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Savannah Riverkeeper
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Work
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
    • Financials
  • Programs
    • Program Overview
    • Upper Savannah River Basin
    • Veterans for Clean Water
    • Healthy Communities Augusta
    • Green Drinks
    • Adopt-a-Stream
    • Know Your River
    • Pollution Solutions in Savannah
  • Our Watershed
    • The Savannah River
    • Native Species
  • Get Involved
    • Get SRK News
    • Volunteer >
      • Sign Up to be a Volunteer
      • Volunteer Check-In
      • VFCW Volunteer Sign Up
    • Host a Cleanup
    • Report An Issue
  • Resources
    • ArcGIS
    • Maps
  • Current Issues
    • SHMP
    • Data Centers: The Facts
    • The Broad River: Death by One Thousand Cuts
    • DRT America
    • Forever Chemicals and our Watershed
    • Solvay
    • Augusta at Risk
    • Forever Chemicals Fact Sheet
    • Coal Ash Contamination
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Business Membership
    • Sponsor an Event
  • Shop SRK
  • Contact Us

GEOGRAPHY

  • Originates near Ellicott Rock in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
  • Forms the border between Georgia and South Carolina.
  • Drains a watershed of 10,577 square miles.
  • Includes manmade lakes: Hartwell, Russell, and Thurmond.
  • Flows through four physiographic regions: Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, Upper Coastal Plain, Lower Coastal Plain.
  • Ends in a marine estuary near Tybee Island, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
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DRINKING WATER

  • Provides drinking water for 1.4 million people, mainly in Augusta and Savannah.
  • Coastal cities (Beaufort and Hilton Head) increasing dependence on the river due to saltwater intrusion.

COASTAL ACTIVITIES

​
  • Supports fishing, shrimping, crabbing, and oystering.
  • Salt marshes and islands provide kayaking and exploration opportunities.
  • The Intracoastal Waterway allows safer long-distance boating.
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RECREATION AND ECOTOURISM

  • Offers diverse recreational activities: kayaking, whitewater rafting, fishing, camping, water sports.
  • Augusta River Region hosts international events (rowing, triathlons).
  • Lower river region features serene canoeing routes through cypress swamps.
  • Habitat for unique wildlife, including the Atlantic Shortnose Sturgeon and rare bird species.

INDUSTRIAL USE

  • Historical transportation corridor; now supports municipal and industrial needs.
  • Supplies cooling water to Plant Vogtle nuclear reactors (43.2 million gallons/day).
  • Key resource for Savannah River Site (nuclear material processing).
  • Notable for toxic releases from industrial outfalls, ranking third in Georgia.
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CHALLENGES

  • Environmental Pollution: The Savannah River is impaired by heavy metals, sediment, and low levels of dissolved oxygen.
  • Industrial Expansion: Increased industrial activities contribute to pollution risks.
  • Land Development: Urban growth exacerbates pollution and environmental strain.
  • Freshwater Demand: Growing communities and depleted groundwater lead to increased demand for freshwater.
  • Saltwater Intrusion: Coastal areas face challenges from saltwater contaminating local groundwater.
  • Fragmented Oversight: Over 50 government and private entities share responsibility, leading to conflicts and inefficiencies.
  • Coordination Challenges: Lack of general oversight and coordination among stakeholders hampers effective management.
  • Inaccurate Assumptions: Misjudgments in managing water resources result in counter-productive actions.

​​Savannah Riverkeeper, Inc. • Augusta, GA • Allendale, SC • Savannah, GA
P.O. Box 60 Augusta, GA 30903 USA • [email protected]
Toll Free 844-263-1415 • Office 706-826-8991 • Fax 706-826-8995
​Savannah or Allendale: 912-454-8048
EIN # 58-2630660
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Work
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
    • Financials
  • Programs
    • Program Overview
    • Upper Savannah River Basin
    • Veterans for Clean Water
    • Healthy Communities Augusta
    • Green Drinks
    • Adopt-a-Stream
    • Know Your River
    • Pollution Solutions in Savannah
  • Our Watershed
    • The Savannah River
    • Native Species
  • Get Involved
    • Get SRK News
    • Volunteer >
      • Sign Up to be a Volunteer
      • Volunteer Check-In
      • VFCW Volunteer Sign Up
    • Host a Cleanup
    • Report An Issue
  • Resources
    • ArcGIS
    • Maps
  • Current Issues
    • SHMP
    • Data Centers: The Facts
    • The Broad River: Death by One Thousand Cuts
    • DRT America
    • Forever Chemicals and our Watershed
    • Solvay
    • Augusta at Risk
    • Forever Chemicals Fact Sheet
    • Coal Ash Contamination
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Business Membership
    • Sponsor an Event
  • Shop SRK
  • Contact Us