- Rock'n 4 the River - www.rockn4theriver.com
Saturday April 26, 2008 on the River at Prep Phillips Drive in East Augusta
Rock’n 4 the River is a free day long festival with artists and musicians from all over the Southeast joining together to spread awareness for the need of a mercury-free Savannah River.
- Adopt-a-Stream Training
November 30 and Dec 1 at Tallulah Falls State Park, Rabun and Habersham Cos.
A full first training for biological and chemical certification in the AAS stream monitoring program was presented by Dr. Frank Carl, Executive Director of the Savannah Riverkeeper, Ms. Scarlett Fuller, Water Conservation Specialist, City of Gainesville, and Mr. Kevin Finney, Environmental Specialist, City of Gainesville.
Twenty volunteers were certified in both biological and chemical monitoring.
November 20 - Savannah Riverkeeper Forum on the Georgia Water Plan
On November 20 at 7:00 PM the Savannah Riverkeeper and the Biology Department of Augusta State University hosted a public forum on the Statewide Water Management Plan in Room 170, University Hall, Augusta State University. The forum served to educate the public on the water plan, and the issues local experts have with it.
The Georgia statewide water plan is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to create a unified water regulation system throughout Georgia. It is currently in its third draft (see www.georgiawatercouncil.org). It is imperative that citizens become aware of the plan, and the effects it could have on our water resource. As the plan is written now, it has significant positive aspects, but also huge problems. In spite of its weak treatment of metro Atlanta, agriculture, and power generation, three of the largest water users in the state, its weakest points are its organization along unwieldy political boundaries and its assignation of all appointive power to teh state. How can we effectively manage our water when we exclude three of the biggest users and the people most affected by the plan?
The forum was moderated by Senator Ed Tarver. The Water Plan was summarized by Tonya Bonitatibus followed by presentations by four panelists: Dr. Donna Wear of Augusta State University, Mr. Max Hicks of the Augusta Utilities Department, Mr. Scott MacGregor of the Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Frank Carl of the Savannah Riverkeeper. Questions from the floor were then entertained. The plan and public comments on the plan can be found on the Water Council's website (www.georgiawatercouncil.org).
November 15 and 17 at Spirit Creek Educational Forest, Richmond Co.
A full first training for biological and chemical certification in the AAS stream monitoring program was presented. Dr. Frank Carl, Executive Director of the Savannah Riverkeeper, was the instructor.
November 10, Clean Up in Savannah
- 4th Annual Rivers Alive Pick Up at Frank W. Spencer Public Park & Boat Ramp on Richardson Creek
Saturday, November 10th, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Richardson Creek Boat Ramp (off President Street Extension near draw bridge)
Walkers picked up along the water’s edge and boardwalk trail.
Kayakers collected litter from the water.
- Rivers Alive Community-Wide Waterways Clean-Up
Saturday October 27, 2007, 9:00 am –Noon
Community Partners for Clean Waterways organized clean ups on numerous waterways in Richmond and Columbia Counties. These included Spirit Creek, Butler Creek, Rocky Creek, Raes Creek, Reed Creek, Euchee Creek, Bettys Branch, the Augusta Canal, Lake Olmstead, the Savannah River, and even Fishing Creek in Lincoln County. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who showed up to help clean up our waterways.
Actual numbers will be available later, but early estimates are that approximately 250 volunteers helped with the clean up and they pulled about four tons of garbage from our waterways and their shores. The amount of garbage is down from last year, a trend that we hope continues.
It should be emphasized that most of the small stuff (beverage bottles, plastic wrappers, grocery bags) is washed into our streams from our roadways, but the larger stuff (a couch, a refrigerator door, 50+ tires) were placed there deliberately.
There will be a clean up of the canal and Lake Olmstead in the spring (March 22) and another two-county clean up in the fall (October 18). See you all then.
