Challenges Facing the St. Johns River

Challenges Facing the St. Johns River

A. Quinton White, Jr., Ph.D.Jacksonville University

Marine Science Research Institute

William Bartram’s Alligators 1773 or 74

St. Johns River- slow and steady

St. Johns River- very riverine

St. Johns River- spring-fed

St. Johns River- Lake George

1864

JacksonvilleDowntown JAX

It started with an idea-

BACKGROUND

MSRI- To Be Completed July 2010

Terry Parker High SchoolJacksonville, Florida

Manatees◦ Increasing population◦ Increasing human caused deaths

Water Withdrawals◦ 262 million galleons of water a day

Dredging◦ 50 feet for Post-Panamax Ships

So, what’s happening to the St. Johns River today?

Recent Manatees Deaths

Manatee group

Cavorting manatees

Algae JUJU dock_08/2005

Algae JUJU dock_08/2005

LSJR east bank Buckman

Buckman_East bank approach 08/2005

Lake George- April 2009

Central Florida’s Never-Ending Thirst Threatens the St. Johns River

How Much is Too Much?- Proposed Water Withdrawal

Sites

The St. Johns Just Upstream of a Proposed

Withdrawal

1918

Kennedy

USSK

THANKSQuestions?