The Savannah River defines North Augusta in so many ways. It forms the city’s southwestern boundary and serves as the state line between Georgia and South Carolina. Historically, it is the river that breathed life into the area, providing transportation inland from the ports at Savannah. It was, and still is the region’s primary source of water. The river is a place to swim, fish, and boat. And it is a source of inspiration, a place to find peace and get in touch with nature.

The Central Savannah River Land Trust is an Augusta-based non-profit group dedicated to protecting and preserving the open space surrounding the river. N. Turner Simkins, Project Manager for Hammond’s Ferry, is an active member of Trust’s board of directors. “Hammond’s Ferry, like the City of North Augusta, is focused on the river,” he says. “Riverfront Square and the various parks, as well as the new section of the Greeneway that loops through the new neighborhood, celebrate the wonders and beauty of the river.”

The stretch of the river adjacent to North Augusta is where the river crosses the Southeastern “fall line”—the geological transition between the southern piedmont and coastal plain. This change in the river’s environment allows it to support a variety of plants, animals, and wildlife. The shallow waters north of Hammond’s Ferry are in sharp contrast to the deeper navigable reaches downstream.

There are many groups dedicated to preserving the beauty and ecology of the Central Savannah River. The following are a few of the non-profit groups:

Central Savannah River Land Trust
(Their offices are in the Lamar Building on Broad Street in downtown Augusta)
PO Box 148
Augusta, GA 30903
706.312.5263
info@csrlt.org

Savannah River At Risk Initiatives Campaign
Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy
540B Telfair Street
Augusta, GA 30901
706-828-2109
info@naturalsciencesacademy.org

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