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Welcome to the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Program
of the Winyah Rivers Foundation
The mission of the Winyah Rivers Foundation is to protect, preserve, monitor, and revitalize the health of the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed.
We are a grassroots organization whose members support the mission of protecting the rivers in the great watershed that empties into Winyah Bay at Georgetown, South Carolina, including the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers, the Black River, the Lynches River and the Sampit River.
The Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Program was established in 2002 to educate and advocate for the protection of the Waccamaw River watershed in North and South Carolina. The Waccamaw Riverkeeper, Christine Ellis, is a paid advocate. She works to mobilize citizens to protect the river and its traditional beneficial uses.
Please support our education and advocacy programs to protect our local rivers by volunteering, donating and becoming a member today. Together we can make a difference to keep our local rivers
Fishable, Swimmable, Drinkable
What's New in the Winyah Bay Watershed
Success! Santee Cooper will move Grainger coal ash!
Today Santee Cooper issued a press release announcing that it will remove all coal ash from its Grainger station on the Waccamaw River! That is great news for the Waccamaw River and our ongoing use and enjoyment as a source of drinking water, recreational opportunities and a vibrant economy.
Click here for Santee Cooper’s Press Release.
Review our press release with our partners Southern Environmental Law Center, Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, SC Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy:
Press Release regarding the settlement with Santee Cooper for the Grainger facility.
Great news to share and a testament to our perseverance and commitment to the mission of Winyah Rivers Foundation…to protect, preserve, monitor and revitalize the health of the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed.
Thanks for the support!
Our most successful River Celebration to date!
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated to, participated in and planned this wonderful event on the banks of the Waccamaw River in Conway! Your support enables us to continue to develop and implement our river protection programs to keep our local river fishable, swimmable and drinkable for our families and our future!
Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Sought
Winyah Rivers Foundation is searching for the next Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®.
Christine Ellis, the current Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, is stepping down effective January 1st but will remain an employee of Winyah Rivers Foundation in a part-time capacity.
If you would like to be considered as the next leader of the organization, please respond to the job description provided here.
World Rivers Day Paddle
World Rivers Day paddle on the Waccamaw River Blue Trail.
Our partners in our coal ash fight to protect our local rivers
July 2013 Riverkeeper Newsletter Available
Check it out...
What You Can Do...
...to keep our Nation's waterways clean and healthy.
- Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep up driveways, sidewalks, and gutters
- Vegetate bare spots in your yard
- Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams
- Compost your yard waste
- Check your car for leaks and recycle your motor oil
- Pick up after your pet
- Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly
- Don't flush unused medicine (check for a local drug take back program)
- Use the least toxic pesticides, follow labels, and learn how to prevent pest problems without chemicals
- Take your car to the carwash instead of washing it in your driveway
- Urge your elected representatives to uphold and pass legislation that protects clean water
- Advocate for your municipality to have upgraded sewage treatment plants that remove nutrients from its discharges
- Follow us on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In)
- Become a member and get involved with our education and advocacy efforts on the Waccamaw River and the larger Winyah Bay watershed
Support your local WATERKEEPER®
Who can say no to Edward James Olmos?
Support your Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®.
Click here to donate online or call the RIVERKEEPER® office at (843) 349-4007.
Help us realize our goal of fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for our families and our future.
Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Volunteer of the Year Award
Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Dale Stevens of Loris, SC. Click here for more information. Congratulations Dale!
Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® | Center for Marine and Wetland Studies | Coastal Carolina University
P.O. Box 261954 | Conway, SC 29528-6054 | (843) 349-4007 | Riverkeeper@winyahrivers.org
Winyah Rivers Foundation is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity.
Riverkeeper is a registered trademark
and service mark of Riverkeeper, Inc.
and is licensed for use herein.
The Foundation would like to thank Courtney Burge for the design of our website. We're delighted with her work and recommend her to you.