Community Partners for Clean Waterways consists of the Augusta Canal Authority, the Biology Club of Augusta State University, Columbia County Adopt-a-Stream, the Central Savannah River Land Trust, the Green Team from Lakeside High School, the Political Science Department from Augusta State University, Richmond County Recreation Department, Savannah Riverkeeper, Sierra Club, and Spirit Creek Educational Forest.
Sponsors include: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Advanced Disposal, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Food Lion, Publix, and BiLo.
- Fifth Annual Coastal Plain Meander October 5 – 8, 2007.
We experienced the river from Augusta to Savannah in the comfort of a 45 foot triple pontoon boat with experienced river people. The Savannah Riverkeeper once again teamed up with Bull River Cruises for its 5th annual Coastal Plain Meander, a 4 day educational expedition down the Savannah River. On October 5th, a 45 foot pontoon boat and her passengers left the historical Riverfront Marina and Warehouse, and embarked on one of the most unique and educational trips around. The Island Explorer carried her passengers down the beautiful Savannah River, where wildlife abounds and humans are few and far between. Passengers learned about the importance of the river, her inhabitants, past and present, and the challenges and dangers that she is currently facing. For more information, see Details
- PaddleFest 2007 - August 25, 2007
The Savannah Riverkeeper sponsored Paddlefest on August 25, 2007. It was an attempt to bring back the fun and frolic of the old raft races. The venue consisted of a canoe and kayak race from Savannah Rapids Pavilion to the Riverfront (not Riverwalk) Marina. Homemade rafts were launched from the North Augusta boat ramp. Prizes were be awarded to winners in several categories of the canoe, kayak, and raft competition.
For Competition Results, see Details
- Rivers Alive Annual Cleanup, Saturday October 21, 2006, 9:00am-12:00pm
Community Partners for Clean Waterways organized cleanups for Butler Creek, Raes Creek, the Augusta Canal, Lake Olmstead, Spirit Creek, Reed Creek, Jones Creek, Euchee Creek, and the Savannah River on Saturday October 21, 2006, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Following is a report on the cleanup published in the Augusta Chronicle:
18,000 pounds of garbage gathered
More than 4,600 beer and soft drink bottles and cans were plucked from Richmond and Columbia County streams and lakes this year during an annual Rivers Alive cleanup staffed by more than 270 volunteers. Also removed were 1,300 pieces of litter from food packaging, 12 appliances, five batteries and 4.46 tons of tires.
Among the 18,000 pounds of garbage gathered during the Oct. 21 event, the volunteers also removed 600 bait containers, varying types of drug paraphernalia and various types of litter described as "indicators of sexual activity," according to a news release from the event's sponsor, Community Partners for Clean Waterways.
"The good news is that all of these numbers except the tires and the total weight are down from last year," said Frank Carl, director of Savannah Riverkeeper Inc., a partner in the cleanup program.
"Further good news is that the number of volunteers is up from last year."
- Fourth Annual Coastal Plain Meander
The Savannah Riverkeeper’s Fourth Annual Coastal Plain Meander was a resounding success. Everything ran smoothly and everyone seemed to have a fun and educational experience. It left Augusta Friday morning September 29, 2006 and arrived in Savannah Monday afternoon October 2, 2006.
The Savannah Riverkeeper again teamed with Bull River Cruises of Savannah to provide the ride down the river on a 45-foot triple pontoon boat. Land transportation accompanied the boat meeting it at two or three landings each day. All meals were provided from lunch on Friday to lunch on Monday. Primitive campsites were available at each of the overnight landings and transportation to the nearest motels was provided for the non-camping participants.
We gathered on Friday morning at the Riverfront Marina and Warehouse on Prep Phillips Drive in Augusta, itself an historic site representing the time when the river was a hub of commercial transportation. We shoved off about 8:30 AM getting an on-the-water view of the heart of industrial Augusta and passing through the lock at the New Savannah Bluffs Lock and Dam.
As we proceeded down river our surroundings became more remote as we slipped into a more primitive and pristine setting. We had lunch at Jackson Landing about noon and viewed seashells from an ancient time at Shell Bluff about two hours later. Just beyond Shell Bluff we entered the world of nuclear materials, where the only signs of civilization were the regular postings on the South Carolina shore that warn of imminent dangers to those who dare trespass.
