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Ogeechee Riverkeeper®

Newsletter
April 2024

ORK meets with EPA in Washington, D.C.

Damon Mullis, executive director and riverkeeper for ORK, traveled to Washington, D.C., to engage with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and legislators regarding the critical issue of PFAS regulation. Mullis expressed gratitude for the recent efforts made by the EPA and lawmakers in establishing new regulations concerning PFAS levels in drinking water. Mullis underscored the urgent need for further action, particularly in the areas of fish tissue consumption guidance and the elimination of PFAS from sources such as sludge used for fertilizers.

In 2018, ORK discovered PFAS was present in fish in the Ogeechee River. Since then, ORK has been working to track potential sources, press for fish consumption guidelines, and advocate for regulations around chemical uses and discharges into waterways.

 

Volunteer for Clean Water

Volunteer for the Hinesville Community Cleanup on May 18, as a part of the Great American Cleanup through Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. Gather your friends and neighbors for a cleanup at Bryant Commons Park. Supplies will be provided. This is also a partnership event with Keep Liberty Beautiful & the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority.

Adopt-A-Landing

ORK is encouraging families and households to adopt a spot on the river and commit to checking it for litter regularly. Our goal is to have each location ‘adopted’ by a dedicated crew who will make sure the litter is collected and disposed of properly.

Legal advocacy

As part of Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s mission to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality in our basin, ORK makes official comments and joins sign-on letters. Recent comments:

 

Ogeechee River Trail on app

Georgia River Network added the Ogeechee River Water Trail as an established part of the Georgia Water Trails Network. This designation will encourage more recreation on the 207 miles of river recreation offered on the river, from flatwater paddling to class III paddle adventures.

Thanks to SouthWings

ORK's Kris got a ride from SouthWings to take a look at the Hyundai Metaplant from the air. SouthWings is a non-profit conservation organization that provides a network of volunteer pilots to advocate for the restoration and protection of ecosystems across the Southeast through flight. ORK has monitors in the creek nearby, but another perspective helps show just how massive an impact this is on the local environment. 

Become a social media ambassador

Sign up to receive occasional emails and we'll send you exclusive graphics and digital assets you can use, before they are available to anyone else. We'll also let you know when we are going to launch a campaign so you can be ready to spread the word.

Nalgene bottles in store

Even on vacation our staff can't stay away from the water! Our communications and administrative director visited a number of the amazing freshwater springs in western Florida. This snap is from Homosassa Springs, part of Florida State Parks. Need your own bottle? Check out our online store.

Don't Litter Lotts Cleanups

Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful resumes regular cleanups of Little Lotts Creek in July. Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance to help clear litter booms and sort trash for analysis. The project keeps trash out of waterways and helps organizations track patterns.

 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper is a 501(c)3 organization and its operations are funded by donations and grant support. Please consider making a donation, becoming a corporate sponsor, or setting up a planned gift.

 

There are many ways you can help the Ogeechee Riverkeeper protect, preserve and improve the waterways within our basin.

 
 

Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Inc.
PO Box 16206
Savannah, Georgia 31416-2906
(866) 942-6222
info@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org
www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org
EIN 58-2636669

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