Category: Press Releases

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

PRESS RELEASE: Ogeechee Riverkeeper awarded prestigious Fish & Wildlife Foundation grant

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper February 2, 2022

February 1, 2022
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

 

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION GRANT

ORK will work with municipalities, stakeholders to improve Vernon River watershed

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) was awarded a Five Star grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in support of its ongoing Protect The Vernon project. The grant, totalling $93,200, includes more than $45,000 in matching funds and on-the-ground support from local experts, municipalities, and organizations. The funding will allow ORK to engage stakeholders in a scientific plan and help move the Vernon River toward greater ecological health. Ultimately, ORK envisions this restoration project to serve as a model for restoring other water bodies in our basin. 

Aspects of the project include:

  • Installation of multiple litter booms to capture litter and plastic pollution before it reaches larger water bodies
  • Analyze captured litter for possible mitigation solutions
  • Monitor bacterial levels at multiple locations to  identify and respond to pollution sources
  • Train and engage community volunteers to monitor water quality 
  • Educate and engage young people via K-12 classroom settings
  • Provide collegiate internships in data collection and analysis

The representative group of stakeholders and partners includes ORK, Skidaway Institute for Oceanography, City of Savannah, Chatham County, Savannah State University, Chatham Academy, Heard Elementary, Town of Vernonburg, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, and Cuddybum Hydrology.

“The goal of this project is to reduce bacterial and plastic contamination from entering into the Vernon River and our coastal marshes and we are involving the many great community partners to accomplish this” says Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director. “With the support of this grant we will be able to reach people of all ages and backgrounds, making these efforts a long-term, sustainable solution.” 

The NFWF Urban Waters Restoration Program helps develop community capacity by providing modest assistance to diverse local partnerships for river, wetland, riparian, forest and coastal restoration, and wildlife conservation. Water monitoring, stormwater management, source water protection, urban tree canopy restoration, and projects designed to prevent trash from entering waterways are just some of the types of projects that are awarded grants.

More details about the Protect the Vernon project and continuing updates are available 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 22 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

 

***

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

RELEASE: First research fellow at ORK starts crayfish project

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper January 18, 2022

01/18/2022
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard, Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

The annual fellowship will provide research opportunities in the watershed

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) has launched a new research fellowship to be filled each year. In 2022, the ORK Research Fellow is Brian Bush, a first-year graduate student at Georgia Southern University, pursuing a master’s degree in biology. The fellowship is underwritten by investments secured from the 2011 fish kill settlement. 

“We are excited to launch this annual fellowship,” said Damon Mullis, executive director and riverkeeper of ORK. “Research is important to our mission to protect the waterways in our basin. This fellowship will spur more interest in our basin and result in more academic research projects.  We are excited to have this initiative to further our mission.”

Photo by Chris Lukhaup

The Ogeechee River Basin is home to 16 different native crayfish species, including Procambarus petersi, an endemic species commonly called the Ogeechee Crayfish. The project aims to document riverine crayfish populations and distribution, with a focus on P. petersi, and provide education and outreach opportunities throughout the watershed. Throughout the fellowship, Bush will be sharing blog posts and photos of his time in the field and in the lab.

Brian Bush

Bush will lead the research project with the supervision of Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., professor of biology and associate dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University. Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from The Ohio State University, with Honors Research Distinction from the School of Environment and Natural Resources. During his time at Ohio State, Bush conducted research with Dr. Mažeika Sullivan in the stream and river ecology laboratory. After graduation, Bush worked for the Nevada Bureau of Land Management, conducting stream surveys in northern Nevada and southern Idaho.

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.

***

PDF – Press Release – 2022 Research Fellowship

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

PRESS RELEASE: ORK announces the winners of the annual photography contest

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper December 2, 2021

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
Professional photographer Parker Stewart helped choose winners

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) has chosen the best photographs from across the 5,500 square mile watershed submitted for the annual photography contest. Judges sorted through images that highlighted what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, ecologically and aesthetically remarkable. This year, guest judge and photographer Parker Stewart led the selection process.

Stewart is based in Savannah, Georgia, and is currently focusing his time photographing the coast of Georgia and the river basins that flow in the region. “I was so excited to be asked to judge the Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s annual photography contest,” Stewart said. “The Ogeechee is such a beautiful and diverse expanse. There’s nothing better than exploring and photographing the winding black water rivers which flow out towards the most pristine barrier islands on the east coast.”