With remoteness increasing as we traveled downstream, the first sighting of the twin towers of Plant Vogtle was a surprise, but in our case, a pleasant surprise, because our first night’s landing was just around the bend. We spent Friday night at Hancock Landing, a well-maintained private landing just upstream from Plant Vogtle and across the river from the Savannah River Site. Dinner and supplies were imported from Waynesboro. Non-camping participants were transported to motels in Waynesboro after dinner, but campers had the luxury of being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the river.
A wonderful breakfast was prepared on site on Saturday morning by Joyce Law and Walter Clay for all participants. After a leisurely breakfast we boarded the boat for day two. We lingered at Plant Vogtle for an educational session before proceeding to Little Hell Landing, one of the nicest landings on the river with an ever-flowing artesian well. About ten miles below Little Hell Landing we passed the Topper Site, an archeological dig near the river that is setting the theories of human habitation in the Western Hemisphere back several thousands of years.
Early Saturday afternoon we reached the 301 bridge and Burton’s Ferry Landing, where there was another artesian well. The 301 bridge (river mile 119), the first bridge that we came to after the 28 bridge at Augusta (river mile 196), represented 77 river miles without land communication between Georgia and South Carolina.
Then it was on to Cohen’s Bluff Landing Saturday night’s destination. Cohen’s Bluff has a dock, an artesian well, and plenty of camping space. Non-campers stayed at Lakeview Plantation, a hunting and riding lodge only 3.5 miles from the landing. All participants ate dinner there Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning. To add to the ambience some of the campers rode to dinner and breakfast in a horse trailer.
Soon after we got on the water Sunday morning we passed the mouth of Brier Creek, the largest tributary in the lower Savannah. In our Sunday stretch we also saw several of the places where the Corps created a more direct route for the river, eliminating some of the meander. Indeed, our trip would have been at least 40 miles longer if the Corps had not “straightened” the river. With the three major (and one minor) Corps Dams upstream and the “straightening” project and the navigational weirs all along the lower river, the Savannah is severely impacted by human activities in spite of the remoteness of the river between Augusta and Savannah.
After a leisurely start on Sunday we stopped for lunch at Blue Springs Landing where we investigated the effects of the recent earthquake that dried up most of the springs. Just below Stoke’s Bluff Landing we passed under the Route 119 Bridge. In this stretch of the river we began to encounter a higher density of other boaters, a gradual reintroduction to civilization.
About 15 miles below the Route 119 bridge we stopped at Ebenezer Landing, where we spent Sunday night. New Ebenezer Retreat, a Lutheran Camp and Conference Center, was just a short walk up the bluff. Participants hiked the historic surroundings of the 18th century German settlement learning about the Salzburgers. We enjoyed delicious meals with the Lutherans and the accommodations were excellent, especially the showers for the campers. About half of our voyagers arose before dawn on Monday to paddle on Ebenezer Creek, which is actually a swamp rather than a creek. Ebenezer Creek is beautiful at any time of day, but at sunrise it is magnificent.
Monday was a short day on the river. Soon after we left Ebenezer we entered the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, so that, in spite of the urbanization around us, we continued in a relatively pristine environment for the next twenty miles. In the midst of this pristine beauty we crossed under the I-95 bridge, and soon after that the river splits into the Front River and the Back River. At this point (still within the Refuge) we lost the distinction between Georgia and South Carolina because the state line follows the Back River and we followed the Front River. About two miles after the split we passed Mulberry Grove Plantation where Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. Another three miles down river we came to the Hoolihan Bridge, which introduced us to Port Wentworth and the industrial section of Savannah, a completely different picture of the river.
We had lunch at the public landing immediately below the Hoolihan Bridge and then ventured into the industrial section passing huge container ships and watching the immense cranes unload those ships. As we were still awestruck by the size of the harbor we passed under the Talmadge Bridge and docked on River Street where the van waited to take us back to our cars. It took more than a few minutes to unload the boat and say goodbye to the new friends that we had made. All in all it was a relaxing, educational and fun four days.
