River Temperature Update for 7/09/14 : 69F
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8TH ANNUAL PADDLEFEST August 2nd 2014 WHEN: August 2nd 2014. Boat Launches start at 8:30am
WHAT: Canoe/Kayak, SUP, and Homemade Raft paddle Come out and leisurely paddle or compete in one of our race categories. ALL racing will be professionally timed ! WHERE: Riverfront Marina (Next to SRK office) A festival will follow paddle event from 10:30am-3pm. Come out and enjoy music, food vendors, Sweetwater beverages, and live/silent auctions. Festival is FREE to the public, just bring cash for vendors/auctions. CLICK HERE TO BE A PADDLEFEST VENDOR CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING |
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For EVERYONE that came out and participated
with our 2014 GatorFest Augusta: THANK YOU
for making this an AMAZING EVENT.
We could not have done it without you
and we cannot wait until next year!!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GATORFEST
CLICK HERE FOR 2014 RACE RESULTS
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR EVENT SPONSORS
VIDEO FOOTAGE OF 2014 GATORFEST AUGUSTA:
THANK YOU
VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, ACOSTA, & PARTICIPANTS
FOR HELPING US HAVE AN AMAZING
2ND ANNUAL ROAST ON THE RIVER EVENT!!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
**PICS COMING SOON**
A big congratulations to RON BEUL for winning our raffle for the Kamado Joe Grill donated by Fireside Outdoor Kitchens & Grills
SRK thanks our Savannah family for making our
5th Annual Roast on the River a HUGE Success
Thank you volunteers, sponsors, & participants for your Support!!
Click here to check out our AWESOME SPONSORS!
Savannah Riverkeeper needs your help raising an abandoned boat!!!
The boat’s owner moved it from place to place in recent years but hasn’t been around since rising waters caused it to roll and sink at its current location, near a homeless camp. When the boat sank, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Riverkeeper with removing all contaminants, but removing the wreck itself is a costly undertaking, and the Riverkeeper hopes to raise the money.
The boat’s owner moved it from place to place in recent years but hasn’t been around since rising waters caused it to roll and sink at its current location, near a homeless camp. When the boat sank, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Riverkeeper with removing all contaminants, but removing the wreck itself is a costly undertaking, and the Riverkeeper hopes to raise the money.
OCTOBER IS ALL ABOUT CLEANING UP OUR WATERWAYS!
JOIN ONE OUR CLEANUPS!
THANKS TO ALL THAT CAME OUT TO OUR RIVERS ALIVE CLEANUP!! IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
2013 Annual Rivers Alive Cleanup
What: River's Alive is Georgia's annual volunteer waterway cleanup event that targets all waterways in the state. The mission of this cleanup is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources.
When: Saturday October 19th 9am-noon
Where: Meet at Lake Olmstead Park CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
ALL VOLUNTEERS GET A T-SHIRT & LUNCH!!
Please email Marisa Harris at marisah@savannahriverkeeper.org if you are interested in joining the cleanup or if you have any questions.
What: River's Alive is Georgia's annual volunteer waterway cleanup event that targets all waterways in the state. The mission of this cleanup is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources.
When: Saturday October 19th 9am-noon
Where: Meet at Lake Olmstead Park CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
ALL VOLUNTEERS GET A T-SHIRT & LUNCH!!
Please email Marisa Harris at marisah@savannahriverkeeper.org if you are interested in joining the cleanup or if you have any questions.
Thank you so much Elanco for choosing the SRK as your organization for your day of service! Thanks for your help in allowing us to move one step forward at our new office, you did an AMAZING job!
2013 Paddlefest Race Times are now viewable!!!
Click here for SUP Race times
Click here for Canoe & Kayak Race times
Thanks Mary Jacobson for taking so many great pictures!!!!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2013 EVENT PICS!!!
THANK YOU
TO EVERY VOLUNTEER, PARTICPANT, & VENDOR THAT HELPED MAKE OUR 7TH ANNUAL PADDLEFEST A SUCCESS! WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
We hope to see you soon at one of our other awesome SRK events!
FISH KILL AT BETTY'S BRANCH 7/27/2013
THIS KILL IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO RUN OFF FROM THE RAINS AND HIGH WATER AND A NATURAL ALGAE BLOOM PULLING OXYGEN FROM THE WATER AND SUFFOCATING FISH
Since Saturday morning dead fish have been turning up in Betty's Branch, this is most likely due to an oxygen deficiency in the water, and may have been caused by the runoff caused by the heavy rain and rising waters. We at the Savannah Riverkeeper have taken samples and are presently awaiting lab results to determine what the source might be. We are working in conjunction with Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Phinizy Swamp. As of now, the best course of action is to avoid eating the fish caught in Betty's Branch and surrounding areas.
