St. Johns one of 10 most endangered rivers

The St. Johns River has been named one of the 10 most endangered rivers in the country by a nonprofit group dedicated to waterway conservation.

The river landed on the Washington D.C.-based American Rivers' list because of plans to allow the removal of up to 262 million gallons of water per day to quench Central Florida's growing thirst.

Opponents of the St. Johns River Water Management District's plan say the withdrawal will harm the river's plant and wildlife. The district counters that early research indicates no such effect, but that it will make a final decision on allowing "significant withdrawals" when a two-year environmental impact study is complete.

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"No matter what the problem is, stealing is never an acceptable solution," Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers president, said in a news release. "Yet, instead of embracing water smart solutions like conservation and efficiency, Florida lawmakers seem set on sanctioning this river robbery."

The American Rivers' reasoning for the St. Johns making the list was a two-page advocacy paper with no scientific basis, said Alfred Canepa, the water management district's assistant director of resource management. The proposed withdrawals would account for less than 1 percent of the river's flow.

"The withdrawal from the St. Johns River is not the biggest danger," Canepa said. "The biggest dangers are wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff that add pollutants and nutrient loads to the river."

The American Rivers report will help keep the St. Johns Riverkeepers' fight in the forefront and stir agitation among people who don't completely understand the issues.

The issue isn't just an environmental one but also an economic one, said Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon. He warned that millions of dollars in commercial fishing and recreational activities will be lost if the withdrawals are allowed.

"In a state with theme parks, cruise ships, and any number of other tourism-based ventures, it's simply mind boggling that decision makers are telling those who enjoy the St. Johns to take their money elsewhere," he said in a news release.

Duval County and Northeast Florida are improving conservation by increasing reclaimed water usage and will improve the quality of stormwater by making drainage improvements, which are funded through the new stormwater fee, said Mayor John Peyton in a news release.

"I urge the City Council to consider and pass the pending legislation that will require best practices on the use of fertilizers as well as the ordinance that would apply a common sense approach to irrigation in light of the fragility of the river's health," he said.

Under the irrigation ordinance, residents would be fined up to $250 for illegally watering their lawn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The ordinance would make Jacksonville one of a few Northeast Florida municipalities with watering laws.

Despite growing concerns about water supply, Flagler Beach, Flagler County and Bunnell are the only area municipalities to have adopted water irrigation restrictions that follow the St. Johns River Water Management District's guidelines.

The fertilization ordinance doesn't apply to homeowners, only to commercial fertilizers. It restricts what types of fertilizers can be used and when. Overfertilization can lead to algal blooms, which can kill fish and other water life.

The ordinance also requires professional fertilizers to complete training programs provided by the University of Florida and any training required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Inspectors for the city's Environmental Protection Board would enforce the ordinance and the severity of fines would depend on the violation.

The St. Johns River's place on the list coincides with the 10th anniversary of being named one of only 14 American Heritage Rivers. River groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments and taxpayer watchdogs nominate rivers to be placed on the endangered list. Other rivers on the list include the Gila River in Arizona and New Mexico, the Rogue River in Oregon and the Pearl River in Mississippi and Louisiana.