Press Release
By St Marys Riverkeeper
9/30/25
The St. Marys River Through the Seasons: Our River, Weather, & Preparedness As the weather cools here in the South, evenings grow brisk, and river paddles become chillier–which has never stopped a St. Marys Riverkeeper before! While we’re thankful for more comfortable days outside in a year than many states have, there’s other aspects of the river to consider as the months change and leaves fall, notably shifting tides and droughts. This doesn’t just apply to paddling; as with our work on how river conditions impact communities through factors like chemical and debris pollution, the river’s impact can extend beyond its bank during and after severe weather events.Read More on Our Blog  Sturgeon Awareness Month September is Sturgeon Awareness Month! A cause close to our hearts and deeply connected to our mission of protecting the St. Marys River—not only for the people who depend on it, but for all the incredible species that call it home. One of those species is the Atlantic Sturgeon, a federally endangered fish whose lifecycle is intimately tied to this river. The St. Marys River is a designated critical habitat and potential spawning ground for the Atlantic Sturgeon. But here’s the challenge: we currently have no confirmed data on when or where sturgeon spawn in the St. Marys. That’s about to change. In collaboration with Dr. Adam Fox’s lab from UGA’s Warnell School, our Sturgeon Team will be assisting in collecting environmental DNA samples (eDNA) to detect sturgeon presence and spawning activity in the St. Marys River. What is eDNA?eDNA allows scientists to detect traces of DNA that fish leave behind in the water—like a genetic fingerprint. This method is particularly useful in places like the St. Marys, where murky waters and complex habitat make traditional monitoring techniques difficult. Because it’s still unknown whether the Atlantic Sturgeon population in the St. Marys River spawns in spring or fall, our team will collect eDNA samples in both seasons. From 2025 to 2027, we’ll collect samples weekly for 12 weeks during each spawning season, for a total of 432 field samples. A big shoutout to our dedicated Sturgeon Team—Current Sturgeon Intern Kaitlynn and past intern Lucas—who are out in the field making this research possible. Their efforts this fall will cover 8 more weeks of sampling for the Fall 2025 season. Why does this matter?As the southernmost spawning population of Atlantic Sturgeon within their range, the St. Marys River population may already be feeling the impacts of climate change. But to understand those effects—or to develop strategies to protect the population—we first need answers to basic questions: when do they spawn? Where? How often? This project will provide crucial baseline data to help answer those questions and guide future conservation efforts for this fragile species.This work is made possible by federal grant funding through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in support of our Watershed Resilience Planning. Pictured: St. Marys Riverkeeper Emily Floore with a sturgeon during sampling; St. Marys Riverkeeper Sturgeon Intern Kaitlynn and volunteer Lucas sturgeon eDNA sampling What can you do?If you see a sturgeon, NOAA wants to know! Report your sighting with any GPS coordinates and images by calling (844) STURG-911 or via email [email protected]. Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service (bottom right picture)St. Marys Riverkeeper (top two pictures, bottom left) Atlantic sturgeon caught and posted with permission of USFWS & under NMFS Permit 23096.Donate TODAY!St. Marys Riverkeeper Public Comment on Draft Section 309 Read the Full Public Comment Here  In the spirit of Sturgeon Awareness Month, we have a sneak peek of the Tail of Two Rivers documentary—a portion of which features interviews and information on sturgeon and the St. Marys River. The river’s history goes back thousands of years, yet little is known about exactly when and where sturgeon move and breed in the river; our Save the Sturgeon program’s work is striving to answer questions about this majestic species. You’ll also learn a bit more about the St. Marys Riverkeeper, too, with a feature from our Executive Director & Riverkeeper Emily Floore (also Associate Producer of the sneak peek). We’re so excited for this documentary and its crew’s excellent work on capturing the beauty, mystery, and significance of the St. Marys River. Thank you to:Into Nature Films for the sneak peekThe Nature Conservancy GA, the brilliant team of minds behind the full documentary!The Fox Lab at University of GeorgiaNOAA FisheriesUS Fish and Wildlife Services Tail of Two Rivers Documentary Boat tour tickets are selling out quickly. Secure yours today! Volunteer Today for This Event! Visit our Events Page to see all we have going on! We’re always planning new events; check back (and check your email updates from us) for what’s next.  