This is part 2 of the Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup of Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Part 1 was downstream.
Here we go upstream, with Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta in her canoe, helping pull limbs aside and photographing, and Russell Hassenstab of Kona Ice paddling the Suwannee Riverkeeper Old Town Canoe, while Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman chainsaws.
Here are some video snippets.
Thanks to Continue reading
Update 2026-04-26: Pictures: Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Upstream, Withlacoochee River 2026-03-29.
Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman did some sawing from the Suwannee Riverkeeper Old Town Canoe, but most of the work downstream from Langdale Park Boat Ramp on the Withlacoochee River was done by Austin Roark and his equipment and crew from Roark’s Land Clearing and Restoration.
They removed the snaggly tree just downstream from the boat ramp that was making fishing and paddling difficult. And a tree a bit farther down that stuck so far across it was eroding the right bank.
Cindy Vedas come to staff a WWALS table at the boat ramp.
Phil Hubbard couldn’t come because he had the flu.
Here are a few video snippets:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/931293323150513/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXjp9PFCLct/
After we went upstream and back (stay tuned for that report), whole families were fishing where those trees had been.
So that looks like success.
Thanks to all, and to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for their cooperation.
Continue readingWe aim to clear a wide and deep enough passage for canoes, kayaks, and jon boats. Sometimes we will clear more if it’s obviously going to just fall back into the passage, or if it will be a problem at a different water level. But we remove only what we must.
We leave most of the rest as habitat for fish, turtles, otters, birds, and other wildlife. Shade, eddies, pools, and general variation in river flow result; all good for wildlife. You may notice that experienced fishers often cast near woody debris for this reason.
![[WWALS Chainsaw Cleanups clear passage, leaving habitat, 2026-03-23]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-23--chainsaw-river-passage/many.jpg)
WWALS Chainsaw Cleanups clear passage, leaving habitat, 2026-03-23
As a reminder, to join WWALS on any river outing you must listen to the safety lecture and sign the insurance waiver. Every person in a boat, no matter their age or size or experience, must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
Here are more than 50 examples of WWALS chainsaw cleanups:
https://wwals.net/outings/chainsaw-cleanups/
You can see plenty of habitat beyond where TJ is sawing in this picture. Continue reading
Update 2026-03-21: The water level is now too low for the jon boat. Still meet at Troupville Boat Ramp to decide on the actual put in with a WWALS canoe and any kayaks or canoes you bring.
Launching the WWALS jonboat from the Troupville Ramp, around the Little River Confluence and up the Withlacoochee River, we will remove deadfalls and debris to permit passage as far upstream as we are able within an approximate 6 hour time frame. Volunteers do not have to use a chainsaw if not experianced. Help with debris and trash removal as well as photos and videos assistance are always welcome. Bring your kayak and join this adventure.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, March 21, 2026
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.
![[Chainsaw cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Upstream from Troupville, 9 AM, 2026-03-21]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-21--chainsaw-cleanup-withlacoochee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Chainsaw cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Upstream from Troupville, 9 AM, 2026-03-21
Three different trash trap companies have quoted for a Withlacoochee River location just upstream from Langdale Park Boat Ramp, and downstream from US 41, North Valdosta Road.
Two have looked at another Withlacoochee River location just downstream from GA 133, in Troupville Park, where VLPRA briefly owns both sides of the river.
The Langdale Park location is about 28 feet across the river, and would require a 50-foot trap.
That location is very convenient, because the access road goes right there.
I sent quotes for this location by two trash trap companies to the City of Valdosta in 2023. A catch is that these locations are not in the City of Valdosta. Continue reading
Update 2026-03-13: Trash trap, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-02.
Four other places trash traps would be very useful, two in the Withlacoochee River, above VLPRA parks:
![[Valdosta puts Osprey trash trap in Sugar Creek, Upstream from the Withlacoochee River 2026-03-05]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-05--valdosta-osprey-trash-trap/fbmany.jpg)
Valdosta puts Osprey trash trap in Sugar Creek, Upstream from the Withlacoochee River 2026-03-05
The city PR doesn’t say, but this new trash trap appears to be above the Gornto Road bridge in Sugar Creek.
City of Valdosta PR, March 5, 2026, City of Valdosta Receives $98,250 Grant to Expand Waterway Debris Interceptor Program Continue reading
Join us on the radio, talk921.com, at 8 AM tomorrow morning, Thursday, March 5, 2026, to hear about the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper this Saturday.