- Savannah Riverkeeper Grand Opening
The Savannah Riverkeeper is sponsoring a Grand Opening for its new office on Riverfront Drive, next to the Boat House. The Port Authority building on the river has been an underutilized building for some time. It is known mainly for its association with the Southern National Drag Boat Races, the Head of the South Rowing Regatta, A Day in the Country and the Coast Guard meeting site. The Savannah Riverkeeper with assistance from the city has taken the lead in repairing the building. The Riverkeeper will be using the building as an office, a meeting place, and a training site. All are invited to help the Riverkeeper celebrate its renovated space and to thank the volunteers whose energy and enthusiasm made this celebration possible.
The celebration will begin at 4:00 PM Saturday June 10, 2006. The Sierra Club, the Rowing Club, the Dive Club, the Audubon Society, the national award winning Creek Freaks, the Coast Guard, the Marinas, the Richmond County Recreation Department, the Augusta Canal Authority, the Central Savannah River Land Trust, and others will be joining the Riverkeeper to celebrate this milestone. Each of these organizations will provide information about themselves and some of them will be demonstrating what they do. The celebration will last until 8:00 PM and refreshments (no alcohol) will be available.
Boat tours of the River will be offered to members of the Riverkeeper. Individual memberships will be available, on June 10 only, for $20 (regularly $35). A Sunset dinner cruise of the Augusta Riverfront (for two) will be raffled off at the Grand Opening. The cruise will be hosted by the Riverkeeper and piloted by Mike Stacy, the Marina operator.
Canoes and kayaks will be available for rent for anyone who wants to explore the Augusta riverfront on their own. AWOL will have the canoes and kayaks on site.
Come and meet the Riverkeeper Board of Directors and enjoy an evening with the Riverkeeper. The public is invited.
- Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Training
There will be Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) training sessions offered on Saturdays May 20, and May 27, 2006, at the Spirit Creek Educational Forest, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The first session will cover, getting started, visual survey, and chemical analyses. The second will cover biological analysis of the stream. The sessions will be taught by Dr. Frank Carl, AAS Certified Instructor and Executive Director of the Savannah Riverkeeper. To review information about AAS go to: http://www.riversalive.org/aas.htm
Both sessions will offer certification for AAS monitoring for the state of Georgia, one for chemical monitoring and one for biological monitoring. Certification will require completion of the course and passing of a certification test administered at the end of the session. Certification is good for a year, so if you need your certification updated, this is your chance. While the course is free, registration is required. There is limited space in the teaching facility and limited access to the creek, so we limit attendance to 25. To register or get directions call or email Frank Carl (706-364-5253, frankcarl@knology.net).
- Savannah Ogeechee Basin Advisory Committee meetingTuesday – March 21, 2006, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Augusta Technical College, Building 300, Harvey Duncan Building - Auditorium, 3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Augusta, GA 30906. The basin advisory committees will be meeting over the next several months to provide input to the Georgia Water Council toward water policy planning, a process initiated by legislative action. For more information on this process go to: http://www.gadnr.org/gswp/index.html. The public is invited to attend the committee meetings.
- COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR CLEAN WATERWAYS ANNOUNCES:
LOWER CANAL - LAKE OLMSTEAD CLEANUP
Saturday March 18, 2006, 9:00 am –1:00 pm
SPONSORS: Augusta Canal Authority, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Richmond County Recreation Dept., Savannah Riverkeeper, and Sierra Club
Volunteers will receive an official Rivers Alive T-shirt (2005) and a picnic lunch following the clean–up!
CONTACT: Frank Carl, Savannah Riverkeeper, @ (706) 364-5253 or frankcarl@knology.net, or Margaret Harrison, Canal Authority, @(706) 823-0440 ex 219 or mharrison@augustacanal.com.
