March 2022 Keeper’s Report
Welcome to your March 2022 Keeper’s Report! It is that time of year that the promise of spring surrounds us and being on the water is nothing short of magical. We are reminded why we are a here, continuing our critical work of keeping your waterways free of harmful bacteria, plastic pollutants, and fighting every day to drive change for the next generation. We thrive on keeping you informed and are always ready to take on the issues that impact your waterways.
This past month has been action packed for clean water, from high energy and support to press the House Environmental Affairs Subcommittee to get the nurdle bill moving, to hockey games, to boat excursions, spartina grass plantings, oyster restoration events, the removal of 2 tons of pollutants from your local waterways and all the while loving this work!
We are looking ahead to some big and exciting initiatives. Water quality testing picks up steam in April and the sites double starting in May! We are honored to be a part of the important conversations surrounding Creek by Creek, an inspiring environmental conservation art exhibit by the wildly successful Mary Edna Fraser and Jeff Kopish at the City Gallery.
We applaud our stellar crew of volunteers and supporters that stand by us and cannot do this work without you. Thank you and let’s keep it up!
News
Is DHEC on its last legs?
The devil’s in the details. We support a strong state environmental agency that vigorously protects your public trust resources–beaches, rivers, creeks, marshes–for the benefit of the public.
The State: Read more
Yes that’s a nurdle
The nurdle bill is still stuck in subcommittee, just like this nurdle is stuck in a fiddler crab burrow. Take action today and tell the House Environmental Affairs Subcommittee to get the nurdle bill moving.
FOG but not the pretty kind . . .
Fat, oil, and grease clogs sewer lines and leads to spills. Important information in this piece–especially if you like swimming in water that isn’t contaminated with sewage. And, that’s all of us right!?!?
Post and Courier: Read more
Events
What a night on Bird!
A huge thank you to Coastal Expeditions for a spectacular evening on the water aboard Bird, learning about water quality, shrimping, and Crab Bank. Can’t wait to do it again!
Creek by Creek starts March 18!
When art, science, and advocacy collide, it is a beautiful thing! Don’t miss the incomparable Mary Edna Fraser and Jeff Kopish at the City Gallery for Creek By Creek.
Cool Ray is a fan!
Wa a fun action packed evening with our buddy Cool Ray! The SC Stingrays sure do know how to make a nonprofit feel special. We were honored to be the beneficiaries of DC Comics Night, thanks to Digital Ignite and had a blast!
Member Spotlight
Captain Chris Crolley
We caught up with a true local legend, who is making an impact every day through environmental education, conservation, and engaging people with the outdoors in a meaningful way. Chris Crolley is the real deal!
How’s the water?
We love our Creek Watchers and depend on them for important data about health of local salt marsh habitat and water quality! They do a great job monitoring 25 different sites year-round in your local waterways. January’s data shows good water clarity at most of our sites. That’s common during winter months with less organic matter in the water and high levels of dissolved oxygen!
Clean Water Updates
Did you know?!?!
Your marshes help protect you from flooding and sea level rise. And guess what? You can help plant Spartina (marsh grass) seedlings with us every Thursday thanks to SCDNR SCORE!
Charleston Waterkeeper + Filbin Friends
That is what we call a cleanup! We collected 2,380 lbs of debris and 33 tires along Filbin Creek. Thank you to the incredible crew that showed up!
What is Cheryl looking at?
This is a handy little tool called a refractometer! We use the refractometer to measure the salinity of our local waterways. All it takes is a few drops and we’ve got a result!
Newmarket Creek Cleanup
We teamed up with Sustainable Ocean Alliance Charleston, Lowcountry Lowline, and 38 volunteers and got 1,420 lbs of debris out of the creek!
#ChasWaterkeeper
Turtles not nurdles
Special interests groups in Columbia put the breaks on the nurdle bill in the SC House’s Environmental Affairs Subcommittee. The delay they created means more and more plastic nurdle pollution in your waterways and on your beaches every day. Tell the lobbyists to stay in their lane! Contact your SC House Reps on the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee today and tell them to get the nurdle bill moving!
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!