The 2021 winners are: 

Black and White –  Winner: Scarboro Landing, Janet Strozzo Anderson; Runner-up: River Rain, William Harrell
Funny Wildlife – Winner: Tree Climber, Wesley Hendley; Runner-up: Cormorant, Janet Strozzo Anderson
Landscape – Winner: Kings Ferry Landing, Ted Grey;  Runner-up: White Chimney Creek, Claude Howard
Plant life – Winner: Tree, Near Morgans Bridge, James Maddox; Runner-up: Stump, Kathleen Kuehn
Portrait – Winner: New Friends, Montana Tohm
Wildlife – Winner: Barred Owl, William Harrell; Runner-up: Pileated Woodpecker, Wesley Hendley
Honorable Mentions – Heart Tree, Tamara Shurling (Plant Life); Kayak Trail, Brett Tatom (Landscape); Free, Gretchen McLeod (Landscape); Big Daddy, Merritt Garrett (Funny Wildlife)

Winners receive a one year ORK household membership and official ORK swag. All winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions can be viewed here or via the viewer below.

2021 Annual Photography Contest

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, Press Releases , , ,

PRESS RELEASE: Hancock County adopts ordinances to protect Ogeechee River, residents

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper November 22, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/22/21
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Southern Environmental Law Center
Contact: Emily Driscoll, 404-521-9900
Director of Program Communications
edriscoll@selcga.org

HANCOCK COUNTY ADOPTS ORDINANCES TO PROTECT OGEECHEE RIVER, RESIDENTS
Update petitioned by Ogeechee Riverkeeper and drafted by Southern Environmental Law Center

Last week, the Hancock County Board of Commissioners amended its zoning ordinance to require some special use permit applicants to explain in detail how their proposal would impact the surrounding community and environment.

In March 2021 Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) helped organize a group of concerned citizens to prevent the development of a quarry in Hancock County. The site was along the banks of the Ogeechee River and immediately adjacent to a residential neighborhood. County commissioners ultimately denied the special use permit to the developers, but the process revealed just how vulnerable the county’s rural areas are to other damaging developments. 

ORK and Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) worked with local citizens and municipal officials to draft the amendments for Hancock County. The updates require the permit applicant to provide a community impact assessment that analyzes environmental conditions, water and air pollution, and truck traffic. Importantly, it also requires information on vulnerable populations, socioeconomic standards, public health data and protection, and other demographic data. The developer must now submit all of this information with their application. 

“These changes bring added transparency for the public and for county officials when considering a permit application,” says Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director of ORK. “Both county residents and leaders need to know the true effects these proposals will have on their quality of life.” 

ORK opposed the quarry development due to its proximity to the Ogeechee River, and possible adverse effects on water quality, potential damage to the aquifer that locals use for drinking water, and likelihood of it becoming a pollution source.  While residents’ reasons varied, concerns included complications from silica dust, negative health effects to livestock, infrastructure damage, social and housing inequities, disturbance to local businesses and tourism industry, historic property damage, and more. 

Mullis added: “We appreciate the Hancock County commissioners for recognizing the need to make these improvements. We are confident that they will protect the community and our environment.”

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.

***

ORK’s statement regarding the quarry defeat (March 2021)

Catfish and the Quarry – The Bitter Southerner (October 2021)

 

Blog Post, Press Releases , , , , ,

PRESS RELEASE: ORK to hold panel discussion on plastic pollution

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper November 18, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/18/21
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 6 p.m. It will be held virtually and is open to all. Registration is required. The meeting will begin with organization updates before launching into a panel discussion on plastic use and pollution. The panelists are:

  • Hermina Glass-Hill — Field Representative, Oceana (Georgia)
  • Jennette Gayer — State Director, Environment Georgia
  • Don Bates — Founder, Osprey Initiative

The discussion will be led by ORK staff.

When attendees register, they will receive a link to stream the documentary film The Story of Plastic. Attendees will watch the film before the panel discussion and will be able to ask questions of the panel. The Story of Plastic takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. The panel discussion will also offer specific ideas and actions that can help combat plastic pollution in our watershed.

For registration links and more details, visit

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.