Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s presence on the water just got more frequent and a lot easier thanks to the addition of a new 15-foot jon boat purchased and donated by The Mechanical Shop in Savannah.
ORK will have an easier time with water monitoring, community outreach and conducting research for its partnership with the University of Georgia.
This new craft, which can accommodate four passengers, will allow ORK Executive Director and Riverkeeper Emily Markesteyn and Watershed Outreach Coordinator Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman to reach portions of the river that previously were inaccessible.
“There are some stretches we could only get to if a local landowner granted us permission to go through their property,” Demonbreun-Chapman said. “That sometimes complicated things, so we’re excited to have this boat, which will allow us to do our jobs more thoroughly and efficiently.”
The Mechanical Shop believes equipping this group with the tools it needs will benefit the river and everyone who depends on its health for their livelihood. Other businesses also aided in the charitable effort. Bulloch Marine gave the Mechanical Shop a discount on the price of the new boat and provided the labor necessary to rig it to ORK’s specifications. Interstate Batteries donated the boat battery, and ActionSigns of Statesboro donated all of the decals for the vessel.
To learn more about Ogeechee Riverkeeper, please visit www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.