Blog Post, Press Releases press release, protect the vernon, watershed management plan

RELEASE: ORK announces updated Vernon watershed management plan

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper May 30, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/30/23
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCES UPDATED VERNON WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN

ORK, City of Savannah led multiple stakeholders in the official process

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and stakeholders from the City of Savannah Water Resources, Chatham County and area residents adopted an updated watershed management plan (WMP) for the Vernon River. It includes new data and recommendations to achieve the goals 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.

Work on Vernon River started in 2001 when a group of citizens came together to focus on protecting the Vernon River from urban pollution when it was listed as ‘impaired’ by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD). The 2023 updates are made to the WMP adopted in 2013. The updates will act as a guide for next steps in improving the water quality.

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 River” from current and future threats.

The stakeholder committee includes representatives from: The City of Savannah, Chatham County, Cuddybum Hydrology, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Savannah State University, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (UGA), Georgia Southern University, Town of Vernonburg, and concerned residents from neighborhoods throughout the Vernon River basin.

In addition to the WMP, ORK has made a number of steps to improve the water quality in the Vernon River basin. ORK and the City of Savannah have installed four litter booms which trap trash before it makes its way into the wider river. So far, more than 3,600 pounds of litter has been removed. ORK is also monitoring 61 sites for bacteria levels and mapping the results.

View data and read the 2023 WMP at: 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 21 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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PDF of release – 2023 Protect the Vernon River WMP

Blog Post, Press Releases checo colon-gaud, damon mullis, journal, macroinvertebrates, publish

Ogeechee Riverkeeper contributes to scientific paper

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper May 22, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/22/2023
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER CONTRIBUTES TO SCIENTIFIC PAPER
The journal article was edited for young readers and their educators

Damon Mullis, executive director and riverkeeper at Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and Checo Colon-Gaud, Ph.D., professor & associate dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University and ORK board member, published their findings on various methods for collecting macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates are creatures without a spine that can be seen with the naked eye. Common ones in the Ogeechee watershed include dragonflies, crayfish, mayflies, and beetles.

Mullis and Colon-Gaud, along with fellow co-author Kelsey Willbanks, a student at the University of Georgia, experimented with using various types of sampling devices – netted pouches filled with bark, leaves and other natural materials that attract the wildlife they wanted to study. They compared the number of macroinvertebrates they captured with each type of device. Although the snag with wooden pieces captured the greatest number of organisms, all types caught sufficient numbers for sampling.

The findings of this article were first published in the Journal for Freshwater Ecology. The article was edited and repurposed for young readers and their educators, and was published by Frontiers for Young Minds. The site makes technical science accessible for students in multiple disciplines.

“I’m excited that our work is available to younger students,” said Colon-Gaud. “As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to engage interested minds in what I love studying.”

Sampling macroinvertebrates is a key way for scientists to test the ecological health of a body of water. For example, many need certain levels of dissolved oxygen in the water to thrive. Determining the presence, or lack thereof, of certain species helps scientists understand if the oxygen level in a waterbody is out of balance.

“ORK is dedicated to practicing good science, but also to making it accessible to the public,” said Mullis. “We want people to understand what we are doing so that they understand why clean water is important to us all.”

The article is available at: https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.705218
Ogeechee Riverkeeper also maintains a library of free resources and educational activities for teachers and curious students at: https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/education-resources/

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 21 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

Blog Post, Fellowship education, fellowship, outreach

Fellowship Outreach

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper May 16, 2023

April and May were very eventful months for my fellowship. In April, I hosted an educational program for a class of young prospective STEM students at William James Middle School. I created a water trivia quiz for the students and they all exceeded my expectations. A lot of students were interested in getting themselves and their families signed up for volunteering which was great to hear.

I also got the chance to volunteer for the Canoochee Paddle Race. This is an event Ogeechee Riverkeeper has brought back to Evans County, Georgia. The race was successful, despite the low water levels in some areas. The feedback from the event was positive. ORK is already working on next year and hopes to see the number of participants grow. Congratulations again to all the winners!

A third event I assisted in was the career day at Nevils Elementary School. I spoke about different projects ORK works on, as well as my own research and university studies. The children we met were so attentive and considerate. They all made sure to correct each other on littering and hold each other accountable. The students were also very curious and asked a lot of great questions. I even had a student give me a hug and tell me, “Thank you.” Another student told his teacher he wanted to be a riverkeeper when he grows up.

I have also been continually participating in the Don’t Litter Lotts cleanups in Statesboro, Georgia. This project has been increased to cleanups twice a month because the amount of litter in the creek has unfortunately also increased. As the summer months come, we will need some more volunteers as many students head home for the summer or are busy with jobs. Check out the cleanups and sign up!

Blog Post, Events canoochee, canoochee paddle race

Canoochee Paddle Race – 2023 Results

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper April 24, 2023

A huge thanks to everyone who came out for the return of the Canoochee Paddle Race. The 2023 edition was held on Earth Day, April 22, from Brewton Bridge to Rocks River, along 7+/- miles of the river.

The event was made possible with help from:

The raffle prizes were donated by:

Winners

Download full race results

Single winners

Jon Dedic – 1:21:48.9
Carl Fuller – 1:28:39.0
Michael Downs – 1:29:28.5

Tandem winners

Kyle Lott and friend – 1:31:55.5
Shawn Rosenquist and son – 1:36:37.1
Tom Oxnard and John Schoettle- 1:47:35.4

Creative Costume Award

Brent Croft

Best Dressed Award

Jordan Light and Mary Elizabeth Scott

Dynamic Duo

Damien and Heather Scott

Lazy River Award

Casey Corbett – 3:18:44.3

Download full race results

Handmade trophies, created with the help of middle school students

Blog Post, Press Releases national fish and wildlife foundation, rain barrel

RELEASE: ORK and City of Savannah to host third rain barrel giveaway

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper April 13, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/13/2023
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER, CITY OF SAVANNAH HOST THIRD RAIN BARREL GIVEAWAY
Effort is part of a long-term project to improve the health of the Vernon watershed

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and the City of Savannah Water Resources Department are partnering to lead a long term project to protect the water quality and ecology of the Vernon River. As part of that effort, ORK and the City are holding their third rain barrel giveaway at Daffin Park on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Area residents can pick up a free rain barrel from 5 – 7 p.m., in the sandy parking lot behind the stadium. Barrels are limited and will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

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. “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 barrels collect rainwater for later use. They can also mitigate flash flooding by slowing water runoff from roofs. The Vernon River receives a significant amount of the stormwater leaving the City of Savannah, all part of the Ogeechee River watershed. The goal of the project is to improve water quality, restore ecological habitat, and “Protect The Vernon” from current and future threats.

Another way ORK and the City have partners is to deploy litter booms in an effort to catch litter before it reaches the river or the ocean. The booms were installed in the Coffee Bluff, Chippewa, Wilshire, and Harmon Canals. These traps are cleaned out regularly and the litter is sorted, analyzed, cataloged and then recycled or disposed of responsibly. Since February 2022, the litter booms have caught nearly 2,500 lbs of trash. The most common material is polystyrene, with an average of 370 pieces per cleanup.

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.

“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. “As the NFWF grant comes to a close this summer, we will be releasing the updated watershed management plan for the Vernon River. This represents hundreds of hours of sampling, analyzing, cleaning, mapping, counting and more.”

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

PDF of press release