The Satilla Riverkeeper is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, founded in 2004 to protect, restore, and educate about the Satilla River, its tributaries, and watershed. 
We are the eyes and ears of the watershed and estuary.

Our Purpose

Board of Directors

Stephanie Porter, Chair - Camden County
Levi Welling, Vice Chair - Ware County
Jessica Deal, Treasurer - Ware County
​Katy Smith, Secretary - Glynn County

Nik Antczak - Brantley County
Jim Cottingham - Coffee County
Wilton Deloach - Ware County
Clay Montague, Honorary - Camden County

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About Our Riverkeeper - Shannon Gregory

I could not be more excited to serve as the Satilla Riverkeeper. I was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia where I spent my childhood wandering along the Augusta Canal and Savannah River. From an early age I developed a deep appreciation for nature. I went on to complete a bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in ecology at Augusta University. As a student I became interested in the role that toxicology plays on individual species and ecosystems. As a result, I began researching the impacts of ocean acidification on fiddler crab regeneration. In 2014, I joined Satilla Science and began monthly sampling in the Satilla River Estuary examining species diversity surrounding man-made cuts in surrounding tidal creeks. This multi-university collaborative study contributed to the Noyes Cut restoration in the mouth of the Satilla River.
      I later went on to complete a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries biology at Clemson University. While enrolled in school I had an amazing opportunity to work as a research technician at Savannah River Ecology Lab where I assisted on multiple studies including the transmission of heartworms through mosquitos, the potential for rabies transmission in relocated raccoons and opossums, and wild boar fertility impacted by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During my studies to fulfill my degree, I examined the potential for imposex in male blue crabs when exposed to synthetic estrogens. I have always been enthusiastic about research and have presented my research over the years at both regional and international conferences.
      After graduation, I began teaching environmental biology at Augusta University. During my teaching career I wanted to provide students with a “hands-on” approach to environmental issues. As a result, I organized multiple wetland cleanups to improve the quality of the wetlands and highlight pollution issues covered in lecture. In addition to teaching, I served as the Program Chair for the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society.
      After falling in love with the Satilla River over the years, I am proud to call the watershed home and I look forward to serving as the Satilla Riverkeeper. Together we can continue the Satilla Riverkeeper’s mission of protecting, restoring, and educating.

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Our Beginnings

In 2000, a passionate Satilla River loving group of individuals, saw that their beloved river was being threatened by a multitude of polluters and joined forces to do something about it. They felt that the Satilla was a beautiful but forgotten river. Some of these individuals had worked diligently on solid-waste issues in Waycross, bringing a lot of press and pressure on waste generators to slow down or stop the tremendous amount of garbage and trash washing into the river. The momentum was slowly building to do great things for the Satilla. Read more about our history.

The Satilla Riverkeeper organization became a fully licensed 501© 3 organization in July of 2004. The first director and Riverkeeper, Gordon Rogers, was a child of the Satilla. He had caught his first fish in her waters, canoed her streams as a youth, conducted scientific research in her estuaries, and had lived near her for the better part of a decade. Gordon would soon make the Satilla Riverkeeper organization a thriving and common place name in environmental activism in the Satilla watershed, serving as a watchdog for pollution problems on the river. Satilla Riverkeeper, an official effort dedicated to the expensive and time-consuming business of conserving and restoring our precious river, still remains strong today.

​Satilla Riverkeeper is a grassroots organization, but membership must be paid for, because effective, professional keeping is expensive. We hope that you will join us in our efforts to PROTECT, RESTORE and EDUCATE about our beautiful Satilla! 

Please read more about our history here.

Our History

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Help keep the Satilla Riverkeeper a strong force for the environment by joining as a member, or making a donation.

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