FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2015
DEP HOSTS UPDATE MEETING FOR LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER TRIBUTARIES
~Meeting being held to discuss progress and identify
actions moving forward~
JACKSONVILLE
– The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is
hosting an annual update meeting for two restoration plans covering 25
Lower St. Johns River tributaries.
WHAT: Meeting to Discuss Lower St. Johns River Tributaries Restoration Plans
WHEN: Thursday, March 5
9 a.m. - noon
WHERE: DEP Northeast District Office
Conference Rooms 1A and 1B
8800 Baymeadows Way West, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32256
“The
department and stakeholders have invested a lot of time and effort into
restoring these waters,” said Tom Frick, director of the Division of
Environmental Assessment and Restoration. “While there is still some work to be done, we
continue to see improvements in tributary bacteria levels. The ongoing
commitment and efforts by the stakeholders in the basin will ensure restoration
is achieved.”
The Lower St. Johns River tributaries are
impaired due to excess levels of fecal coliform bacteria, and restoration plans
were adopted in 2009 and 2010 to reduce bacteria counts. Going forward, more
focused efforts will be applied to waters that have not met this milestone.
Microbial
source tracking is a new technology that identifies the origin of bacteria
through DNA analysis. Knowing the bacteria’s origin allows DEP to more
accurately identify and target potential pollutant sources. At this meeting,
the department will be discussing the results of samples analyzed using source
tracking technology as well as detailing the restoration progress for the tributaries
in each restoration plan. Representatives will also outline future efforts that
will be implemented to ensure that progress continues.
At 310
miles, the St. John’s River is the longest river in Florida. The Lower St.
Johns River is an elongated estuary that extends about 100 miles from its
union with the Ocklawaha River to the Atlantic Ocean. The river is lined with
public lands and state parks in multiple areas, providing recreational opportunities for fishing,
swimming and boating.
For more
information on the Lower St. Johns River Tributaries restoration plans, please
click here.
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