April 2023 Keeper’s Report
Welcome to your April 2023 Keeper’s Report!
It was another epic High Water Music Festival this year! We loved seeing so many of you at the Charleston Waterkeeper tent to say hello, catch up and show up in the clean water photo booth! Huge thank you to Shovels & Rope for bringing us all together along the Cooper River for a great weekend of music and good friends old and new! Grateful.
April is always a big a month here at Charleston Waterkeeper as we wrap up our mid year letter mailing and prepare for the kick off of our annual Swim Alert bacteria testing season. This year marks our 11th season of testing water quality for you and your family!
Our water quality scientists will be out every week by land and water starting Wednesday, May 3 collecting samples from each of your waterways and creeks where SUP enthusiasts, boaters, shrimpers, fishers, beach goers, and families go to enjoy the water. The team will analyze the samples in the lab and publish results every Friday through the end of October. That’s a lot of data for clean water!
As the weather gets more beautiful and warms up local rivers and creeks become more inviting. But, water quality is not always good. That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of where it is safe to swim, fish, and recreate. Thanks to folks just like you, we can keep up this important work and be the voice and change for your rivers and creeks.
Latest News
Moving mud by hand
So turns out digging a new tidal creek channel is really fun! How often do you get a chance to play in the mud like you’re a kid!?!?
Live 5 News: Watch today
Union Pier redevelopment plan
The SC Port Authority developer Lowe agreed in public to include water quality treatment for storm/flood water from the Union Pier site. That’s a big win for your Harbor and Cooper River.
News 2: Watch today
Nice work, Awendaw!
Denying approvals for new neighborhood with 72 septic tank dependent houses densely clustered together is a good step in the right direction for Awendaw and for clean water.
Live 5 News: Watch today
Another James Island Creek sewer spill
This is the second time in 3 years that Charleston Water System has spilled sewage into James Island Creek from this same line. Implementing a long-term fix must be a priority.
Post and Courier: Read more
Shoutouts
Oyster Cleaning
It has been an incredible season of oyster shell cleaning and we are pleased to give a huge shoutout to these folks and the hundreds of other volunteers that have devoted hundreds of hours to removing over 700 lbs of debris from the shell so far this year!
And guess what?! We’re still going at it every Tuesday with DNR SCORE to clean recycled oyster shell.
🌱 Marsh grass planting 🌱
It is not always easy being green and we certainly couldn’t tout the over 27,000 Spartina seedlings planted this year without the commitment from our trusted and always joyful groups!
We’ve worked hard with our friends at DNR SCORE and can’t wait for these babies to grow up in the greenhouse so that we can plant marsh grass to restore and protect your waterways.
Events & Updates
Lowcountry Earth Week is here! 🌎
Over 40 local conservation organizations teamed up to bring you clean-ups, festivals, nature activities, workshops this week! The festivities conclude with a family-friendly Earth Day celebration at Holy City Brewing. 🎸 🌊 🍻
| Tonight is the night Join us tonight as we team up with Coastal Expeditions for a fun Shem Creek cleanup and Crab Bank cruise! Learn more |
Look who is headlining 👀 🦀 👊🏽
Cast it forward just got a lot cooler! We can’t wait to see the incredibly inspiring and knowledgable (and Charleston Waterkeeper board member) Tia Clark on the main stage.
Earth Day Cleanup + Celebration
Join Charleston Waterkeeper and the South Carolina Aquarium (scaquarium.org) for an Earth Day Cleanup along Vardell’s Creek!
| How’s the water? We’re excited to launch the 2023 Swim Alert season beginning in May! Be sure to sign up to receive our weekly water quality reports so you’re in the know when and where it’s safe to swim. Sign up today! |
#ChasWaterkeeper
Thank you Britney!
Graduate intern, Britney Prebis, is helping build a new micro plastic sampling protocol as part of our community-science Creek Watcher program. She’s been working under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Beckingham at the College of Charleston and our water quality scientist Cheryl Carmack. We’re excited to start generating data and developing solutions!
Let’s Get Social
Don’t miss any of the action for clean water: especially the weekly restoration events! Be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now LinkedIn!
