Your Guide to the St. Johns River

Get Your Feet Wet:
Your guide to exploring and experiencing the St. Johns River

Palatka to the Atlantic Ocean Edition

Get your feet wet and begin your journey exploring the mighty St. Johns River and its watershed! Also, get your shopping done for the holidays by getting guidebooks for your friends and family.

The Get Your Feet Wet guidebook is a valuable resource for you and your family to learn about and get to know your river. Learn about the ecology and rich history of the St. Johns River. Visit fun and interesting parks and places along the river and its tributaries. Identify common plants and animals that live in and around the St. Johns. Get the most out of your river experiences with fun games and activities.

The guidebooks are now available for a suggested donation of $15.00 on our website, http://stjohnsriverkeeper.org/river_guidebook.asp

Here is a recent editorial from the Florida Times-Union about the guidebook:

St. Johns River: Guidebook makes splash

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2009-10-04/story/st_johns_river_guidebook_makes_splash

Judge Approves Historic Nutrient Settlement

As we mentioned in previous posts, St. Johns Riverkeeper is one of the parties involved in a recent settlement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will require the state of Florida to establish meaningful limits for the nutrient pollution that is triggering algae blooms and poisoning our waterways. Unfortunately, many of the state's biggest polluters and some politicians tried to get a federal judge to overturn this decision. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected arguements made by those seeking to further delay cleanup and avoid compliance with the Clean Water Act.

In today's Florida Times-Union, columnist Ron Littlepage sets the record straight.

Nutrient limits for St. Johns River are essential to its health

In case you haven't noticed, the sky is falling.

Or at least the hysteria coming out of folks like the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Industries of Florida and the state's biggest polluters would make you think so.

They are bent out of shape to the point of breaking because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is getting ready to do what it should have done years ago - limit the amount of nutrients going into the St. Johns River.

Those nutrients, in large part, are what's making the river sick, as evidenced by the massive algal blooms that frequently turn the river into a slimy, green mess.

The EPA action comes to settle a lawsuit filed by five environmental organizations, including the St. Johns Riverkeeper.

The EPA will set nutrient standards that will improve the river's health.

To continue reading Ron's column, click here:
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/columnists/ron_littlepage/2009-11-17/story/nutrient_limits_for_st_johns_river_are_essential__

We want to thank David Guest and Monica Reimer with Earthjustice for representing us in this settlement and for all of their outstanding work on this issue.

For information, click on the title of this blog post to see a press release from Earthjustice.

Riverkeeper Responds

Today, Neil Armingeon, the St. Johns Riverkeeper, responded in the Florida Times-Union to the misleading statements by Florida's Ag Commissioner regarding the settlement with EPA to reduce the amount of nutrient pollution entering our waterways.

I was compelled to respond to Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson's recent Viewpoint concerning the recent settlement between five environmental organizations, including St. Johns Riverkeeper and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Bronson notes a great deal of misinformation is being circulated about the EPA's proposed nutrient standards for nitrogen and phosphorus in Florida waters.

I suggest much of the false information is coming from Bronson's department, along with the polluters who discharge hundreds of millions of pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus into Florida's waters, including the St. Johns River.

We in Northeast Florida can read through Bronson's trumpeting of Florida as a "national leader" in water quality.

The St. Johns River is sick and, again this summer, the Green Monster - toxic blue green algae stimulated by tons of nitrogen - turned the river and many tributaries into toxic, smelly messes.

The programs that Bronson claims have "dramatically limited nutrients" have been hijacked by the polluters who destroy the river's health. What I find particularly troubling is that the agriculture commissioner is using our tax dollars to side with the polluters instead of protecting our natural resources and the public's health.

Continue reading by clicking here:
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters_from_readers/2009-11-10/story/guest_column_better_standards_needed_to_protect_st_joh

Algae Blooms Sign of Sick River

This video interview with Neil Armingeon, the St. Johns Riverkeeper, was produced by one of our summer interns to raise awareness about the impact of algae blooms and the nutrient pollution problem.

As we all know, the St. Johns River experienced significant blooms all summer long. The good news is that St. Johns Riverkeeper and several other environmental groups recently reached a settlement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring Florida to adopt measurable limits for the nutrient pollution that is poisoning our waterways and triggering the blooms.

Unfortunately, many of the state's biggest polluters and several politicians are trying to undermine this important step forward. It is obvious that the St. Johns River and many other rivers and lakes throughout Florida are sick. After all, the proof is in the algae.

We simply can't afford to wait any longer and must begin reducing the significant amount of nutrient pollution entering our waterways. Clean water and healthy lakes, streams, and rivers are essential to our quality life, our environment, and our economy.

Learn more by checking out these two previous posts about our settlement with the EPA and the critical nutrient pollution issue.
Victory in Fight to Stop Green Monster
http://www.riverhugger.com/2009/08/victory-in-fight-to-stop-green-monster.html

Water Clean-up Deal Overdue
http://www.riverhugger.com/2009/08/water-clean-up-deal-overdue.html

8th Annual Oyster Roast

November 20th - 7:00PM

Garden Club of Jacksonville

www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/tickets

Don't miss out on one of the best parties of the year!

Get your tickets today!

The Roast has outstanding live music, delicious food and oysters, open bar, and an incredible silent auction.

This year's featured artist is Mark George. His painting, "Huguenot Lament", will be available for bid.

Tickets are $125 each or $75 for those of you who are lucky enough to still be under 35 years of age.

Proceeds benefit St. Johns Riverkeeper.

See you on November 20th at the Oyster Roast.