Author: Ogeechee Riverkeeper

Blog Post, Fellowship , ,

Why should we care about freshwater organisms?

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper March 14, 2022

Why should we care about freshwater organisms? This is an incredibly common question directed towards freshwater ecologists like myself, and it’s completely valid. Why spend all the time and effort to study things that appear to have little to no impact on human welfare? While the ultimate answer to this question is nuanced, one of the most important reasons why we as scientists care about them is their use as bioindicators.

The concept of a bioindicator is fairly straightforward, generally referring to the use of a living thing (bio-) as an indicator for the health of the ecosystem it lives in. For example, let’s say that there’s a rare crayfish species that is known to only occur in pristine habitat with very clean water, and has no tolerance for pollution of any kind. Therefore, if that species is found, scientists can use it as evidence that the stream it was found in is very healthy. On the flip side, if the only species that are found in a specific stream are fairly common and can tolerate a large range of conditions, then these species might indicate that that stream has poor water quality.

Female Red Swamp Crayfish from 15 Mile Creek, with young on the abdomen. Image by Ray Chandler.

Beyond being good “tools” for humans to assess the health of our ecosystems, different freshwater organisms serve distinct purposes in the aquatic food web. This is especially true of crayfishes, which are commonly viewed as “keystone” species. A keystone species is one that performs such an important role in an ecosystem that without it, there would be a large-scale detrimental effect on the rest of the ecosystem.

The crayfish is a keystone species for a variety of reasons. Firstly, crayfish are omnivorous, eating all kinds of different things in stream ecosystems, from other smaller insects to plant matter. Secondly, crayfish are important food sources for larger predators, like sport fish and amphibians. This combination of  eating and being eaten by so many different things make crayfish an integral part of aquatic food webs. 

Thirdly, crayfish act as “ecosystem engineers” through the creation of burrows. Many of you may be familiar with crayfish burrows that you see on land (check out this article), but what many people don’t realize is that all crayfish burrow to some extent. In stream ecosystems, these underwater burrows act as key habitat for other freshwater organisms, and therefore harbor the diversity of life that is important for healthy streams.

A crayfish burrow found in the field in southern Georgia.

With spring already in full swing, I’m sure many of you will be seeing crayfish a lot more often, and I’m excited to write more about what you may see out in the watershed.

Blog Post, Educational ,

Define a watershed

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper March 2, 2022

Come up with your own definition of watershed using clear and descriptive words. The best definition of watershed will win some ORK swag!

The most commonly used definition is: “A watershed is a system of how water flows through an area moving sediment, water and dissolved materials into a common point.”

This concept can be confusing and many of us forget its meaning over time. We’re calling on *YOU* to come up with a creative and easy way to remember what a watershed is!

Submit your definition of a watershed to info@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org or tag us on social media.

Thanks to Connie at Savannah-Ogeechee Canal for the activity idea!

Additional Activity:

The Ogeechee Watershed (see map) has many types of ecosystems within it including freshwater from the Piedmont region, to blackwater rivers and swamps in the Coastal Plain region and runs all the way to the Georgia coast. Include ecological information about your watershed including but not limited to animals, soil types, plant life, human impacts and more.

Activity is open to all ages and meets the needs or can be combined with other activities for the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science.

 

  • S3L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the similarities and differences between plants, animals, and habitats found within geographic regions (Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau) of Georgia.
  • S3L2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the effects of pollution (air, land, and water) and humans on the environment.
  • S4E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to demonstrate the water cycle.
  • S6E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to recognize the significant role of water in Earth processes.

 

 

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

PRESS RELEASE: ORK, City of Savannah install litter traps to Protect the Vernon

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper February 28, 2022

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER, CITY OF SAVANNAH INSTALL LITTER TRAPS TO PROTECT THE VERNON
Effort is part of a long-term project to improve the health of the Vernon watershed 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and the City of Savannah are partnering to lead a long term project to protect the water quality and ecology of the Vernon River. Two litter booms were recently deployed in an effort to catch litter before it reaches the river or the ocean. The booms were installed in the Chippewa and Harmon Canals. These traps will be cleaned out regularly and the litter will be sorted, analyzed, cataloged and then recycled or disposed of responsibly. 

The booms were designed and installed by Osprey Initiative, and were paid for by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). ORK received the 5 Star grant from NFWF for its comprehensive plan involving multiple stakeholders in the area. 

In 2021, ORK the City of Savannah, and other stakeholders set out to restore the waterways in the Vernon River basin to the point that it can be delisted as an impaired waterbody by GA EPD; and to reduce the amount of litter and plastic pollution entering the waterways. The canals and tributaries that feed the Vernon River are highly impacted by urban development.

