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 readingUpdate 2026-04-18: Mixed Withlacoochee River 2026-04-13, Clean Santa Fe River 2026-04-14.
More waterbodies heard from since the Friday weekly water quality report:
Sugar Creek tested clean for the first time anybody can remember, and the Alapaha River also clean.
Still no rain, and still no new sewage spills have been reported this week in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida or Georgia.
As always, we can only advise with the results we have. Happy paddling, swimming, fishing, and boating this weekend.
This image is an illustration. Scroll down for the details.
![[Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-10--wq/many.jpg)
Clean Alapaha River 2026-04-09 and Sugar Creek 2024-04-10; No rain; no spills: Happy Paddling
Follow this link for the WWALS composite spreadsheet of water quality results, rainfall,
and sewage spills in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida:
https://wwals.net/issues/testing/#results
The image below is a current excerpt from that spreadsheet. Continue reading
Update 2026-04-26: Pictures: Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Upstream, Withlacoochee River 2026-03-29.
Update 2026-04-25: Pictures: Downstream chainsawing, Langdale Park Boat Ramp 2026-03-29.
Update 2026-03-23: WWALS Chainsaw Cleanups clear passage, leaving habitat 2026-03-23.
With Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta, meet at Langdale Park Boat Ramp @ 9 AM. We will remove deadfalls and debris to permit passage as far upstream on the Withlacoochee River as we are able within an approximate 6 hour time frame. Volunteers do not have to use a chainsaw if not experienced. Help with debris and trash removal as well as photos and videos assistance are always welcome. Bring your kayak and join this adventure.
You do not have to boat. You can walk along the left (east) bank of the river in Langdale Park. As Brianna Schawalder says, let’s make 2026 the Year of Outdoor Recreation in Lowndes County.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 4 PM, Sunday, March 29, 2026
Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602, on Hyta Mederer Drive.
GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395
![[Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, with Trails4Valdosta]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-03-29--langdale-park-chainsaw-cleanup-withlacoochee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, with Trails4Valdosta
Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for support for all this. Continue reading
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
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
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
Update 2026-03-20: Langdale Park Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River 2026-03-29 with Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta.
She wants to make 2026 the Year of Outdoor Recreation in Lowndes County. Sound like a fine idea!
Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman interviewed Brianna Schawalder about Trails4Valdosta, where her group is clearing hurricane debris from trails in Langdale Park. That’s Trails4Valdosta on Instagram, or trails4valdosta@gmail.com.
![[Interview: trails4valdosta, Brianna Schawalder, Langdale Park, 2026-02-16]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-02-16--trails4valdosta/fbmany.jpg)
Interview: trails4valdosta, Brianna Schawalder, Langdale Park, 2026-02-16
That’s on the Withlacoochee River, off of Hyta Mederer Drive, from North Valdosta Road (US 41), I-75 Exit 22, just west of Valdosta, Georgia. Most of the trails are in Lowndes County, but not in Valdosta. The park extends south slightly past Three Mile Branch, which drains much of North Valdosta Road, as well as Five Points, where the roundabouts are going in.
Here is the interview video:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1270068585041228/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVYv6PfiNnt/
This is the map I referred to, with trails walked by Sev Williams: Continue reading
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.
![[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)
Suwannee River Camps, on-land tour 2025-09-27, Dowling Park River Camp, Adams Tract River Camp
The visitors got to hear from the experts how Florida does it. Many topics were discussed, from access to finances. Continue reading
Join floral artist Amanda Hall-Phillips for a hands-on wreath-making workshop using natural, foraged greenery—think cedar, pine, eucalyptus, seed pods, cones, vines, and other beautiful finds from our own woods and waterways. You’ll learn how to identify local plants, build a lush, oversized wreath, and style it for the season.
It’s fun and educational. For example, the venue is in the watershed of Sugar Creek, which has had many sewage spills on the way to the Withlacoochee River.
And you’re helping all that WWALS does, including water quality testing!
When: Gather 10 AM, launch NA, end 12 PM, Saturday, December 13, 2025
Put In: Wood Valley Community Center Pavilion, 1907 Gornto Road, Valdosta, GA 31602.
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)
![[Foraged Wreath Make and Take, Fundraiser 2025-12-13, Amanda Hall-Phillips, Wood Valley Community Center]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-12-13--foraged-wreath-make-and-take/fbmany.jpg)