Since Saturday morning dead fish have been turning up in Betty's Branch, this is most likely due to an oxygen deficiency in the water, and may have been caused by the runoff caused by the heavy rain and rising waters. We at the Savannah Riverkeeper have taken samples and are presently awaiting lab results to determine what the source might be. We are working in conjunction with Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Phinizy Swamp. As of now, the best course of action is to avoid eating the fish caught in Betty's Branch and surrounding areas.
Join the Savannah Riverkeeper for the LAST Green Jackets game of the season!
Thursday August 29th
Come out and have fun with us! There will be SRK & Green Jackets swag giveaways, THIRSTY THURSDAY drink specials, and a raffle for a chance to win a new Emotion Kayak donated from Broadway Tackle!
SAVANNAH RIVER FLOOD ADVISORY JULY 2013
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UPDATE: JULY 12
*Strom Thurmond Flood Gates will open from 1:30pm till 4:00pm
*ALL boat ramps & marinas in local SC and GA are closed at least 30 days
*Greenway is closed.
*Houses near the river in SC are already experiencing flooding
All residents in low lying areas and/or near all creeks and streams need to be cautious and ensure that they have a disaster plan ready.
*Strom Thurmond Flood Gates will open from 1:30pm till 4:00pm
*ALL boat ramps & marinas in local SC and GA are closed at least 30 days
*Greenway is closed.
*Houses near the river in SC are already experiencing flooding
All residents in low lying areas and/or near all creeks and streams need to be cautious and ensure that they have a disaster plan ready.
Links to news stories regarding rising river levels:
Savannah River keeps rising, floods homes CH 12
Savannah River continues to rise as more water is released from the dam Ch 12
Rising water closes off areas of Richmond County CH 26
Savannah River spills onto Jesse Norman Amphitheatre Ch6
New Hook Setters Blog Post
This is a new section for the hook setters. Show off your catch or see what other anglers are doing via our weekly fishing post. Send your pics to Jay@savannahriverkeeper.org
Only fish caught in the Savannah river basin please and include your name or any other information you would like posted.
Have fun and remember
It's Your River, Protect It!!
I will go first, Jay Jacobs with a 4lb. 8oz. Savannah River Smallmouth.
We at the Riverkeeper are pleased to announce the newest addition to the wonderfully unique Sweetwater lineup. The Waterkeeper Hefeweizen Ale is a smooth,easy drinking wheat beer perfect after a hot summer day on the river. This seasonal flavor is available from July 4 through labor day and a portion of proceeds benefit the Waterkeeper Alliance. Sweetwater understands that you can't brew great beer without clean water.
Look for the donation fish (also available in one dollar) and T-shirts at any of the fine establishments where Sweetwater is sold. 100% of T-shirt and fish proceeds go directly to Savannah Riverkeeper!
Start getting ready for PADDLEFEST 2013!
Registration will be open soon!
THANK YOU
To all that came out and participated in this year's Benderdinker. It was a HUGE success with over 500 boats in the water! Can't wait till next year! Click to see pictures.
To all that came out and participated in this year's Benderdinker. It was a HUGE success with over 500 boats in the water! Can't wait till next year! Click to see pictures.
2013 Adopt a Stream Workshops
April 20th 2013 and May 4th 2013
The April 20th workshop will include an introduction to Adopt a Stream, including map reading and getting started with biological monitoring theory and techniques, including determination of pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, phosphate concentration, and the relationships between these values. Methods to determine E. Coli concentration (the indicator organism for sewage) will also be presented.
Completion of the course and passing of the subsequent test will allow participants to enter data for their streams in the state database.
To register or for more information contact Frank Carl at 706-364-5253 (H), 706-513-1527(C) or at frankcarl@knology.net.
THANK YOU
VOLUNTEERS,SPONSORS, & PARTICIPANTS
for making our Augusta Roast on the River event AMAZING!
We can't wait to do it all again next year!
A Special Thanks to all of our 2013 Roast on the River Sponsors!
Click here to learn more about our AMAZING sponsors!
Click here to learn more about our AMAZING sponsors!
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!
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Riverkeeper is at it again.... abandoned boats beware!
70' and 45' Shrimp Boat Meet are demolished (3 more to come)
Savannah Riverkeeper, in cooperation with TowBoat US Savannah, Chatham County, and Gil Sikes, are currently dismantling a number of abandoned boats in Savannah. The all volunteer crew is working tirelessly to remove these and hopefully 3 more from Chatham County waterways in the next 2 weeks. We are incredibly thankful for the wonderful VOLUNTEERS that make this and other boat removals possible.
Please We Need Your Help!
