FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 23, 2016
DEP CONTINUES TO ADVANCE RESTORATION OF THE LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER
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DEP
hosts meeting to discuss water-quality improvement and restoration project
efforts~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection is hosting a public meeting on Feb. 25 to update
stakeholders on the progress made in reducing nutrient loads to the Lower St.
Johns River Main Stem. Representatives will discuss the water-quality restoration projects
completed during the past year as well as the long term water-quality trends,
including 2015 nutrient, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen results.
In June 2008, the department adopted restoration goals, or Total
Maximum Daily Loads, for the main stem of the Lower St. Johns River Basin from
Buffalo Bluff just south of Palatka to the mouth of the river. In October 2008,
a restoration plan, or Basin Management Action Plan, was adopted to achieve
these restoration goals. The restoration plan identifies strategies and projects that will be implemented to improve the water quality of the St. Johns River Main Stem. In the freshwater reach, the goal targets a reduction of total
phosphorus and total nitrogen to achieve healthy chlorophyll-a levels in this portion of the river. In the marine section, the goal targets total nitrogen to restore
dissolved oxygen levels for the benefit of aquatic life.
“BMAPs cannot be successful without the commitment and expertise
from local stakeholders. Both are critical to designing and implementing a
restoration plan that will attain the set goals.” said Tom Frick, director
of DEP's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration. “We must
continue to implement projects and monitor progress to ensure that
restoration is achieved.”
Significant efforts have been made to upgrade wastewater
facilities, improve agricultural runoff, and increase urban stormwater
treatment to improve the Lower St. Johns River. To date, projects and activities undertaken by local
governments and others have reduced 90 percent of the phosphorus loadings and
84 percent of the total nitrogen loadings in the freshwater section and 94
percent of the total nitrogen loadings in the marine section necessary to meet
the restoration plan’s nutrient reduction targets. Stakeholders
continue to actively coordinate with DEP and to implement
projects to achieve the remaining needed reductions.
In 2015, St. Johns County substantially completed their
improvements to the Deep Creek West Regional Stormwater Treatment area,
expanding the treatment pond, installing new pumps and improving the overall
function of the system. These upgrades are expected to remove more than
2,000 kilograms per year of nitrogen to benefit the freshwater section of the
Lower Basin.
Information on the upcoming meeting can be found here.
For more information
about the Lower St Johns River Main Stem restoration plan click here.
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