Boaters Can Keep "Neighborhood Watch" on St. John's River
Water quality, safety and security can benefit from our eyes and ears

Posted Friday, June 29, 2007

 
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In any neighborhood we live in, a community of people with their eyes and ears open helps to keep things safe for ourselves and our families. The St. Johns River is part of our community, and to those of us who spend time on water it becomes our duty to open our eyes and ears and pay attention to what goes on.

If you see something going on that looks strange or illegal, here's a list of agencies to get in touch with and report suspicious activities:

St. Johns Riverkeeper Boat Patrol

Phone Numbers for Reporting

Suspected Violations or Incidents

St. Johns Riverkeeper

To contact St Riverkeeper for a major spill or you’ve been unable to contact anyone from the lists below.

Neil Armingeon………………………………………904-256-7591 cell 904-635-4554

Bill Kirill (boat patrol coordinator)………………………………………904-707-1511

Hazardous Waste Spills/Marine Spills

Oil, gas, sewage, paint, any toxic substance, or any threat to the environment allowed running into a stream, wetland or river.(When in doubt, call the State Warning Point.)

The State Warning Point...………………………………………………..800-320-0519

U.S. Coast Guard…………………………………………….……………904-232-2640 ……………………………………………………………………………..Ext.126

National Call Line …………………………………………………………800-424-8802

Jacksonville Care Center for Duval Co…(Get case #)…...………………..904-630-2489

Wetland Violations Any fill material such as dirt or broken concrete dumped into a marsh or swamp area.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection for single family homes…904-807-3300

St. Johns Water Management District for large subdivision/industry………904-448-7907

OR U.S. Army Corps of Engineers……………………………………...904-232-1665

Illegal Discharges

Any discharge, such as water or sewage, allowed to flow from a pipe or drain directly into a wetland, river or stream.

Jacksonville’s Care Center in Duval County…(Get case #)….…….………904-630-2489

Florida Department of Environmental Protection………………………...…904-807-3300

Department of Health in Duval County for sewage..………………………..904-630-3274

Department of Health in Duval County for sewage..………………………..904-630-3251

Fish Kills

Any multitude of dead marine organism such as fish or shrimp floating on top of the water or collected along the shore.

Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI) marine kill hotline……...………800-636-0511

Jacksonville’s Care Center in Duval County.…(Get case #)…………….…904-630-2489

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission………………………904-270-2500

Illicit Connections

Pipes to waterways from sources such as swimming pool, gray water, or gutter drain connections.

Department of Public Works…………………………………..….………..904-630-3611

Jacksonville’s Care Center in Duval County…(get case #)……………….904-630-2489

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (outside Duval County)..904-807-3300

Construction Site Runoff

Soil from a construction site running into a stream, wetlands or the river, regardless of barriers such silt fences or hay bales.

Jacksonville Env. Quality Division………………………...…904-630-3869 or 630-3118

St. Johns Water Management District (outside Duval County)….…….……904-448-7907

Solid Waste Trash or construction waste dumped into a stream or river.

Jacksonville’s Care Center………(Get case #)……………...…………….904-630-2489

Florida Department of Environmental Protection……………………..…. 904-837-3300

Manatee Hot line

To report a dead or injured manatee

Manatee Hot Line………(Jacksonville University) …….………………….904-256-7575

State Manatee Hot Line……………………………………………………..888-404-3922

Algae Bloom

To report an algae bloom in the River

St. Johns Riverkeeper………………………………………………………..904-256-7591

St. Johns River Water Management District……………………………….. 386-329-4360