Our waterways are the final trash receptacle for those items discarded inappropriately or simply washed away by a hard rain. The items, mostly light-weight, are blown out of cars or trucks or washed from back yards. They end up in our streams via the storm drains along our roads, which are simply conduits to the nearest stream. Unfortunately, many items are also simply left behind by unthinking fishermen.
Community Partners for Clean Waterways has organized a cleanup for the Lower Canal and Lake Olmstead for Saturday March 18 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Volunteers are asked to contact either Margaret Harrison (823-0440 ext 219 or mharrison@augustacanal.com) or Frank Carl (364-5253 or frankcarl@knology.net) so that we know how many to prepare for. We will meet at Lake Olmstead Park. Bring a canoe if you have one, but participants can generally access the lakeshore or the canal shore better on foot from landside than from a canoe on the canal.
The clean-ups will start at 9:00 AM and last until 1:00 PM. Volunteers will receive a Rivers Alive T-shirt and be treated to a picnic for their participation in the clean up. [Press Release] Monday March 20, 2006 REPORT: "Heavy Metal Migration from the Savannah River Site" by Dr. Frank Carl • .pdf (13 MB) • .doc (13 MB)
- Georgia River Network Annual Meeting, Milledgeville, GA – Friday February 10 – Sunday February 12, 2006
The Georgia River Network supports all of the local river, lake and stream organizations in Georgia. Their annual meeting offers many opportunities to learn about ecosystems or about organizations.
See their program at: http://www.garivers.org/
- Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Training
There will be Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) training sessions offered on Saturdays February 11, and February 18, 2006, at the Spirit Creek Educational Forest, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The first session will cover, getting started, visual survey, and chemical analyses. The second will cover biological analysis of the stream. The sessions will be taught by Dr. Frank Carl, AAS Certified Instructor and Executive Director of the Savannah Riverkeeper. To review information about AAS go to: http://www.riversalive.org/aas.htm
Both sessions will offer certification for AAS monitoring for the state of Georgia, one for chemical monitoring and one for biological monitoring. Certification will require completion of the course and passing of a certification test administered at the end of the session. Certification is good for a year, so if you need your certification updated, this is your chance. While the course is free, registration is required. There is limited space in the teaching facility and limited access to the creek, so we limit attendance to 25. We also need to know how many will bring lunch and how many want to participate in having lunch delivered. Since we will be sampling in the creek, hip boots are recommended. There are extra pairs if you don’t have any, but we do not have 25 extra pairs. To register or get directions call or email Frank Carl (706-364-5253, frankcarl@knology.net).
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Workshop on Saturdays; Next: February 4th, 2006
John Graham is hosting the workshop, beginning Sat., Dec. 3rd; this meeting covers the Getting Started portion of training, followed by Chemical Monitoring, 9:00am - 1:00pm, on Jan. 07, 2006, and Biological Monitoring, on Feb. 04, 2006. The Columbia County classes are to be held at the fire station on Oakley – Pirkle.
To register or for more information, please contact Mr. Graham at 706-868-0296 or email: jopagr@comcast.net
Saturday January 28, 2006, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Workday at Office: We have a few things left to do at the office before finishing up. Since the window security had not arrived yet for the last workday, we will have to install that. But mostly what we have left to do is to put on a finish coat of paint and clean up. Bring your favorite paint brush and join us for a painting party. If you need directions contact Frank 706-364-5253 or frankcarl@knology.net.
Wednesday February 1, 2006, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Savannah Ogeechee Basin Advisory Committee meeting
Augusta Technical College, Room 612, Albert G. Huntington Building, 3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Augusta, GA 30906. The basin advisory committees will be meeting over the next several months to provide input to the Georgia Water Council toward water policy planning, a process initiated by legislative action. For more information on this process go to: http://www.gadnr.org/gswp/index.html. The public is invited to attend the committee meetings.
- New SRK Office Workday Sat. Dec. 10, 2005.
Members and non-member volunteers are needed for some light remodeling work on the old Augusta Port Authority building. We will do some outside caulking and painting, and some paneling and painting inside and hanging a door between outside and inside.
