by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Many people want to help the health of the St. Johns River. They just don’t know how.
The St. Johns Riverkeeper launches its educational “River Friendly Campaign” today on the Northbank to let people know how to help.
“The last several years, people have been more aware of the problems with the St. Johns River, but they want to do something,” said Jimmy Orth, Riverkeeper executive director.
“This campaign is going to help them do that,” he said.
Orth will be joined by St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon and Mayor John Peyton, among others, for the event.
The River Friendly Campaign will offer educational tips ranging from fertilizing and irrigation choices to energy conservation and cleaning product choices that will help people make more river-conscious daily decisions.
The campaign can be found at the Riverkeeper’s website, www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/river-friendly.
“It’s a call to the community to say ‘let’s do our part’ and accept responsibility for the river’s health,” said Orth.
In addition to the tips, people also are urged to take the “River Friendly Pledge” to try to become better stewards of the resource.
People can fill it out online. In a few months, Orth said they will be contacted for an update on their pledge and can share river-related health stories that will be shared and potentially inspire others to do their part.
The Riverkeeper has partnered with several organizations and businesses to distribute about 30 decorated rain barrels throughout the city to raise awareness and serve as a visual reminder of the campaign.
Orth said the campaign also will serve as an outreach to encourage churches, schools and other organizations to initiate their own river-friendly community projects.
For the last several years, Peyton has designated March as “St. Johns River Month” and with the weather warming up, Orth said the timing to launch the campaign was good.
“It’s a good time to get out there and enjoy the river,” said Orth, “but it’s also a good time to make a commitment to it.”
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What the mayoral candidates said
The St. Johns Riverkeeper recently polled mayoral and City Council candidates on what they believed were the most significant threats to the health of the St. Johns River and, if elected, what they would do to address those problems. Here are some of the responses from mayoral candidates on the ballot:
• Alvin Brown said the greatest threats could be traced to bacteria and pollutants that make their way into waterways and, if elected, he would work with state and federal lawmakers and the private sector to obtain dedicated funding sources for river cleanup. He also said he’d lead an educational initiative with private-sector partners to promote the health of the river and the environment’.
• Mike Hogan said the most important issue is the lack of adequate stormwater runoff treatment and the enforcement of point source polluters. If elected, he said he would champion a regional fix similar to the Everglades program and create a state and multicounty partnership of legislators. In addition, he’d use his contacts in the Legislature to ensure the matter gets the attention to that of the Everglades.
• Audrey Moran cited pollution, septic tanks, water withdrawal and wetlands loss among the issues affecting the river’s health. She advocated water conservation as her No. 1 priority to maintain sustainable limits on the aquifer. While most of the threats require major funding, she said, conservation does not and can be a widespread practice. Moran also said incentives for businesses that use reclaimed water could be considered to promote the efforts. If elected, she would continue River Summits and be involved with state lawmakers and other parties.
• Rick Mullaney said the river’s greatest threats come from pollution, overuse and the lack of enforcement of laws and regulations. As mayor, Mullaney said he would provide regional leadership to address river cleanup and work with state Rep. John Thrasher and the Legislature’s river caucus. He would also work with the legislative delegation to secure federal and state funds and would also encourage strict enforcement of the pertinent laws and regulations.
Source: St. Johns Riverkeeper