Tag Archives: St. Johns Riverkeeper

  Algae bloom season is already upon our St. Johns River. Since mid-April, St. Johns Riverkeeper has received dozens of reports from Lake George and Palatka and all the way to Jacksonville. Our team is saddened by the images flooding our communication channels of the green muck coating our River. This early start could potentially be a sign of worse blooms to come as sunny days, water temperatures, and rains continue to rise. Nutrients? Aren’t those good for the River? Algae blooms are visible symptoms of sickness and too much nutrient pollution in our waterways. Nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, are …

BY KELLY PATTON, Outreach Director, St. Johns Riverkeeper The term “hurricane preparedness” has become as familiar to us as Pavlov’s bell was to his dogs. When we hear those words on the radio, we adjust our shopping lists and make sure we have the supplies we need to hold out through the storm. Every year, “hurricane preparedness” messages remind us that we live within a dynamic and vulnerable system affected by Mother Nature and must take precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe. But are our local elected officials hearing that same message? While we focus on our shopping …

BY SHANNON BLANKINSHIP – Outreach Director, St. Johns Riverkeeper Few waterways are spared from the seemingly endless supply of plastics and litter that dumps directly from storm drain outfalls. In northeast Florida, it is hard to find a creek or park free of these foreign invaders. Getting litter out of our river is a tough job, and few barriers exist to keep it out in the first place. However, growing accustomed to seeing plastics in our backyard creeks and streams hurts all of us, and putting an end to our litter problem should be something we all strive to do. …

We use the term “River Friendly” often. Usually, it’s a reference to actions homeowners take to conserve water and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides that can run off into nearby storm drains and waterways. Sometimes we are referring to businesses that take steps to reduce their impact on the river or support the work of . The term also applies to boaters who take steps to be good stewards of the river while out on the water. Always Be Prepared To Pick Up Litter While it may seem simple, picking up floating debris from the water can be …

Since our boat motor gave out last year, St. Johns Riverkeeper has been relying heavily on volunteers like our River Patrol to help us investigate and communicate pollution spills and algae blooms. This summer, we are launching a fundraising campaign to purchase a new Kencraft from Sadler Point Marina, and are hoping to get back on the water soon. Having a boat is critical to the work that we do. Thinking about the prospects of a new patrol boat for got me thinking about all the great places to visit on the water for food and drinks. Rent a boat, …

BY SHANNON BLANKINSHIP, Outreach Director, St. Johns Riverkeeper The St. Johns River is huge. The biggest river in Florida, it drains nearly a sixth of the state. Most of us only know a small part of the river: the section right in front of us. This month, is working with partners from the headwaters to the mouth to create opportunities for you to explore this incredible river and get your feet wet somewhere new. The 2017 Save the St. Johns: Activate the River project highlights the local businesses and partners who are doing great work along the entire river. We …