St Marys Riverkeeper Inc

Founded in 2016, St. Marys Riverkeeper is a 501(c)3 privately funded, independent and trusted voice for the St. Marys River watershed. As a border river, The St. Marys watershed is comprised of four counties – two in Georgia and two in Florida with roughly 160,000 residents who depend on the health of the river for tourism, recreation, and commercial fishing. Arising from the Okefenokee Swamp, the St. Marys River flows 130 miles to the Atlantic Ocean at Cumberland Island National Seashore. The watershed has more than 3,000 miles of streams and tributaries, is comprised of 40% wetlands, and is home to many endangered and threatened species such as the Atlantic Sturgeon. Much of the waterfront property is privately owned by individuals, conservation organizations, and water management districts which ensures land is protected from development and provides recreational opportunities for people to enjoy the river. 

We work for the St. Marys River to improve water quality in areas that are designated as swimmable and/or fishable, ensure the river thrives for future generations with our work on resiliency projects and community partnerships, promote low impact development in a fast-growing area, and advocate against industrial threats in our underserved communities.