Plan to clean up Jacksonville creeks moves forward (10 July 2009) Florida Times-Union

A plan to cut fecal bacteria levels in specific Jacksonville creeks was approved this week. It will combine the efforts of Jacksonville, JEA, the Florida Department of Transportation, various environmetnal agencies, and the public health departments. 10 specific creeks have been identified for cleanup. Fecal bacteria can enter waterways through obvious means - such as leaking sewer pipes and septic tanks, animal droppings, and homeless camps - as well as through litter-blocked drainage systems causing overflow directly into the creeks. Information about these creeks has been collected for several years through various means, including walking the length of the streams and infrafred photography. The first phase of the plan should be finished in 2011, with future phases with timelines to be completed in 2013 and 2015, so this is an ongoing, long-term project.

It truly is about time that this problem is getting addressed. One of my concerns is that a multi-year project that will require several budgets to be passed at the state level is likely to become under-funded fairly quickly. Since I do sometimes swim in the St Johns River, I would like to see these creeks cleaned for selfish as well as environmental reasons.