictures: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to RR Bridge 2026-02-14

Update 2026-03-02: Two weeks later, Videos: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream 2026-02-28.

We went only 0.28 Sugar Creek and Withlacoochee River miles, but we sawed plenty of passage through deadfalls, moved much debris, and picked up a bunch of trash.

Here are some video clips:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2360050534421356/

https://youtu.be/XsmSiemHLug

We were chainsawing passage for kayaks, canoes, and jon boats through hurricane deadfalls, especially from Hurricane Helene.

Phil Hubbard, leader of this expedition, remarked: “I felt we had a very productive day. With the low water we were able to clear obstructions that had existed but inaccessible for a very long time.”

[Chainsaw Cleanup, Sugar Creek to Withlacoochee River, Short distance but much accomplished]
Chainsaw Cleanup, Sugar Creek to Withlacoochee River, Short distance but much accomplished

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.

We took 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 and I used the canoe. David Savage and Tish Hall each brought their own kayak. We spent more time walking than paddling.

Phil Hubbard recently Continue reading →

Pictures: Franklinville Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, 2025-08-16

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]
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. Continue reading →

Pictures: Longer chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 2025-08-03

We chainsawed 1.32 miles down the Withlacoochee River from Langdale Park Boat Ramp to the bottom edge of the park, which is exactly 1/2 the way to Sugar Creek.

We’ll probably need a visa to exit the park through that massive deadfall.

In addition to numerous other deadfalls, we saw three wasp nests and Three Mile Branch.

[Wasps and Deadfalls, Longer chainsaw 2025-08-03, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River]
Wasps and Deadfalls, Longer chainsaw 2025-08-03, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River

Thanks to Phil Hubbard for organizing this chainsaw cleanup and for doing most of the chainsawing.

There’s even rare accidental proof that I chainsawed. And yes, I did have another sharper chain.

We are still clearing passage through deadfalls (trees across the river) from Hurricane Helene and that fell down afterwards. We will be back in a few weeks. Continue reading →

Pictures: More Chainsaw Cleanup, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-31

We went back to where we stopped the previous trip, and got the deadfalls about a 1/3 of a mile down the Withlacoochee River from Langdale Park Boat Ramp. Yes, we’re still clearing passage through deadfalls (trees across the river) from Hurricane Helene.

[Pictures: More Chainsaw Cleanup, Langdale Park 2025-07-31, Withlacoochee River, Very hot that day]
Pictures: More Chainsaw Cleanup, Langdale Park 2025-07-31, Withlacoochee River, Very hot that day

We used the Old Town Camper canoe donated to WWALS by Bob and Sue Raffaele.

This may be the fewest pictures I’ve ever posted from an outing, because it’s hard to photograph while paddling or chainsawing.

We went back again that Sunday, August 3; stay tuned for a report. Continue reading →

Longer chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 2025-08-03

Update 2025-08-14: Pictures: Longer chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-08-03.

Join us to paddle downstream from Langdale Park Boat Ramp to clear passage through whatever we encounter on the Withlacoochee River. Yes, we are still clearing passage through deadfalls (trees across the river) from Hurricane Helene.

This Sunday chainsaw cleanup is longer and starts earlier than the one Thursday.
https://wwals.net/?p=68051

The Withlacoochee River is very low, so we will be taking a canoe, and you can too, or a kayak.

Nobody has to saw. You can come pick up trash, photograph, or just float along.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 3:30 PM, Sunday, August 3, 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

[Longer chainsaw, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 9 AM, Saturday, August 2, 2025]
Longer chainsaw, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 9 AM, Saturday, August 2, 2025

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More chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 2025-07-31

Update 2025-08-04: Pictures: More Chainsaw Cleanup, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-31.

Update 2025-07-29: If you can’t come Thursday afternoon, join us Sunday morning, Longer chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-08-03.

Join us to float down about a 1/3 of a mile to a cluster of 4 trees where we stopped last trip, still clearing passage through deadfalls (trees across the river) from Hurricane Helene.

The Withlacoochee River is very low, so we will be taking a canoe, and you can too, or a kayak.

Nobody has to saw. You can come pick up trash, photograph, or just float along.

This will be a very brief paddle. We’ll be back Saturday for more. You can join us then, too.

When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, end 7 PM, Thursday, July 31, 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

[More chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-31, Canoes or kayaks, Saw, photograph, or pick up trash]
More chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-31, Canoes or kayaks, Saw, photograph, or pick up trash

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Pictures: Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-22

Update 2025-07-28: More chainsaw from Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-31.

Started in 100F heat index, finished in a rainstorm, but Phil Hubbard and I got passage cleared through three big deadfalls and a little one, and started on another.

More of these chainsaw cleanups. Join us next time!

[Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-22, 100F heat index, thunderstorm, Still got several deadfalls]
Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-22, 100F heat index, thunderstorm, Still got several deadfalls

The Withlacoochee River was too low to even get the WWALS jon boat in the water at Langdale Park Boat Ramp, where we rerouted to be upstream of the continued high E. coli in Sugar Creek.

Either outboard would have been of little use, anyway.

So we used one of the Suwannee Riverkeeper fleet of canoes. Thanks to Bob and Sue Raffaele, who donated the Old Town Camper canoe to WWALS 2021-05-29. And thanks to Dr. Dennis Marks for linking us up.

As the rain started to fall, Phil asked, how many miles did we get? Well, about a third of a mile. But we got more deadfalls cleared in that stretch than anybody else did.

While I was the one taking videos and Phil did indeed to most of the chainsaw work, I also chainsawed with two different saws.

Don’t worry: we left plenty of deadfalls for habitat. We cut passage, not everything out of the river.

We collected a bit of trash. Anybody who wants to collect more in this stretch can now get through to do so. And they can come along next chainsaw cleanup and pick up trash then.

Thanks to Wild Green Future for the grant that paid not only for the two outboard motors that we did not use this time, but also for the 86lb-thrust trolling motor and the LiFePO4 batteries that we did use to get back up the river quickly in the thunder and lightning. No pictures of that; we were busy trying to get to port. Continue reading →

Come to the WWALS River Revue and WWALS Paddles, 2025-07-08 –Suwannee Riverkeeper to LCC 2025-07-08

I invited the County Commissioners and staff of the most populous county in the Suwannee River Basin, Lowndes County, Georgia, to the 2026 Mayor and Chairmans Paddle and to a chainsaw cleanup preparing for it, as well as to the WWALS River Revue and Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, both coming up September 6, 2025.

[Come to the WWALS River Revue, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and WWALS Paddles, Suwannee Riverkeeper to LCC 2025-07-08]
Come to the WWALS River Revue, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and WWALS Paddles, Suwannee Riverkeeper to LCC 2025-07-08

First I congratulated them on the discussion during a rezoning Public Hearing earlier in that same meeting two weeks ago. See the video by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25109

I had been prepared to leap up and defend the Withlacoochee River from this rezoning just west of it, but between the citizens who spoke against,the speaker for, and the Commissioners and staff, they covered it. As I mentioned, I don’t necessarily completely agree with the decision, but it was a very civil discussion. Continue reading →