Tag: press release

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RELEASE: ORK marks World Photography Day with opening of annual photo contest

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper August 19, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08/19/2026
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

ORK MARKS WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY WITH OPENING OF ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
Yearly event is a favorite among supporters

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) invites photographers to submit their best work for its annual photo contest, showcasing the phenomenal range of views and wildlife in the 5,500 square mile Ogeechee and Canoochee River basin. The photographs should highlight the area’s rich ecological features that provide vital habitats for more than 160 rare plant and animal species. ORK encourages entries from all 20 counties within the watershed.

The 2026 guest judges are Steve and Anna Bliss. Steve Bliss is an artist and photographic educator. He recently retired after a 30-year career teaching and administrating at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Over the course of his career, he received a number of grants and awards, including those from the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Georgia Council for the Arts, Polaroid Corporation, and the Southern Arts Federation. His photographs, digital images, and various works on paper are in the collections of museums and private collectors, nationally and internationally.  

Anna Bliss is a photographer based in Savannah, Georgia. She started making pictures in the sixth grade with a plastic camera and pretty much never stopped. She studied photography at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine, and received a BFA in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her primary interests are the landscape and the magic concealed in ordinary moments.

Photographers can enter in several categories: Landscape, Portrait, Wildlife, Plant Life, Underwater, Aerial, Black and White, and Funny Wildlife. To qualify, all submitted images must be taken within the current calendar year. 

“We’re out there everyday and we never get tired of seeing the watershed up close,” said Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications and administrative director. “But it’s always special to see it through the eyes of those who love it as much as we do.”

All submissions must be received by November 16, 2026, with winners announced in December 2026. For complete rules and submission guidelines, visit ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/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 20 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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PDF of release

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

RELEASE: ORK announces Burroughs Digital Library

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper August 5, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08/05/2026
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCES BURROUGHS DIGITAL LIBRARY
Aerial photography supported by a grant from the Burroughs Fund

In 2025, Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) received a grant from the Karen and Jerry Burroughs Foundation Fund of The Savannah Community Foundation, to research, create, and curate aerial imagery of the Ogeechee River basin. ORK scouted multiple locations to find representative examples that would showcase the breadth, beauty, and scope of the watershed. ORK then worked with veteran drone pilot and photographer John McKinnon to capture views, in both video and still formats.

“While working on the project it occurred to me we were making a document of the Ogeechee as it exists today that we can compare against future changes,” McKinnon recalls. “I was fortunate to be able to travel the length of the Ogeechee watershed and…I was amazed by the diversity of fauna starting near the source and changing along its path to the coast. The unique vantage point of the drone delivered coverage that could never be caught any other way.” 

ORK shares the Burroughs Digital Library to allow anyone to explore the watershed and be inspired to help us protect, preserve, and improve it for future generations. 

View the album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCPW8K

As editing of raw footage continues, more imagery will become available in the future. Please contact meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org for use permissions.

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 20 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

About The Savannah Community Foundation: With an asset base in excess of $120,000,000, The Savannah Community Foundation is an umbrella philanthropic organization through which individuals, families, businesses, and charities support the well-being of our community.  More at www.savfoundation.org.

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08.2026 – Press Release – Burroughs Digital Library – PDF

Burroughs Digital Library - The Watershed from Above

Blog Post, Press Releases , , ,

RELEASE: Introducing the Savannah area warehouse dashboard

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper July 9, 2026

07/08/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meaghan Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
Ogeechee Riverkeeper
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Contact: Steven Uhles
Communications and Brand
Savannah Riverkeeper
communications@savannahriverkeeper.org

Contact: Jeff Beauvais
North Coast Advocate
One Hundred Miles
jeff@onehundredmiles.org

INTRODUCING THE SAVANNAH AREA WAREHOUSE DASHBOARD
Coastal environmental orgs launch updated tool

Local environmental organizations Savannah Riverkeeper, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, and One Hundred Miles are introducing an improved Warehouse Dashboard — an interactive tool developed to help community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers visualize and understand the full scope of established industrial facilities in the Greater Savannah Area. 

The dashboard includes a map and data illustrating some concerning truths about the Greater Savannah area’s expansive warehouse market. As of July 1, 2026, nearly 700 individual developments have been charted on the dashboard, which includes completed facilities, facilities under construction, and those slated to be built in the near future.

Industrial construction has accelerated dramatically in Coastal Georgia in recent years. Sector market analysis confirms the region has experienced its highest vacancy rates of this decade over the past three years, hovering around 10 percent. 

The Warehouse Dashboard helps to visualize the sprawling footprint of industrial facilities surrounding the ports, which are increasingly encroaching on the fragile habitats that act as buffers, and the coastal region’s vital floodplains. Continued industrial expansion threatens further harm to disappearing wetlands, green spaces, and natural areas in the region.