Our science-based water monitoring program is a critical resource when addressing local stakeholders and when advocating on behalf of clean water to state and local enforcement agencies. Clean water is vital to the health of all living things, vibrant communities, and strong economies. Legend: Units are CFU/100mL Good (0 – 235) | Fair (235-536) | Poor (>536). Designated Swimming: (0-235)Moderate Swimming: (235-298)Less Swim / Contact: (298-410)Infrequent Contact: (410-600)Avoid Swimming: (>600) Questions about Water Quality Reports?Interested in joining our Citizen Scientist Team? Contact us today! September 2025 ReportAugust 2025 Report  Your support allows us to continue vital programs Follow us on social media for more content! The St. Marys River Through the Seasons: Our River, Weather, & Preparedness As the weather cools here in the South, evenings grow brisk, and river paddles become chillier–which has never stopped a St. Marys Riverkeeper before! While we’re thankful for more comfortable days outside in a year than many states have, there’s other aspects of the river to consider as the months change and leaves fall, notably shifting tides and droughts. This doesn’t just apply to paddling; as with our work on how river conditions impact communities through factors like chemical and debris pollution, the river’s impact can extend beyond its bank during and after severe weather events.Read More on Our Blog Sturgeon Awareness MonthSeptember is Sturgeon Awareness Month! A cause close to our hearts and deeply connected to our mission of protecting the St. Marys River—not only for the people who depend on it, but for all the incredible species that call it home. One of those species is the Atlantic Sturgeon, a federally endangered fish whose lifecycle is intimately tied to this river. The St. Marys River is a designated critical habitat and potential spawning ground for the Atlantic Sturgeon. But here’s the challenge: we currently have no confirmed data on when or where sturgeon spawn in the St. Marys. That’s about to change. In collaboration with Dr. Adam Fox’s lab from UGA’s Warnell School, our Sturgeon Team will be assisting in collecting environmental DNA samples (eDNA) to detect sturgeon presence and spawning activity in the St. Marys River. What is eDNA?eDNA allows scientists to detect traces of DNA that fish leave behind in the water—like a genetic fingerprint. This method is particularly useful in places like the St. Marys, where murky waters and complex habitat make traditional monitoring techniques difficult. Because it’s still unknown whether the Atlantic Sturgeon population in the St. Marys River spawns in spring or fall, our team will collect eDNA samples in both seasons. From 2025 to 2027, we’ll collect samples weekly for 12 weeks during each spawning season, for a total of 432 field samples. A big shoutout to our dedicated Sturgeon Team—Current Sturgeon Intern Kaitlynn and past intern Lucas—who are out in the field making this research possible. Their efforts this fall will cover 8 more weeks of sampling for the Fall 2025 season. Why does this matter?As the southernmost spawning population of Atlantic Sturgeon within their range, the St. Marys River population may already be feeling the impacts of climate change. But to understand those effects—or to develop strategies to protect the population—we first need answers to basic questions: when do they spawn? Where? How often? This project will provide crucial baseline data to help answer those questions and guide future conservation efforts for this fragile species.This work is made possible by federal grant funding through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in support of our Watershed Resilience Planning. Pictured: St. Marys Riverkeeper Emily Floore with a sturgeon during sampling; St. Marys Riverkeeper Sturgeon Intern Kaitlynn and volunteer Lucas sturgeon eDNA sampling What can you do?If you see a sturgeon, NOAA wants to know! Report your sighting with any GPS coordinates and images by calling (844) STURG-911 or via email [email protected]. Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service (bottom right picture)St. Marys Riverkeeper (top two pictures, bottom left) Atlantic sturgeon caught and posted with permission of USFWS & under NMFS Permit 23096.Donate TODAY!St. Marys Riverkeeper Public Comment on Draft Section 309 Read the Full Public Comment Here In the spirit of Sturgeon Awareness Month, we have a sneak peek of the Tail of Two Rivers documentary—a portion of which features interviews and information on sturgeon and the St. Marys River. The river’s history goes back thousands of years, yet little is known about exactly when and where sturgeon move and breed in the river; our Save the Sturgeon program’s work is striving to answer questions about this majestic species. You’ll also learn a bit more about the St. Marys Riverkeeper, too, with a feature from our Executive Director & Riverkeeper Emily Floore (also Associate Producer of the sneak peek). We’re so excited for this documentary and its crew’s excellent work on capturing the beauty, mystery, and significance of the St. Marys River.Thank you to:Into Nature Films for the sneak peekThe Nature Conservancy GA, the brilliant team of minds behind the full documentary!The Fox Lab at University of GeorgiaNOAA FisheriesUS Fish and Wildlife Services Tail of Two Rivers Documentary Boat tour tickets are selling out quickly. Secure yours today!Volunteer Today for This Event! Visit our Events Page to see all we have going on! We’re always planning new events; check back (and check your email updates from us) for what’s next. Our science-based water monitoring program is a critical resource when addressing local stakeholders and when advocating on behalf of clean water to state and local enforcement agencies. Clean water is vital to the health of all living things, vibrant communities, and strong economies. Legend: Units are CFU/100mL Good (0 – 235) | Fair (235-536) | Poor (>536). Designated Swimming: (0-235)Moderate Swimming: (235-298)Less Swim / Contact: (298-410)Infrequent Contact: (410-600)Avoid Swimming: (>600) Questions about Water Quality Reports?Interested in joining our Citizen Scientist Team? Contact us today! September 2025 ReportAugust 2025 Report Your support allows us to continue vital programs Follow us on social media for more content! |
| St. Marys Riverkeeper | 300 Osborne Street | St. Marys, GA 31558 US |
