Update 2023-05-18: Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River Cleanup 2023-07-22.

Update 2022-05-16: Trash at No Water No Beer 2022-05-07.

When Russell says don’t bring a boat to a cleanup, bring a boat for use as a garbage scow. Fortunately, Valdosta Mayor Scott James brought a boat. He and Council Andy Gibbs helped clean up at Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River, in that Council district. We filled that kayak with trash, floated it down the river, loaded it on the Mayor’s truck, and he drove it straight to No Water No Beer at Georgia Beer Co. (his idea).

The Mayor and Phil Hubbard sawed off some deadfalls, clearing passage in the creek. Thanks to them and all the other volunteers for this cleanup. Special thanks to Russell for organizing it.

Sugar Creek, Withlacoochee River, trash, Valdosta Mayor and Council

Of course, cleanups don’t solve the trash problem. Fortunately, better trash booms are available, and Valdosta has excellent ordinances about parking lot owners needing to keep trash from getting off their property. We look forward to the City of Valdosta buying some booms and to their ordinance education and enforcement program. See https://wwals.net/issues/trash/.

Apparently Circle K, Zacadoo’s, and Crab Shack are in particular need of education or enforcement. See also Chick-fil-A in Sharon Ross’ facebook photoset. See also Russell McBride’s facebook photoset; of course he found a turtle.

And Russell went back the next week and got still more trash. Which is still more evidence that the upstream fast food outlets and parking lots need to stop this stuff getting into the creeks.

Before

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, Jesse Cole, Russell McBride, Phil Hubbard, Rob Rickert, Sharon Ross, Don Davis, 09:08:36, 30.8617125, -83.3188277

Sugar Creek

Sharon Ross, Jesse Cole, Rob Rickert, Russell McBride, Scott James, 09:13:38, 30.8625441, -83.3187415

Boating

Russell McBride and Scott James in his kayak, 09:25:11, 30.8634367, -83.3190541

Sawing

Phil Hubbard in the kayak with a saw, 09:35:34, 30.8632605, -83.3193490

Sawing Part 2

Mayor approaching a log, 09:39:30, 30.8633684, -83.3192774

Movie: Mayor Scott James sawing a log in a kayak, 09:39:30, (40M) 30.8633684, -83.3192774

Movie: Phil Hubbard and his electric chainsaw, (68M) 30.8633684, -83.3192774

Bottom of Sugar Creek

Phil Hubbard and Sharon Ross with trash and logjam, 09:53:46, 30.8641066, -83.3200653

Meanwhile upstream

Jesse, Russell, Rob, Scott in the kayak, 10:24:07, 30.8641393, -83.3199752

At the logjam

Phil Hubbard in the creek, 10:24:13, 30.8641393, -83.3199752

Wilson found

Franklin Soft Spike, 10:25:47, 30.8640460, -83.3201352

ON the logjam

Russell on a log, jsq in the kayak, 10:42:47, 30.8642596, -83.3201787

Trash barge, Withlacoochee River

Russell McBride and Mayor Scott James, 10:59:55, 30.8638564, -83.3204291

Anchors aweigh

Joining the Withlacoochee River, 11:03:08, 30.8639041, -83.3206636

Portage

Trash temporarily offloaded, 11:06:44, 30.8638761, -83.3209597

Last river stretch

Here comes the kayak, 11:14:02, 30.8632856, -83.3213699

Landed and loaded at the railroad bridge

Russell McBride, Mayor Scott James, Council Andy Gibbs, Rob Rickert, Jesse Cole, 11:30:05, 30.8629943, -83.3214285

At the Salty Snapper parking lot

Elleanor Williams, Gretchen Quarterman, Hazel Williams, Russell McBride, Rob Rickert, Phil Hubbard, Mayor Scott James, Jesse Cole, Council Andy Gibbs, 11:35:44, 30.8617554, -83.3186387

Here is a playlist of WWALS videos from this cleanup:

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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