The Satilla Riverkeeper is hosting the annual river-wide cleanup on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Beginning at 9 am, volunteers will help pick up litter and trash at public boat landings and river access points. Volunteers are invited to join any of the nine designated clean-up sites throughout the watershed. This is a growing river-wide effort, and the Satilla Riverkeeper invites any interested individuals, schools, church groups, businesses, or other community groups to get involved.
Dumping and littering is a problem throughout the Satilla River watershed. Whether it’s in a yard, street, or outside a dumpster, once heavy rains come, trash is carried to streams and rivers. Litter impacts recreational paddlers, boaters and fishermen, riverfront properties, wildlife, and downstream communities. “Joining in this watershed-wide community effort is a great way for people who care about the Satilla River to really make an immediate difference,” said Laura Early, Satilla Riverkeeper. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how much you can do in just a few hours.”
In order to participate, the Satilla Riverkeeper invites all volunteers to register online (https://www.satillariverkeeper.org/cleanup.html). Online registration is open until Friday, October 19 at 5 pm. Volunteers may also register at participating sites starting at 8:45 am on Saturday, October 20. Participating sites include:
- Ware County
- Jamestown Landing: Across the road from 5475 Jamestown Rd, Waycross, GA 31503
- U.S. 84 Landing: 3001 Plant Avenue Extension, Waycross, GA 31501
- Pierce County
- Highway 121 Landing: 13664 GA-121, Hoboken, GA 31542
- Brantley County
- U.S. 301 Landing: 14 US-301, Nahunta, GA 31553
- Ava Strickland Lightsey Landing: US 82 Bridge, Atkinson 31553
- Charlton County
- Burnt Fort Landing: 12118 Burnt Fort Rd, White Oak, GA 31568
- Camden County
- Woodbine Waterfront Park: 101 E. 1st St, Woodbine, GA 31569
- Glynn County
- Highway 99 Landing: 580 Highway 99, Brunswick, GA 31523
- U.S. 17 at the Little Satilla River, Waverly, GA 31565 (GPS coordinates: 31.110399, -81.617148)
Addresses listed are approximate, please look online for the exact landing locations. This list is subject to grow as participation increases, please check the Satilla Riverkeeper website for an interactive map showing all of the locations available for this cleanup, and to assist in finding directions to each site.
The cleanup efforts will last from 9 am to 11 am, and water, trash bags, and gloves will be provided. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes and sturdy footwear that they don’t mind getting dirty. Following the cleanup, all registered volunteers are invited to gather for a lunch starting at 11:30am in the city park in Blackshear, GA. Sandwiches, snacks, and refreshments will be served, and FREE t-shirts and other giveaways will be provided on a first come first serve basis!
To register your own cleanup site or find out more about how you can get involved in this event, email Riverkeeper@SatillaRiverkeeper.org or call 912-462-5094, or follow the event on the Satilla Riverkeeper Facebook page
River cleanups have been an essential part of the Satilla Riverkeeper’s mission since the early years of the organization. Starting in 2014, the Satilla Riverkeeper has hosted an annual river-wide cleanup in partnership with Rivers Alive. Rivers Alive is Georgia’s annual volunteer waterway cleanup event and is a part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) Outreach Program. It targets all waterways in the state including streams, rivers, lakes, beaches, and wetlands while creating awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia’s water resources. Through this partnership, the Satilla Riverkeeper has been able to track the success of river-wide cleanups and in four years has removed over 16,000 pounds of trash from the Satilla River.
The Satilla Riverkeeper is grateful for the collaboration with community partners, which include Friends of the Satilla River, Keep Brantley Beautiful and Litter Free, Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, City of Blackshear, American Rivers, Rivers Alive, Earth Inspired Kids, Glynn Environmental Coalition, and Kingfisher Paddleventures.
The Satilla Riverkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2004 whose mission is to protect, restore, and educate about the unique and beautiful, black water Satilla River. To learn more about the Satilla Riverkeeper, membership opportunities, and how you can get involved with protecting YOUR Satilla River, visit www.SatillaRiverkeeper.org.