Many thanks to Edwin McCook, formerly of SRWMD, who invented the
Suwannee River Camps,
and Nic Brown, who is in charge of them at Florida Parks,
as well as Shell Simmons for assisting.
Even more thanks to Lowndes County, Georgia, Chairman Bill Slaughter and
Paul Batts of Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA)
and his wife Melanie for attending.
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.
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.
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.
![[Suwannee River Camps, on-land tour 2025-09-27, Dowling Park River Camp, Adams Tract River Camp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-27--suwannee-river-camp-on-land-tour/fbmany.jpg)
![[Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19, Langdale Park Boat Ramp to Sugar Creek]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-19--mayor-chairmans-paddle-videos/fbmany.jpg)