Screenshot of Warehouse Dashboard

The dashboard provides a publicly accessible inventory with raw data, available to anyone. The tool is the most comprehensive Savannah-region warehouse inventory available to the public without a subscription. Entries include location, date of construction, property owner, legal description, and square footage of the development, collated from available public records. Work on data collection for the tracking tool was supported by a grant from the Sapelo Foundation.

Download the Colliers Q2 2026 Savannah Industrial Market Report, which includes vacancy rates and warehouse square footage available or being built.

Citizens, advocates, researchers, and decision-makers can use the Warehouse Dashboard to better understand and contextualize the region’s industrial market. By combining information from multiple local governments and using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to give a visual representation of how warehousing interacts with waterways and floodplains, the impacts of this warehousing boom are dramatically clear. This tool will help bridge the gap between dense technical development proposals and what this development looks like across communities.

The Warehouse Dashboard is intended to be a living, collaborative, community-supported resource. It has been built to improve visualization and understanding about the cumulative impacts of industrial development. Savannah Riverkeeper, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, and One Hundred Miles will continue to regularly update the data with collaboration and input from the public. 

The Warehouse Dashboard is available at: https://savrk.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/438f7c1bd32845628aac697703ac7537#

A survey for the public to “Report a Development” is open for anyone to submit findings or concerns. 

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 20 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

About Savannah Riverkeeper: Savannah Riverkeeper is the leading guardian of the Savannah River, actively protecting the entire 400+ river basin and 10,000 square mile watershed through action, education, advocacy, and collaboration. Learn more at savannahriverkeeper.org. 

About One Hundred Miles: One Hundred Miles is a coastal nonprofit working to protect Georgia’s 100-mile coast through advocacy, education, and community engagement. Learn more at onehundredmiles.org.

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PDF download: 07.2026 – Press Release – Warehouse Tracking Map

Blog Post, Press Releases , ,

RELEASE: ORK to host Clays for the Canoochee

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper May 20, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/20/2026
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER TO HOST CLAYS FOR THE CANOOCHEE
The new event is a sporting clay shoot fundraiser

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) invites sportsmen and women to participate in a sporting clay shoot, benefitting the nonprofit’s fight to secure clean, safe water. Participants will have a chance to show off their skills on the 50-shot course at 17 South Rod and Gun Club, a 300-acre private club with 15 scenic stations that challenge shooters of all levels. The event is a morning of friendly competition, followed by an award luncheon and raffle.

Those looking to aim higher can become a Clays for the Canoochee sponsor. Depending on the level, sponsors will have increased visibility for their business or organization and special event-day perks, as well as registration for 1-2 teams of 4 shooters each. Not a shooter? Organizations can still sponsor limited edition merchandise, including reusable water bottles, tote bags, and more. 

Event details, including schedule, registration, and sponsorship options: https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/clayshoot/

If interested in onsite coverage, please contact staff ahead of this event: hesper@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

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 20 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

Press Releases , , , ,

RELEASE: ORK kicks off Member Month with moonlit paddle

by Ogeechee Riverkeeper May 18, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/18/2026
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

OGEECHEE RIVERKEEPER KICKS OFF MEMBER MONTH WITH A MOONLIT PADDLE
Special events and celebrations throughout the month of June

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will start membership month with a full moon paddle in the upper watershed. Participants will experience the mill pond at Hamburg State Park under a night sky, and are welcome to join ORK staff on an overnight campout, with a simple breakfast served in the morning. This is one of the tailored events focused on celebrating supporters and recruiting new members during membership month.

Becoming a member of ORK has a number of perks, including member-only events, discounts to the popular Master Naturalist program, and more. Importantly, membership allows ORK to demonstrate the strength of numbers when speaking for constituents at public meetings, in grant applications, in court, or in official comments. ORK also has multiple options for corporate sponsorship available.

To help inspire people to join, or renew, an anonymous donor has pledged a $10,000 match to donations made in the month of June. Any gifts from new donors will have triple the impact. For example, a donation of $75—the cost of an annual household membership—will be matched with $150, making the total donation $225. Any current donor will have their donation doubled.

May 30: Full Moon Paddle, Hamburg State Park, Mitchell, Ga.
Guided full moon paddle with optional campout option

June 2: Community Night at Green Truck Pub, Savannah, Ga.
ORK will answer questions and share information about the organization’s work, with a portion of the night’s sales donated to ORK.
https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/green-truck-membership-night-0626/

June 6: Annual Membership Meeting, Glen Echo Farm, Ellabell, Ga.
At this state-of-the-basin meeting, learn about emerging environmental issues, new programs, and priorities. ORK will also be presenting awards for volunteers, businesses, scientific breakthroughs, and rising stars.
https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/annual-member-meeting/

June 20: Fungi Forage, Tom Triplett Park, Pooler, Ga.
Explore the local habitat, learn to identify a variety of mushrooms, and discover the ecological roles of fungi.
https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/members-only-fungi-forage/

If interested in coverage, please contact staff ahead of any of these events: meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

Download the PDF: 05.2026 – Press Release – Member Month Events

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 20 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.