Riverkeeper Report

In the last year, the lower river region has lost hundreds of acres of vitally important wetlands to commercial warehouse developments . These developments in precious wetlands reached a dangerous point last month when Effingham County Commissioners agreed to rezone the property right next door to the drinking water intake for Chatham, Effingham, and parts of Bryan counties. Using language like "We trust the clean water act and the feds to protect us" the commissioners chose to go forward with permitting a warehouse development.

Their reasoning that the warehouse's stormwater discharge would be downstream from the intake avoids the fact that the Savannah River is tidal. 400,000 people rely on Abercorn Creek drinking water source daily. Savannah and Ogeechee Riverkeepers along with One Hundred Miles are working with the communities affected to bring decision makers to the table for rational discussions on how to allow growth without decreasing the protections on this vital drinking water source and without devastating resiliency.

Read more: www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/get-to-know-your-river/

St. Marys Riverkeeper is one of hundreds on the front lines ensuring that the Clean Water Act is enforced through our own water quality monitoring program, resiliency projects, community partnerships and engagement opportunities, and increasing awareness on how we can be better stewards for our St. Marys River and environment. As a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act in 2022, St. Marys Riverkeeper is partnering with local riverloving businesses this October for our Toast to Clean Water Campaign which includes a series of events and engagement opportunities that will strengthen the clean water movement and connect our community to their waterways. Let’s TOAST to the next 50 years of clean water! www.stmarysriverkeeper.org/ toasttocleanwater2022/

Altamaha Riverkeeper invites you to become a Community Water Quality Monitor!

Training will be held at Brunswick UGA MAREX Station on Monday, Oct 10 2022, from 10am – 4pm. No experience necessary. Open to anyone interested in monitoring in any watershed, over age 16. Free. BYOLunch. This training will cover chemical (pH, DO, conductivity, salinity) and bacterial testing. Register at: forms.gle/2KWNN1PcV8oGNvny9

Ogeechee Riverkeeper presents Riverfest at the Mill on the banks of the Ogeechee River, on the Warren and Hancock County lines, on Saturday, October 1. Join us for outdoor events and activities on the grounds of the Ogeechee River Mill, including music, cornhole, rubber duck race, archery, tractor display, mule-drawn wagon rides, raffle paddling and fishing (bring your own equipment), and more! Admission is FREE for Ogeechee Riverkeeper members and children 12 and under. Admission is $10 per person for all others. www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/ events/riverfest/

On September 7, Satilla Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center filed an amicus brief in the Office of State Administrative Hearings supporting the Brantley County Board of Commissioners' opposition to a proposed landfill situated next to sensitive wetlands and private drinking water wells. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division recently issued a solid waste handling permit to Brantley County Development Partners, LLC to construct and operate a municipal solid waste landfill. The Board of Commissioners is challenging the permit in administrative court, arguing that the EPD illegally issued the permit in violation of public notice and involvement requirements, and the County’s solid waste management plan.

EPD invited public comments on Draft Site Limitations in December 2019. These Site Limitations were drafted based on the applicant's Site Suitability Report. EPD received 9,517 public comments, all but three were in opposition to the draft site limitations. On May 28, 2020, EPD issued a Site Suitability Notice, dismissing virtually all of the public's concerns.

Satilla Riverkeeper will continue to work to protect the river and basin. For more information visit www.satillariverkeeper.org/urgent-issues.html

Communications & Administrative Director Ogeechee Riverkeeper meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org