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?