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 2026-04-26: 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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-02-28--chainsaw-cleanup-withlacoochee-river-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
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/
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
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/
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-02-14--chainsaw-cleanup-sugar-creek-to-troupville-withlacoochee-river-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
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
Update 2026-02-16: Pictures: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to Troupville 2026-02-14.
Join us as we chainsaw 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, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, if the river level rises enough to avoid rescheduling.
When: Gather 11 AM, launch 12 PM, end 5 PM, Saturday, February 14, 2026
Put In: Gather at the bottom of the Salty Snapper parking lot, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602-2232.
We’ll put in on Sugar Creek if there’s enough water,
otherwise on the Withlacoochee River under the railroad trestle.
![[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to Troupville, 9 AM, Saturday, February 14, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-02-14--chainsaw-cleanup-sugar-creek-to-troupville-withlacoochee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek to Troupville, 9 AM, Saturday, February 14, 2026
Sheila Willis and Teresa Aldrich Ammons saw many birds on Banks Lake.
Sheila is the President of the Okefenokee Bird Club and Teresa is a member. Sheila has been very helpful with information about the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge where she used to work.
Plus some feathers at the bat tree, falling from a nest that nobody had noticed before. They might be from a Great Blue Heron.
Continuing southwest towards Moody Air Force Base, we saw a flock of Great Blue Herons. And a flock of White Ibis sitting on the water, then flying, then one perching.
There were more birds, but I was busy going too far into the lily pads and hydrilla with the 25-hp outboard. Although stalks of those plants wrapped around the prop, they weren’t the worst. That was Continue reading
Phil Royce, from Live Oak, Florida, and I chainsawed up the Withlacoochee River towards Sugar Creek Friday, but there were too many deadfalls for one day.
This is why the final reroute of the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle for the next day.
When Phil Hubbard and I chainsawed this same stretch the preceding Sunday,
the Withlacoochee River was several feet higher, at about 122.8 feet NAVD88 on the
Valdosta (US 41) Gauge.
https://wwals.net/?p=67446
The deadfalls Phil Royce and I encountered Friday at 119.5 feet NAVD88 were not visible that Sunday.
We got several big deadfalls, including one infested with vines and small limbs. The Husqvarna 24-inch chainsaw proved useful. WWALS bought it with a grant from Wild Green Future, which also paid for the 9.9 hp outboard motor, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and two LiFeO2 batteries.
At some later date, it will be possible to get the rest of these deadfalls.
And don’t worry, we’re leaving plenty of habitat for turtles, fish, and other wildlife. We are only clearing passage, not the whole riverbed. Continue reading
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-03--longer-chainsaw-langdale-park-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-02--longer-chainsaw-langdale-park/fbmany.jpg)
Longer chainsaw, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, 9 AM, Saturday, August 2, 2025
![[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)
![[Outboard birding, Banks Lake 2025-12-04, Bat tree, feathers, Sand Hill Cranes, White Ibis, hydrilla, Lily pads]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-12-04--banks-lake-outboard-birding/fbmany.jpg)
![[Chainsawing from Troupville up the Withlacoochee River 2025-04-18, towards Sugar Creek, too many for one day]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-18--chainsaw-upstream-troupville-sugar-creek-pictures/fbmany.jpg)