The workday will be Saturday, December 10th. We will start at 9:00 AM and work as long as the labor lasts. Come for all or any part of the day. Bring a hammer and your favorite paintbrush and spend the day with us down by the river.
Note that all of the members of the first work crew were over 40 and three of us were over 60. How about some of you younger people coming out to see if you can keep up with us!
The future office of the SRK is located on the river, between the Riverfront Marina Boathouse and Warehouse. Breach the levee at the intersection of Reynolds St. and East Boundary Rd. and go past the boathouse and boat ramp; small, white, building next to picnic pavilion. Please let me know if you are coming so that we can plan the work appropriately. frank.carl@savannahriverkeeper.org
- We need to convince Olin Chemical that they should quit using mercury to make chlorine. To that end there will be a press conference 11:00 AM Tuesday November 22 in front of Olin Chemical (2402 Highway 56 Loop, about a mile south of the airport on the Doug Bernard Parkway). The press conference will deal with Olin's refusal to switch from their mercury catalytic method for the production of chlorine and caustic soda to a less polluting and surprisingly cheaper membrane method. Please come, if you can, to support the cause.
- Rivers Alive Annual Cleanup, Saturday October 22, 2005, 9:00am-12:00pm
Community Partners for Clean Waterways has organized a community-wide waterway cleanup for Saturday October 22 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Volunteers are asked to contact the team captain of the waterway they are interested in helping to clean up.
Fri - Mon September 30 - October 3, 2005, Third Annual Coastal Plain Meander, Augusta to Savannah
The Savannah Riverkeeper announces its Third Annual Coastal Plain Meander. It will leave Augusta Friday morning September 30, 2005 and arrive in Savannah Monday afternoon October 3, 2005.
- Get the Dirt Out Workshop - Saturday July 9, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Room 1109, Science Center, Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah
Savannah Riverkeeper, Frank Carl, and Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper, Chandra Brown, will be teaming up to train concerned citizens about how to stop dirt from getting into area rivers.
- Waterkeeper Alliance Annual Conference, East Stroudsburg, PA - Wed - Sun June 8-12, 2005
- Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Training, Spirit Creek Educational Forest, Augusta, GA, See Projects: Training - Saturday, May 21, and May 28, 2005
Mon - Wed April 25-26, 2005, Georgia Water Resource Conference, Continuing Education Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
- Earth Day 2005 activities:
- Saturday April 23, 2005, 10AM - 2PM: Earth Day, Phinizy Swamp Park, Augusta, GA
- Saturday April 16, 2005, 10AM - 2PM: Earth Day, Lions Field, North Augusta, SC
- Saturday April 16, 2005, 11AM - 3PM: Earth Day, Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA
- Lake Olmstead Clean Up and Picnic, see Projects: Clean Ups - Sunday March 20, 2005, 1-5 PM
- Georgia River Network Conference 2005
"The Land-Water Connection"
February 18 - 20, 2005
Kilpatrick Hall, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA
- Riverkeeper Salutes the River
Friday, November 19, 2004, proved to be a balmy, beautiful evening at Old Fort Jackson in Savannah, when the Savannah Riverkeeper, Inc., celebrated it first annual Riverside Salute. With a total of 64 attendees and award recipients, we managed to honor the Savannah River that we have all pledged to help to improve in so many ways.
- Second Annual Coastal Plain Meander, October 8-11, 2004
The Savannah Riverkeeper in conjunction with Bull River Cruises sponsored the Second Annual Coastal Plain Meander. It left Augusta Friday morning October 8 on the Bull River Cruises 45-foot triple pontoon boat and arrived in Savannah Monday afternoon October 11. Read more
- First Annual Coastal Plain Meander - Oct 2003
Early on Friday October 3rd sixteen adventurous souls gathered at the Riverfront Marina and Warehouse in Augusta to set out on a two-day journey by water to Savannah. Half of those adventurers arrived the night before from Savannah and half were up-river adventurers. They ranged in age from 15 to 78. Read more
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