All 29 paddlers had fun, on the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Saturday, March 7, 2026.

We went from Troupville Boat Ramp, down the Little River to its Confluence, near where some day will be Troupville River Camp.

Then we went down the Withlacoochee River over some small shoals, to the cleaned-up outflow of Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Plant.

And out at Paul Deloach’s Private Boat Ramp; thanks to him for access.

Pictures 2026-03-07, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Little River and Withlacoochee River

Here are some videos:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QzGPpfQY6qOBC-qQF-M9gex&si=6QY4Fu4LslnLV_6e

Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading, to Gretchen Quarterman for organizing, to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the grant that made this paddle free for everyone, to Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, to Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter, to Paul Batts and the Valdosta-Lowndes Park and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for shuttle vans, and to The Langdale Company for access at a lunch stop and at Spook Bridge, although we did not go there.

Thanks for paddling to Davy Shaw of VSU CORE Outdoors and all the VSU students, Brianna Schawalder of Trails4Valdosta, Emily Millet of Ecopaths.org, and everyone else who was on the water.

All this was on the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT). with signs funded by a generous grant by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA-DNR). GA-DNR also fixed up the access road. Continue reading →