Potomac Riverkeeper Network Gains Support from Yamaha Rightwaters™

KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Potomac Riverkeeper Network has a new 4.2-liter, 225-horsepower outboard for its Parker patrol boat thanks to support from Yamaha Rightwaters™. The organization will use the boat for pollution surveillance and to take water samples of the Potomac River, which provides drinking water for approximately seven million people.

“The greatest legacy we can leave for our children is access to clean water. Safe-guarding the Nation’s River from pollution is a responsibility we take seriously – it is the lifeblood of our region and our patrol boat is the workhorse of our program,” said Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper. “Yamaha Rightwaters stepped in with Marine Evolutions at exactly the right time to make sure we were on the water to carry out our mission as soon as possible. We are incredibly grateful for their support.”

The Yamaha outboard that now powers the Potomac Riverkeeper patrol boat gives Naujoks and his team a boost in horsepower, allowing them to carry more equipment and more people. The Potomac River, like many bodies of water across the country, has seen a spike in recreational activity in recent months, and patrolling to ensure the water is safe for swimming and boating is now more critical than ever before.

“More people are looking to the river as a safe way to recreate and stay socially distant,” said Naujoks. “The increased interest makes patrolling and sampling the river this summer even more important. As part of our Water Quality Monitoring Program, we now issue a weekly SwimGuide that keeps citizens informed about safe areas for swimming. This report could not happen without the sampling we do in the patrol boat.”

"I grew up in northern Virginia and can't remember a time when swimming in the Potomac around Washington D.C. was safe. However, through the efforts of the Potomac Riverkeepers, that’s no longer the case. The weekly 'SwimGuide' they publish helps residents of the D.C. area identify safe areas for swimming and serves as proof of the good work they do to rid the river of pollution," said John O'Keefe, Senior Specialist, Government Relations, Yamaha Marine U.S. Business Unit. “Thanks in large part to the Potomac Riverkeepers and other like-minded organizations, the River is making a comeback. Yamaha Rightwaters is proud to partner with the Potomac Riverkeeper and Potomac Riverkeeper Network in support of their ongoing efforts to restore and preserve the beautiful Potomac. I believe it’s not far-fetched to think someday soon the ‘nation’s river’ might earn the distinction of a 'national treasure.'”

The Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization with three regional Waterkeeper branches: Potomac Riverkeeper, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper, and Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Its mission is to protect the public’s right to clean water in rivers and streams. The organization works to stop pollution and promote safe drinking water, protect healthy habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment.

Yamaha Rightwaters™ is a national sustainability program that encompasses all of Yamaha Marine’s conservation and water quality efforts. Program initiatives include habitat restoration, support for scientific research, mitigation of invasive species, the reduction of marine debris and environmental stewardship education. Yamaha Rightwaters reinforces Yamaha’s long-standing history of natural resource conservation, support of sustainable recreational fishing and water resources and Angler Code of Ethics, which requires pro anglers to adhere to principles of stewardship for all marine resources.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine U.S. Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,400 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA^®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

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