These boat removals are both costly and labor intensive. Please support our work today by volunteering your time or donating your money!
These boat removals are both costly and labor intensive. Please support our work today by volunteering your time or donating your money!
Media Links:
http://www.wtoc.com/story/19422335/volunteers-remove-abandoned-boats-in-savannah
http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/aug/29/abandoned-boats-being-removed-savannah-waterway-ar-4441527/
Large Debris and Abandoned Boat Removal from the Savannah River!
After five days of working on a 40 foot houseboat that has been sunk for over 2 years off a dock in downtown Augusta on the Savannah River, we are proud to report she has been removed. Monday, July 9th, it was successfully towed to the Riverkeeper office. It took three big pumps, lots of toilet bowl rings, tubes, volunteers and time, but we got it done! A HUGE THANK YOU to all of the amazing volunteers and local businesses that have helped with the beautification project so far. Please help support those that support us!
Jim Whitehead Tire and Auto, the Performance Center, Sunbelt Rentals, Augusta Riverwalk Marina Gift Shop, and the City of Augusta
We have received offers from local business to repair the hull so that it can be used as a barge by the Riverkeeper to help obtain even more large debris and abandoned boats from the Savannah River.
Media coverage regarding boat removal click here.
However, our work is not done yet. Throughout the rest of July, we will continue to remove large debris from our beautiful Savannah River, and we need your help! Help us make a greater impact on the Savannah River. Donate your time or money today!
Jim Whitehead Tire and Auto, the Performance Center, Sunbelt Rentals, Augusta Riverwalk Marina Gift Shop, and the City of Augusta
We have received offers from local business to repair the hull so that it can be used as a barge by the Riverkeeper to help obtain even more large debris and abandoned boats from the Savannah River.
Media coverage regarding boat removal click here.
However, our work is not done yet. Throughout the rest of July, we will continue to remove large debris from our beautiful Savannah River, and we need your help! Help us make a greater impact on the Savannah River. Donate your time or money today!
Savannah River ranks on SELC's top 10 Endangered Places 2012
The Southern Environmental Law Center recently announced its Top 10 Endangered Places of 2012, which includes the Savannah River. SELC attributes this listing to the proposed Savannah Harbor Deepening, which would compromise aquatic wildlife habitat, freshwater marshlands and drinking water for the city of Savannah and other communities.
SRK travels to River Rally and Beaudreaux nets frequent flyer miles!
On May 4th, Tonya, Amy and Beaudreaux traveled to Portland, OR for the 2012 River Rally and Waterkeeper Alliance conference. This year celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and was the first year the conferences were held under the same roof. SRK presented its Canine Sewage Detection Program at the conference, which hosted over 700 attendees from organizations all over the world! SRK was thrilled at the opportunity to show other groups how a canine program can help them fight illicit sewage discharge in their own watersheds, and provide them with resources to develop these programs back home.
Also, River Rally participants had the opportunity to purchase their official 2012 River Rally T-shirts- which featured the winning design by Communications and Development Manager Amy Rothe! Rally Ho!
Also, River Rally participants had the opportunity to purchase their official 2012 River Rally T-shirts- which featured the winning design by Communications and Development Manager Amy Rothe! Rally Ho!
Benderdinker was a huge success!
Wow! April 28th's Benderdinker Paddle was the one of the Southeast's LARGEST paddle event in history! Over 400 paddlers, kayakers and partygoers joined together to float down the Savannah and raise money for local charities- including the Savannah Riverkeeper! Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitibus was among the paddlers, and she took some great photos of the event. The Savannah Riverkeeper would like to give special thanks to everyone who made the Benderdinker paddle happen- we appreciate your support! Please visit our BENDERDINKER page for more info.
Army Corps issues crucial reports and YOUR input is needed!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently issued final reports concerning proposed projects on the Savannah River. These projects include the controversial Savannah Harbor Expansion Project and the Savannah River Basin Drought Plan. Please take a moment to review the reports and leave comments and ensure YOUR voice is heard! The Savannah Riverkeeper will provide a link to public comments as they become available. For more information on the Corps proposed projects, please contact Tonya Bonitatibus, Riverkeeper.
SRK Speaks Out Against Army Corps Lack of SHEP Pollution Controls
On February 3rd, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Savannah Riverkeeper, the Coastal Conservation League and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. The claim states the Army Corps failed to obtain South Carolina pollution control permits necessary to deepen the Savannah Harbor. The claim also states that dredging to deepen the river to the planned 48 feet will stir up toxic cadmium and other pollutants and discharge these pollutants into the Savannah River. Exposure to certain forms and concentrations of cadmium is known to produce toxic effects on humans. To read the SELC press release, click here or visit our Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) page.
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We are a proud
