Press Release
By St Marys Riverkeeper
12/19/24
As we are in the midst of our holiday celebrations, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year. I am filled with deep gratitude for the incredible community that surrounds us. 2024 has been a year of growth, collaboration, and action for our St. Marys River, and that would not be possible without each of you. Read our 2024 Year in Review to see all that we accomplished together!
Thank you for your unwavering generosity. Your continued support allows us to fulfill our mission of protecting the St. Marys River now and for our future. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to supporting long-term positive changes throughout our watershed community.
To our Citizen Scientists that work tirelessly to monitor our waterways regularly to ensure the river and its tributaries remain fishable and swimmable. Your passion and service inspire us all and remind us of the power of collective action in strengthening our communities’ health.
| Lastly, to our entire community—thank you. Your support, partnership, and generosity enrich our work and reinforces our shared vision for a healthy St. Marys River. With you by our side, we are an effective advocate and watchdog for the St. Marys River through advocacy, outreach, education, and water quality testing. Here’s to an even more successful year ahead. Together we can build a stronger, more resilient future! Wishing you and your family all the best this holiday season! See you on the River soon! |
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| Emily FlooreExecutive Director & Riverkeeper |
| Our work as an independent voice for the St. Marys River is made possible by you! Thank you for being part of our journey. |
Special Holiday “Thank You’s”
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| Faith (left) and Riverkeeper Emily Floore with her award, a beautiful piece of art donated by Will Dickey. |
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| Along with Barry Shull and Toby Tovar (right), Faith (not pictured here) received the “Beyond Borders” award at Confluence 2021. |
Faith Ross has been a cornerstone of our mission, with an unwavering commitment to clean water and community action.
Along with fellow volunteers Barry Shull and Toby Tovar, Faith received the prestigious “Beyond Borders” award at Confluence 2021, the annual conference of GA Adopt-A-Stream.
This recognition celebrated their dedication to collecting samples beyond the GA border, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of our water quality program + their volunteer efforts.
This critical data has driven vital changes, such as replacing septic tanks and guiding critical decisions for the health of the River.
Faith and Toby are a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication to protecting the St. Marys River. Their passion and leadership continue to inspire us all.
Thank you to both Faith and Toby!
We appreciate you!
A big thank you to Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island!
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We were so honored to receive support from the annual Tree Lighting celebration!
We enjoyed the debut of the 40-foot Christmas tree with thousands of sparkling lights, as well as festivities including live music, fresh-baked cookies, cider, and even the arrival of Santa himself.
Your Donation is Matched through December 31
| Double your impact through the end of the year! With the roll back of the Clean Water Act, the threat of mining at our headwaters, and stronger, more frequent storms, our work to ensure the protection of our St. Marys River is more important than ever. Now is the time to get involved and let your voice be heard. |
| YOUR RIVER NEEDS YOU! |
| We’re excited to announce a Matching Donation Challenge! 🎉 Every dollar you donate will be matched—up to $10,000—thanks to the generosity of Wende and Michael Burdick. Every donation – regardless of size – has the power to make a difference. $15 becomes $30 and can provide supplies needed for River Cleanups $25 becomes $50 and can provide materials to increase public awareness of issues happening around the watershed $50 becomes $100 and can provide equipment for our extensive Citizen Science water testing program $250 becomes $500 and can provide the resources needed to engage with local resilience projects, promote low impact development, monitor and report on discharges into our waterways, or advocate against industrial threats Your financial support today will ensure that our work as an independent voice for the St. Marys River continues and that we will leave a lasting legacy for future generations – a healthy St. Marys River. Please make your most generous gift TODAY. |
GIVE more by challenging others!
Our critical work is made possible by financial support from you and hundreds of other concerned citizens. With you by our side, we are an effective watchdog for the St. Marys River through advocacy, outreach, education, and water quality testing. Challenge others to donate to the cause closest to your heart.
Upcoming Events
As 2024 comes to a close, we are looking forward to all that the new year has in store for us. Mark your calendar and join us at some of our upcoming events.
Sonofarious presents “Currents and Tides”
Date: December 27 and 29, 2024
Time: 3:00p-4:30p
Details: Over two dozen performers will join the musical ensemble, Sonofarious, for Currents and Tides: A Musical Tribute to Our Waters to recognize the Fernandina Beach and Nassau County Bicentennials, and celebrate the remarkable ocean, rivers, creeks and marshes that sustain them. Proceeds will benefit St. Marys Riverkeeper.
For tickets, stop by Story and Song Bookstore/Bistro, call 904-601-2118, or visit storyandsongarts.org/
Lunch and Learn Webinar
Date: January 15, 2025
Time: 12:00p-1:00p
Details: Join St. Marys Riverkeeper’s Executive Director, Emily Floore, and The Nature Conservancy Director of Freshwater in Georgia, Paula Marcinek, to watch the much-anticipated sturgeon short documentary that dives deep into the life and legacy of these ancient fish in the St. Marys River. Following the viewing, we will provide exclusive updates on the full release, supported by The Nature Conservancy, as well as other ways you can get involved in 2025 to protect our St. Marys River.
Register for this free webinar HERE
St. Marys River Boat Tours
Date: February 22 and March 15, 2025
Time: 10:00a-12:00p
Details: A 2-hour informative tour will provide an opportunity for you to experience the beauty of our blackwater river, discover how swamp and river are connected, and learn about the most pressing issues facing our river today!
St. Marys River Cleanup
Date: April 19, 2025
Time: 9:00a-11:00a
Details: Join us for the 27th Annual St. Marys River Cleanup from 9:00a-11:00a with a volunteer appreciation at White Oak Conservation afterwards. This is a watershed wide cleanup with participation in all four counties. Our 2024 cleanup resulted in 400 Volunteers pulling 6 tons of trash and debris from the river and surrounding areas.
See our pictures from our 2024 cleanup on our blog. More information and site registration coming soon!
St. Marys Riverkeeper | 300 Osborne St. | St. Marys, GA 31558 US
