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Last Update 11-3-03

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View of railroad bridge and hosiptals

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National Pollution Response Center, 1-800-424-8802. Failure to report a fuel spill, or other pollutant can subject the responsible party to penalties.

The spring system is the life's blood of the St.Johns. Springs provide the backpressure for a north flowing current allowing the river to transition from the clear freshwater of the springs, to a slightly acid environment of the fresh but brown water. The brown color is not dirt, but tannic acid, which leached out of tree bark and many plants. This plays a vital role in the ignition of the food chain, by helping bacteria to break down organic compounds and making more bacteria, on which a myriad of tiny creatures feed.

Silver Glen Springs

The Brown, but fresh Waters at Lake George

As the river flows north it encounters salt water from the tidal activity, and becomes brackish, again the change in the water kicks off a whole new food chain, plant and bacteria based of course. The foliage changes as well. Few plants are comfortable in both environments. A single celled plant, chlorella, is one of the few, and from time to time, will grow wildly out of control due to fertilizer runoff . This microscopic plant is a primary cause of some mystery fish kills in the Citra area. Chlorella and other single cell plants saturate the water, blocking off sunshine, and adding a micro-thin surface coating, interfering with the oxygenation process.

Microscope photo of chlorella

When the water reaches the Green Cove springs area, the river is infused with sulpher water from natural springs. The hydrogen sulfide gases creates unique environments of their own. Very few bacteria live in these waters. Swimming in them will cause rapid healing of skin injuries. These sulpher water springs are likely the "Fountains of Youth" described by Cortez. Soft tissued plant life abounds in the sulfer springs, and is the base of the food chain for a number of herbivorous fish species. Tipilia are often seen feeding in the springs. When there is sufficient depth, manatees are frequent visitors due the succulent growths.

North the river flows to the city of Jacksonville. Here some fascinating changes take place. The river 's water is mostly free of salt until it reaches The First Coast. The Main Street Bridge is the legal division between salt and fresh water, but tell the fish that. Here, many species mingle in this watery Babylon. Found here are Croaker, Sea Bass, Black Bass, Pan Fish, Trout and the Red Bass. Crabs range well into the fresh water area below Palatka and Black Bass are found in Trout River and Mill Cove. Shrimp make an annual journey of procreation into the river each August and remain till September. What allows all these salt water and freshwater species to co-inhabit the same areas?

A view of the St. Johns from Metro Park, home to many shows and festivals. The football staduim and new Arena are within walking distance of the dockage. Note: on an "event" weekend dockage is rare. Arrive very early! Say 3 days!

The Salt Marsh

The Salt Marsh. The salt marsh is possibly the most democratic area of aquatic life to be found anywhere on the planet. Both freshwater plants and salt water plants are to be found there. One of the more unusual creatures is the mud skipper. Related to the catfish family, this small fish uses its modified pectoral fins as legs to travel across the mud, feeding on brine shrimp and tiny crustaceans. Salt marsh loss has occurred in Florida's five northeast counties, which contain 11 percent of the State's total salt marsh acreage. The primary loss in Nassau County occurred because of dredging for the Intracoastal Waterway. Duval County has been impacted even more severely by human activity. Extending 3.5 miles on either side of St. John's Inlet and 10 miles up the St. John's River, analysis indicated a 36 percent loss of marsh habitat. The loss is primarily due to dredge and fill of marsh habitat since 1943.

The waters travel further upriver to Mayport where they find a heavy increase in salt content. Mayport is the mixing bowl of the river. The currents are quite fast and can be dangerous to the unwary. The channel is an average of 80 feet deep to allow ship traffic. An abundance of marine life is found in Mayport. Porpoise and sea turtles are frequently sighted in the area, and all manner of marine species inhabit the fast running water. During certain seasons, Blue Mackerel are caught with a shiny silver lure, and flounder come to the mud flats to spawn. The Red Bass is often found in very shallow muddy water, "tailing" along searching for small crustations. "Tailing" refers to the fish's tail which sticks out of the water, and marks their location. The Red Bass can grow quite large, up to 40 pounds. Also found in the area are several varieties of Drum fish. The name comes from the drumming noise they generate as a form of sonar to search out crabs, which is their favorite food. One member of the species, The giant drum or "jewfish" often grows to 600 pounds, whereas its smaller cousins, the black and spotted drum rarely get past 15 pounds. Black and spotted drum are quite tasty, and have large, easy to pick out bones.

The rush of outpouring water joins the ocean, but does not mix readily. A ocean current always flows from the north to the south at the mouth of the St. Johns and produces a spectacular "trash ; line" several miles long. During the summer months, trolling the trash line will often yield King Mackerel and green dolphin. (No to be confused with porpoise) The salinity of the ocean water is changed considerably form the river's discharge for a distance of several miles. The spring waters have completed their journey and joined with the ocean, to be evaporated and fall as rain, once again to find their way into a spring.

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