Here’s a facebook event to remind you:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2273100159762397/
Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the generous grant that makes this paddle free for everyone. Thanks to Paul Deloach and The Langdale Company for river access. Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority for shuttle vans. Thanks to Steve Miller for his 4-wheeler for the takeout. And thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this paddle.
Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman may also talk about other current topics such as: Continue reading
Here’s Part 3, in which Melissa Stewart retrieves a yellow toy ramp, jsq chainsaws, there was a drizzle, we went through the rapids to get to Clyattville-Nankin Boat Ramp, and Darrell Stewart planted water trail signs.
The whole thing took about nine hours, with the paddle taking about 6.5 hours.
The 200-or-so pounds of trash collected included Melissa’s RCA TV from the river and another TV found at Nankin Boat Ramp.
Thanks to Will Hart and Scotti Jay for leading this paddle, and to all for participating.
![[Part 3, Knights Ferry to Clyattville-Nankin, Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-12]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-11-12--kf-nankin-chainsaw-cleanup/fbmany.jpg)
Part 3, Knights Ferry to Clyattville-Nankin, Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2025-11-12
Here are some video clips:
Update 2025-12-05: Clean Withlacoochee, Alapaha, Santa Fe Rivers; dirty Sugar Creek and One Mile Branch 2025-12-04.
This week there are many less deadfalls across Sugar Creek in Valdosta, Georgia.
Juston Stone sent these pictures. He is the owner of Stones Aquatic Weed & Algae Removal. He said he was hired by Valdosta Utilities Department to clear from the bottom of the Salty Snapper property up to the Gornto Road Bridge. Downstream from there is not in the Valdosta City Limits. It’s not far downstream to the Withlacoochee River, which has plenty of logjams of its own. Yes, there are discussions about that.
Juston also posted this video of Sugar Creek clearing:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2037502813683473/
There are more videos on the Stones Aquatic facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/stonespondcleaning/
Valdosta Utilities Director Jason Barnes had been saying for some time that he had some creek clearing projects in mind. I guess this was one of them.
Juston said when they cleared one of the biggest logjams, Continue reading
Update 2025-10-08: The Commissioners agreed to support the no wake zone. Pictures: Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07.
Come on down to Live Oak to speak or be seen in support of the Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone.
That’s 5:30 PM today, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
at the Judicial Annex Building, 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida
32064
It’s item 14 the Suwannee County Commission agenda, and it takes up pages 88-130 of the board packet.
Florida Parks “does not oppose,” and FFWC Research and SRWMD recommend more study.
Suwannee County could support more study, or it could say the evidence is already convincing enough.
![[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-07--suwannee-bocc/fbmany.jpg)
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Linda Dicker says:
The petition will be presented by Mr. Alden Rosner, Parks & Recreation Director for Suwannee County. I will not be permitted to present the petition and will be in attendance only to address any questions the commission may have.
It is critical that our community express their support of this petition and let the county commission know that we are passionate about preserving the Ichetucknee. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts to sign in for public comments.
You can also write to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWC), using this handy form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYFArSQsstOauhRVYTCMoikXYIo0i_gDmkuDlbTC-7OSsgQQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114012348461689332646
Or you can write to:
Captain Rachel Bryant <Rachel.bryant@myfwc.com>
Major Bill Holcomb <William.holcomb@myfwc.com>
Rob Klepper <Robert.klepper@myfwc.com>
What FFWC says it wants from Suwannee County is: Continue reading
![[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Upstream from Langdale Park BR, Towards US 41 Bridge, Sunday, March 29, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-29--langdale-park-chainsaw-pictures/many.jpg)
![[Pictures: Downstream chainsawing, Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2026-03-29, Roark Land Clearing and Restoration, Trail4Valdosta, WWALS]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-29--langdale-park-chainsaw-pictures-downstream/many.jpg)
![[Trash trap sites, Withlacoochee River 2025-07-02, Langdale Park below US 41, Troupville Park below GA 133]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-02--trash-trap-withlacoochee-river/igmany.jpg)
![[Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-05--radio-mayor-chairman-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
![[Clearing logjams from Sugar Creek --Juston Stone 2025-11-02, Stones Aquatic Weed & Algae Removal, for Valdosta Utilities Department]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-12-02--sugar-creek-clearing/fbmany.jpg)