RELEASE: Canoochee Paddle Race – A Celebration of Community and Conservation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
03/05/2024
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

CANOOCHEE PADDLE RACE: A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION
ORK to host an annual party on the water to celebrate the outdoors

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will host an action-packed event aimed at celebrating the beauty of the environment and promoting conservation efforts in the region. Paddlers will traverse seven miles of the Canoochee, from Brewton Bridge to Rocks River Bridge landing. The finish line at Rocks River will also serve as the headquarters for fun during and after the race.

Chris Stalcup

“We encourage friends and family to come cheer for the racers and enjoy a day out by the river,” says Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications director for ORK. “This year we are delighted to have Chris Stalcup performing. With a tune named ‘Ogeechee River,’ we knew he’d be a great fit.” Stalcup is a Georgia-based country singer and songwriter. His music has been described as “a bonfire raging behind some small-town dirt-road shanty, of a band valiantly laying bare its soul while everyone dances wildly.”

After all the paddlers have arrived at the finish line, ORK will hold an awards presentation. Trophies will be presented for timed winners as well as outlandish categories like Dynamic Duo, Funkiest Costume, Most Creative Boat, and the Lazy River Award for the slowest paddler. Food and drink will be available from food trucks including Rolly’s Taqueria and Road-Tisserie, and Norburg Chiropractic will be offering free massages. ORK will have an information table to answer questions about the work of the nonprofit. Raffle tickets and official merchandise will also be available.

By raising awareness and supporting conservation initiatives, the Canoochee Paddle Race aims to protect and preserve this natural treasure for generations to come. “We believe that events like the Canoochee Paddle Race play a crucial role in fostering appreciation for our environment and inspiring stewardship,” says Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director. “Through this event, we hope to empower individuals to take action and make a positive impact on the health of our rivers and waterways.”


Where: Canoochee River, Evans County
Rocks River Bridge Landing: GPS 32.184196, -81.889276
When: Saturday, April 13, noon. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $50 per person; Free to cheer for the paddlers
Details and registration: https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/canoochee-paddle-race/

The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at noon.

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 21 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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PDF of press release

Images from 2023 Canoochee Paddle Race

About Chris Stalcup

Flora: Spartina alterniflora

Spartina alterniflora

Spartina Marsh Grass

Gardenia.net

Ogeechee Riverkeeper is shining a spotlight on a humble yet essential inhabitant of our coastal marshes: Spartina alterniflora, commonly known as spartina marsh grass. This remarkable plant plays a vital role in sustaining the health and integrity of our coastal environments.

Spartina marsh grass is a hardy perennial grass species that thrives in the salty, and brackish marshy habitats along Georgia coastlines. Characterized by tall, slender stems and vibrant green foliage, spartina serves as a cornerstone of coastal ecosystems, providing a multitude of benefits to both wildlife and humans alike.

Raccoon paw prints in marsh

The ecological significance of spartina marsh grass cannot be overstated. Importantly, it thrives in tidal zones with both salty ocean water and fresh water from rivers. As a foundational species within coastal marshlands, spartina performs a variety of crucial functions that contribute to the health and stability of these delicate ecosystems, including:

  • Habitat and Nursery Grounds: Spartina marshes serve as vital habitat and nursery grounds for a diverse array of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms. The dense root systems of spartina plants provide shelter and protection for juvenile fish and crustaceans, helping to support healthy populations of commercially and recreationally valuable species.
  • Erosion Control: The extensive root systems of spartina marsh grass help to stabilize coastal soils and prevent erosion caused by tides, waves, and storms. By binding sediment together and reducing wave energy, spartina plays a critical role in protecting shorelines and coastal infrastructure from the impacts of erosion and sea level rise.
Skidaway Island State Park
  • Water Filtration: Spartina marshes act as natural filtration systems, capturing and trapping sediments, nutrients, and pollutants from runoff and tidal waters. Through a process known as phytoremediation, spartina helps to improve water quality and maintain the health of estuarine and marine ecosystems.
  • Carbon Sequestration: Like all plants, spartina marsh grass absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon in its tissues and in the soil. Spartina marshes are highly effective carbon sinks, storing significant amounts of carbon in their biomass and organic-rich sediments.
Marsh shoreline near Butterbean Beach

Despite its ecological importance, spartina marsh grass faces a range of threats in today’s world. Coastal development, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and climate change all pose significant challenges to the health and resilience of spartina marshes and the ecosystems they support. As stewards of the Ogeechee River basin, it is our responsibility to address these threats and work towards the conservation and restoration of spartina habitats for future generations.


Interested in joining us in our efforts to protect spartina marsh grass and other coastal treasures? There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering at restoration sites to supporting policies and practices that promote coastal conservation. Through advocacy efforts, habitat restoration projects, and community engagement initiatives, ORK and its supports work to promote the health and resilience of our coastal ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for all who depend on them.

Meet Ben

Ben didn’t want to be a lawyer initially because he thought it was just arguing all the time. It may seem counterintuitive to have a lawyer working for a water organization. But it’s not just scientists that work for waterkeepers. “Kind of like how the Lorax speaks for the trees, we speak for the river,” explains ORK legal director Ben Kirsch. “We all live in the environment, so making sure that it was protected and thriving would allow people to be protected and thrive.”

Though he always loved being out in nature, he didn’t see the connection at first either. “I found my latent love for the environment during undergrad – both in the classroom and out in nature,” he recalls. “From there, it was a near-perfect marriage of history, current events, working for a greater good, and enjoying our shared natural world.”

