Jacksonville report: Despite problems, St. Johns River 'generally suitable' for enjoyment
Longtime problems ranging from fecal bacteria to mounting salinity persist in Jacksonville’s waterways despite hard-won achievements to protect the St. Johns River and its tributaries, a yearly compilation of research concludes.
“This report gives us a glimmer of hope amidst ongoing challenges,” said Gerry Pinto, a Jacksonville University research scientist who had a lead role in preparing the 2023 State of the River Report, the 16th installment in an annual review of conditions in the St. Johns’ lower basin — from Mayport upstream to Putnam and Volusia counties.
The report, sprawling across more than 400 pages, pools work by academics in fields as varied as biology, chemistry and geographic information systems to summarize their understanding of the health of the waterway that defines Northeast Florida.
More: Jacksonville has 'need for concern' for health of St. Johns River, scientists' report says
More: River Life: It might be time for the tipping point for the St. Johns
Like many routine medical exams, findings using the most recent data available are a mix of good and bad. Among problems the report listed:
∎Disturbing levels of bacteria found in feces remain widespread in creeks and streams feeding the St. Johns in Jacksonville. Sixty tributaries in Duval County had bacteria levels above water-quality standards. Although city and state officials have worked to reduce the problem, bacteria levels in six creeks increased by more than 10 percent over seven years.
∎Salinity increased in the St. Johns’ mainstem between 2008 and last year, a change the report said could have been influenced by factors including temporary drought conditions and dredging to deepen Jacksonville’s port as well as rising sea levels. Increasing salt levels further upstream increases stress on salt-sensitive underwater grass beds that manatees use for food and that some fish species use for shelter when they’re young and especially vulnerable.
∎Wetlands that help absorb floodwaters are being damaged by development in and around them. Wetland totals are increasing in some areas, but the report said that growth was tied to builders’ increased use of wetland mitigation banks that can sometimes be more than 30 miles from the damaged wetland.
The report counted levels of algae blooms, which can sometimes be toxic, as unsatisfactory in freshwater parts of the river but satisfactory in the saltier, estuarine areas. However, the report said it wasn’t clear whether conditions were getting better or worse in either area.
A bright point in the report was improvement in the amount of algae-feeding nitrogen in the estuarine parts of the river, although conditions were turning worse in the river’s freshwater areas. Regardless of trends, nitrogen levels were considered satisfactory in both parts of the St. Johns and in the river’s tributaries.
Levels of algae’s other main nutrient, phosphorus, were considered satisfactory in both the freshwater and estuarine parts of the river but unsatisfactorily high in the tributaries.
Despite problems, the river still has strong populations of redfish, trout, mullet, largemouth bass and a numer of other popular fish, the report says. Protected bird species including bald eagles and wood storks are doing fine, it says.
The river report was prepared by researchers from JU, the University of North Florida and other colleges through funding by the city's Environmental Protection Board.
It concludes that the river is "generally suitable" for boating, fishing and recreation on the water, but adds "there are reasons to be concerned abut the health of the river."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Johns River river report finds 'glimmer of hope,' lots of problems
