MISSION: SAVE THE ST. JOHNS

Transcription

1 MISSION: SAVE THE ST. JOHNS

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3 Privately funded Independent voice for the River Investigate pollution problems Advocate for protective policies Hold polluters accountable Seek sensible solutions Educate and raise awareness Engage and involve citizens

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5 History of Unintended Consequences

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7 Cumulative Impacts of Dredging Increased Tidal Exchanges Further Upriver Increased the Range and Level of Salinity Increased Stress on the Natural Ecosystems Increased Sedimentation Increased Erosion Increased Siltation Increased Turbidity

8 Dredging Will Further Harm the St. Johns Salinity = Farther Upstream Impacting Wetlands Damaging Submerged Grasses Further Stressing Trees Altering Dissolved Oxygen Dynamics Threatening Endangered Species and Critical Fisheries Habitat Erosion, Sedimentation, Turbidity, Siltation will Continue to Increase Water Pollution will Worsen

9 Water Quality Indicator Status Trends Salinity Uncertain Worsening Fecal Coliform Unsatisfactory Uncertain Turbidity Satisfactory Improving Dissolved Oxygen Unsatisfactory Tributaries: Worsening Mainstem: Unchanged Algal Blooms Unsatisfactory Unchanged Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) Nitrogen: Unsatisfactory Phosphorus: Unsatisfactory N: Conditions improving P: Conditions unchanged

10 2014 State of the River Report Dredging activities are expected to alter river salinity along the entire navigation channel, even in upstream locations that are not a part of the current dredging plans Dredging 2 ft. from 38 to 40 ft. to RM 14.7 Salinity increase in the river in spite of adequate rainfall that year

11 Salinity Increases Further Upstream Greater Fluctuations o Weather - Episodic o Tide - Daily Salinity Mean o Increasing in Transition Areas

12 Salinity Mean Trending Up at Jacksonville University

13 the proposed channel deepening would accelerate the effects of increasing salinity.

14 Tidal Forcing Five billion gallons of fresh water travels daily to the mouth of the river Freshwater flow mixes with approximately 15 billion gallons or more of seawater that will force its way upstream daily Deepening will create a greater force of the seawater that is able to push farther upriver Scientists have observed that as dredging has deepened the riverbed, freshwater vegetation has receded upriver.

15 Areas of Greatest Impact Hardwood swamps Freshwater and transitional vegetation SAVs

16 Because some aquatic organisms require a fresh-water phase in their life cycle making them dependent upon a freshwater ecosystems, it is clear freshwater wetlands provide a different and valuable function than saltwater wetlands, which may be lost associated with increased salinity.

17 Dissolved Oxygen Subtle changes may drastically impact the amount of oxygen available to support many aquatic plants and animals. Salinity is one of many factors that affect DO concentrations in the LSJRB. Higher the salinity the lower the DO.

18 Endangered Species, Critical Fisheries Habitat at Risk SJR supports a diverse community of living organisms Import ant to the ecosystem Affected by salinity Significant recreational and commercial economic value Each species: Has an essential role in the ecosystem Requires both coastal and river habitats for an important life stages

19 Blue Crab Largest commercial fishery in Lower St. Johns. In 2013, the reported commercial crab harvest = 599,303 lbs. 87% of the commercial fish harvest

20 Blue Crab Successful crab reproduction relies on a particular set of salinity conditions at specific times. Females carry fertilized eggs and migrate towards the more marine waters near the mouth of the river where they will release their eggs into the water. After some time adrift, wind and currents transport the larvae back to the estuarine parts of the river where they settle in SAV that serves as a nursery. Nursery habitat could be lost to shelter young crabs.

21 Water Pollution Impacted by Salinity Increase the deposition rate of sediments within the estuary and tributaries Requiring more dredging and maintenance of waterways for navigation Cause a shift towards more marine types of toxic algae = Red tides and brown algae blooms

22 Proposed mitigation is woefully inadequate Preserving existing healthy SAV and tidal freshwater wetlands does not sufficiently compensate the public for the ecosystem services that will be lost due to deepening the federal navigation channel.

23 Environmental Risk Underestimated

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25 FDEP 44 page Warning to USACE

26 Worst Case Scenario 60% of Colony is Dead

27 Once the damage is done, there is no turning back. We simply cannot afford to get this decision wrong.