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Mitigation Needed for Deep Dredge!

For more than 8 years, St. Johns Riverkeeper has sought a balanced approach to JAXPORT’s project to deepen the St. Johns that would protect our River. We have strived to make sure the project is fully vetted and sufficient mitigation is in place to offset the negative impacts. Unfortunately, the deep dredge is underway and putting our river and our community at risk. With sea levels rising and a warming planet, the dredging only makes us more vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, toxic algal blooms and future, more frequent storms.

Despite these risks, the Jacksonville City Council has been asked to provide $70 million to this project. It is critical that our elected leaders do not ignore the projected damage and ensure that safeguards are in place.

Contact your City Council Member today and ask them to:

Require protective mitigation projects to offset the negative impacts of the deep dredge and make our community more resilient.
Hold an overdue public hearing to discuss the pros and cons of the deep dredge.

Take action by submitting public comments below! Send the message as is or add your own comments.

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The St. Johns RIVERKEEPER mission is to defend the St. Johns River and advocate for its protection.
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Mitigation Needed for Deep Dredge!

Subject: Mitigation Needed for Deep Dredge!

Message:

The current deep dredge project is putting our river and our Jacksonville and NEFL community at risk: - Water levels and storm surge will rise increasing flood risk. - Saltwater intrusion will damage or destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands, submerged grasses, and trees in parts of the river and its tributaries, such as Julington Creek and Ortega River. - Critical habitat for fisheries and pollution filters for our river will be lost in the process. - Water will remain in the river longer, increasing concentrations of pollutants and the probability of algal blooms. - Larger ships will create larger wakes, increasing the likelihood of shoreline erosion. With sea levels rising and a warming planet, the dredging only makes us more vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, toxic algal blooms and future, more frequent storms.  Despite these risks - you, Jacksonville City Council, have been asked to provide $70 million to this project. Please, do not ignore the projected damage and ensure that safeguards are in place for our future.   As a Jacksonville voter, resident, and taxpayer, I urge you to: 1) Require protective mitigation projects to offset the negative impacts of the deep dredge and make our community more resilient. 2) Hold an overdue public hearing to discuss the pros and cons of the deep dredge. As a Jacksonville resident, I am calling on you for NO City funding on the Deep Dredge without proper mitigation to offset the negative impacts of flooding and storm surge. If I'm going to be expected to fund the dredging project, you, our City Council and local leaders, must protect our River and our community. Our River depends on us our leaders to secure holistic solutions to offset the impacts of the Deep Dredge.

Remaining:

Mitigation Needed for Deep Dredge!

Thank you for taking action for our river!

Thank you for taking action for our river!

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