“All of Savannah’s stormwater infrastructure flows into a public waterway,” says Laura Walker, Water Resources Environmental Manager for the City of Savannah. “These waterways are lifelines to Savannah’s environmental and economic health. We work hard every day to try and keep them fishable and swimmable. But we need everyone to treat the storm system with care. We need everyone to protect the storm drains, ditches, and creeks and keep them clean.” 

The Vernon River receives a significant amount of the stormwater leaving the City of Savannah, via Wilshire Canal, Harmon Canal, Casey Canal, and Hayners Creek, all part of the Ogeechee River watershed. The goal is to improve water quality, restore ecological habitat, and “Protect The Vernon” from current and future threats. 

“We are so grateful for the broad group of stakeholders working with us to minimize the threats that urban runoff, and litter and plastic pollution pose to this special waterbody,” says Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director. “Local residents are encouraged to volunteer for litter cleanups, citizen science programs, educational events, and more in the coming months.”

Sign up to volunteer, view data, watch an installation video, and view the successes to date: https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/vernon

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

Press Release: Milliken vows to halt use of PFAS chemicals by year’s end

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper February 22, 2022

February 18, 2022
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

 

MILLIKEN VOWS TO HALT USE OF PFAS CHEMICALS BY YEAR’S END
One of their industrial textile facilities is on the banks of the Ogeechee River

 

Milliken has promised to stop using PFAS, otherwise known as ‘forever chemicals’ in their facilities by December 2022. They are eradicating these chemicals from two product lines from facilities worldwide. This includes the Longleaf facility located in Screven County on the banks of the Ogeechee River. 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) discovered PFAS in the river, then produced and publicly shared sample evidence to indicate PFAS were being discharged by Milliken in fall of 2020. This information was shared with the public, and with Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), along with a request to require Milliken to conduct a full-scale PFAS study before issuing a new permit. 

“This is a major step in removing pollutants and contaminants from all of our waterways,” said Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director. “We are pleased our work on this issue gained enough public attention to encourage a change in company practices.” Mullis adds that ORK will continue to monitor for compliance. 

PFAS are a class of chemicals that do not break down in nature and bio-accumulate in living organisms, including humans. Studies show links to thyroid and liver problems, obesity, high cholesterol, low birth weight, and certain cancers. There are currently no national standards for ‘acceptable’ levels of PFAS contamination. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still studying the issue but the agency recently added PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list.

Removal of this harmful chemical from Milliken’s process is positive for the health of the river, but ORK will continue to push for stringent standards on any permit renewal for Milliken. Outflow from the facility was the contributing factor to a massive fish kill in 2011, one of the largest in the state’s history. The facility has at least one Clean Water Act (CWA) violation on record for the past 11 of 13 quarters, including the most recent 4 quarters. 

More on the history of Milliken’s facility along the Ogeechee River

 

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

Blog Post, Fellowship ,

Why freshwater critters like crayfish are so fascinating

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper February 17, 2022

Hi everyone! I’m incredibly excited and I figured I would use this first post to provide a bit of background on myself, what I’m hoping to get out of this research project, and why freshwater critters like crayfish are so fascinating!

Brian trying to ID a tiny juvenile

I was born and raised in Ohio, and have been interested in the natural world my entire life. I grew up hiking, kayaking, and climbing, and knew that I wanted to have a career that would allow me to explore nature and to help conserve the land that I was recreating in. This led me to pursue a degree in environmental science at Ohio State, but it wasn’t until I lucked into a lab research job studying stream ecology that I found my passion for the animals that call the freshwater their home. 

Of course, like every little kid, I had spent time growing up playing in creeks and knew about some of the weird things that you could find in streams. But it wasn’t until I started really spending time doing biological surveys that I discovered how much beauty and diversity lies under the water. That’s why I decided to come all the way down to the southeast for graduate school; I wanted to be in an area that harbored a large diversity of organisms, and that’s exactly what Georgia has.

While Ohio is home to roughly 20 crayfish species, Georgia is home to over 70 (!), the 4th most in the U.S. behind Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. This incredibly high diversity is due to a lot of different things, but one of the main reasons is that crayfish often have very specific and restricted ranges, whether due to geographic barriers or very specific life history traits that allow them to only occupy very specific areas. If you’re interested in learning more about some of the biodiversity of Georgia crayfishes, Georgia DNR has amazing resources for experts and amateurs alike.

Procambarus pubescens (Brushnose Crayfish) from Magnolia Springs

One of these species that has a very specific range is the Ogeechee Crayfish, or Procambarus petersi. Found only in the Ogeechee and Canoochee basins, very little is known about P. petersi beyond the fact that it is a stream-dwelling crayfish. What I hope to do with this project is to better understand this species range within the basin, what its habitat preferences are, and how it interacts with other species within its habitat. 

Next month, we will start doing some of our first surveys of the basin, and hopefully start catching some petersi to show everyone! I’ll also dive into why conservation of aquatic organisms matters in the first place, and what specific roles crayfish play within aquatic ecosystems. 

– Brian Bush, ORK Fellow