Chandra Brown says she does not think there is anyone in the world more qualified than Dianna Wedincamp to take over the role of Ogeechee Riverkeeper.

“She grew up on the river,” Brown, the founding riverkeeper and executive director for Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization, said Thursday. “She is a founding member of the Ogeechee Riverkeeper and her dedication to the organization has been tenfold.”

Wedincamp, 44, began serving as the new riverkeeper on March 23. Brown, who is pregnant with her second child, was held the position for the past 10 years. She said she will continue to serve as interim executive director through April 22, and then will serve as a volunteer with the nonprofit organization.

Wedincamp is a native of Emanuel County, where she grew up fishing, swimming and boating on the Ogeechee River, according to the website, www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org. In 2001, she was a founding board member of Canoochee Riverkeeper, and she later helped merge that board with the board of Friends of the Ogeechee to form the Statesboro-based Ogeechee Riverkeeper.

Wedincamp joined the Ogeechee Riverkeeper staff in 2005. Before taking over as Riverkeeper, she served as the organization’s program director.

“As program director, I was involved in community organizing, outreach events, organizing citizens on pollution issues, and many other things,” Wedincamp said. “I also handled legislative issues.”

As riverkeeper, her duties include monitoring rivers and streams for pollution, advocating for pollution prevention and clean water, conducting educational programs, training volunteers and responding to citizen complaints, according to the website.

For more, pick up a copy of the April 2 edition of the News.