In Mongolia

After undergrad, Ben joined the Peace Corps and taught English in a remote Mongolian village. It was there that the impact – positive and negative – that people have on the environment became clear. “It was an entirely different geography, biome, and level of development, coupled with the locals’ reverence, respect, and appreciation for nature. I could see things through fresh eyes; that is hard to do when you’ve been living in one kind of place for a long time.”

He’d never lived in the Southeast before, but has quickly taken to it. With ORK, Ben focuses on combing through permit applications, suggesting ordinance updates,  tracking legislative efforts, and more. Compared to some staff members, Ben doesn’t get to spend as much time actually out on the river but he loves to talk to anyone who will listen about what a unique blackwater river that ORK protects. 

Even though ORK’s staff and board members are based throughout the basin, “There’s an easy friendliness and camaraderie that comes with our shared goal to protect our waters,” Ben says.

In Oregon

For someone interested in becoming an environmental lawyer, Ben recommends they get involved, and watch and learn from other dedicated people.

“Ultimately, I chose to pursue law because it would allow me to know how our government, political, decision-making systems work and how to be able to affect systemic change to make people’s lives better.”  


What is your idea of happiness? Outdoors, surrounded by loved ones, and laughing

Who are your favorite painters and composers? I enjoy Van Gogh, Mucha, and Monet and I love listening to Billy Strings, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Earth Wind and Fire, Outkast, Holst, Vivaldi, and Handel.

What is your favorite bird? Cardinals, flamingos, the bird outside my window that sings to me every morning.

What is your most treasured possession? Either a piece of an asteroid or my petrified tree knot

What is the dumbest way you’ve been hurt? An (all things considered) fairly gentle fall during a Mongolian wrestling tournament.

What’s the best type of cheese for you? I love me a good feta. But it totally depends on the dish! Maybe my most divisive favorite cheese is bleu. Give me the stinkiest one you got!

What’s the worst color that was ever invented? All colors have their time and place! But, I’m not a huge fan of chartreuse.

Which talent would you most like to have? I would live to be able to play a musical instrument to some proficient level

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? I’d say I struggle the most with patience, but I still think it’s important!

What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? The 12-hour drive back home to Cleveland.

What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation? “Hello, I’m Ben, and in my TedTalk I will be discussing the highs and lows of the Taco Bell menu.”

What’s the most amazing natural occurrence you’ve witnessed? The total solar eclipse in 2016 – looking forward to the next one in 2024

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “I heard on NPR/a podcast that…”

What is your motto? “A journey of ten thousand miles starts with a single step.”

 

RELEASE: Canoochee Paddle Race opens registration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01/18/2024
Contact: Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Communications and Administrative Director
meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org

CANOOCHEE PADDLE RACE OPENS REGISTRATION
ORK brings the popular event back to Evans County

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will host the Canoochee Paddle Race on Saturday, April 13, 2024 in Evans County, Georgia. The race will begin at noon, with fun paddlers to follow.

The race will take place along approximately seven miles of the Canoochee River, from Brewton Bridge to Rocks River Bridge landing. Rocks River Bridge landing will also serve as the headquarters for the awards presentation, winners circle, food vendors, and entertainment. Everyone is welcome to come cheer for the racers and enjoy a day out by the river.

Paddlers of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes are welcome to compete. Non-racing paddlers are also welcome to follow the route after racers have started. Entrants will receive a vessel identifier, map, and official race t-shirt. Registrants will receive packet pick-up information via email. Entry is $50 per person, regardless of racing status.

ORK does not provide vessels or equipment. Personal flotation devices are required for each participant. Entry is limited and pre-registration is required. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at noon.

Where: Canoochee River, Evans County
Rocks River Bridge Landing: GPS 32.184196, -81.889276
When: Saturday, April 13, noon. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $50 per person; Free to cheer for the paddlers
Details and registration: https://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/canoochee-paddle-race/

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 21 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

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2024 Canoochee Paddle Race – 04.2024 – Press Release PDF

Images from 2023 Canoochee Paddle Race
Canoochee Paddle Race - 2023

Types of Water

With so much development and expansion come significant questions about where clean water will come from and how it will be protected. But not all sources of water are the same and it’s important to understand the different terms.

Groundwater is a generic term for water that exists underground in saturated zones beneath the land surface. What we know as the water table is the upper level of the saturated zone. Most private homeowner wells are tapping into groundwater for their drinking, cooking, and wastewater. Groundwater fills the gaps in underground materials such as sand, gravel, and other rock, similar to how water fills a sponge. This water can be affected by the materials it filters through, picking up minerals along the way.

Surface water is classified as any water found on the surface of the earth, including saltwater and freshwater. This includes waterbodies such as lakes, ponds, creeks, and streams. Surface water is a key component of the hydrologic cycle — evaporating into clouds, becoming rain or snow, falling back to earth, and filling the streams, lakes, and oceans again.

Extraction is the term for removing water from the environment to use for another purpose. If water doesn’t come from a surface water source, it is withdrawn from an aquifer. Aquifers are a body of permeable rock that can contain and transmit groundwater. Aquifers are like underground reservoirs, encapsulated by a confining layer, a layer of impervious rock or clay that restricts the flow of water to or from an aquifer. Confined aquifers, like the Floridian Aquifer, are commonly used for drinking water.

U.S. Geological Survey Map of the Floridan Aquifer

Ogeechee Riverkeeper hosted an informational webinar on aquifers, groundwater and sustainability with James Reichard, Ph.D., professor of geology at Georgia Southern University (Statesboro) on February 6, 2024. The recording is available to view.