Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute (MSRI) initiated the St. Johns STEAM project that aims to research and monitor areas of the St. Johns River. Specifically, the team observes the differences in water contamination levels from samples that are taken from various sites of the St. Johns. The Communications department of Jacksonville University has paired with MSRI to share their research and increase knowledge and awareness of the issue throughout the community. Here is my report on the untold story of the St. Johns.
I was surprised to find that one of America’s most prioritized Superfund sites is located in Jacksonville Florida. The initiative of a Superfund program is to clean up contaminated land and water from pollution, oil spills, and natural disaster remains. Its mission is to return the land its former state that will leave a long and lasting effect on the healthy relationship between the site and its community.
The Superfund site, previously known as the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp, was responsible for producing pesticides and fertilizers from 1893 to 1978. The 31-acre abandoned land is closed off by a 6ft fence that prevents unauthorized entry to ensure public safety. However, the site was identified on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priority List in 2010 because the EPA recorded it as having a high level of contamination from the 670 chemicals that were released into the soil and groundwater.
The Kerr-McGee Superfund site is amongst eight locations along the St. Johns River studied by the MSRI scientists, yet it is one of the most valuable and concerning. The scientists must take samples from this area cautiously and efficiently as Dr. Bielmyer-Fraser explains “if they built anything on it or let anyone visit it regularly they would most certainly get cancer.”
Jacksonville University’s MSRI department collects and records the contamination levels of water by looking carefully at the chemical balances of samples taken from each studied location. Through looking periodically at the results, scientists can monitor the chemical composition of the water and observe changes over time. The department is able to make scientific observations recognizing trends to see the effects of pollution on the St. Johns over time and if any improvement has taken part which can be measured alongside the revitalization effort. MSRI combines with Jacksonville University’s Communication department to distribute the information of the St. Johns River, in an aim to educate, raise awareness and inspire revitalization.
The community of Jacksonville and those surrounding the St. Johns can be involved in the clean-up and revitalization of the river by following a list of 42 immediate action items that are outlined by the EPA to improve the Superfund program. The annual St. Johns clean-up day registration opens in March of 2019 and is one way that the community can do their part in saving the St. Johns. The 604 community members who volunteered in April of 2018 successfully saved 5235 lbs of trash from the St. Johns that polluted its ecosystem.
The river has a natural ability to clean itself however when drastic stress is placed on the river through a high level of contaminants and foreign chemical exposure the degradation of the ecosystem is inevitable. Populations of phytoplankton and various fish species become scarce, in both the number of the population which survives and the types of species that could once be found in that area.
As a community, we can reduce our impact of nutrient loading by managing our use of fertilizers and avoiding run-off into the river as well as ordering periodical inspections of our septic tanks to ensure that additional chemicals are not being released into the groundwater of the river. Dr. Bielmyer-Fraser also believes that if the community could simply make more use of the river and through the community’s interaction whether it be fishing from it, taking pictures of it, walking along it, etc. it will lead to a better appreciation and treatment of the St. Johns River.
The government is also doing their part in the revitalization of the St. Johns by donating their time, energy and funds into transforming the contaminated water and land surrounding the St. Johns. In 2016 they committed to the revitalization of the St. Johns project by donating $69 million to clean up the east-side Jacksonville Superfund site. Dr. Bielmyer-Fraser comments how “when your voting, if the people you are voting for locally care about the river that’s huge.” Additionally, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt comments on their involvement stating “there is nothing more core to the Agency’s mission than revitalizing contaminated land.”
Together both the community and government have a responsibility to initiate change and can directly influence the health of the St. Johns River, including the Kerr-McGee Superfund Site.
Reflections of Renee 