St. Johns Riverkeeper

05/30/2026

After the release of the first ever St. Johns River Water Management District plan for the Upper Basin of the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon, SJRK submitted a written public comment, met with SJRWMD representatives, and spoke in defense of the Upper Basin at the Governing Board meeting held on May 13, 2026.

Our concerns included insufficient efforts for nutrient load reduction, inadequate management of biosolids and their impacts, and gaps in monitoring and restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).

Learn more:

SJRK responds to the St. Johns River Water Management District's (SJRWMD) plan for the Upper Basin of the St. Johns River.

05/29/2026

for the St. Johns starts Monday! 🍻

💧 Raise awareness for nonprofit & our work for clean water & a healthy river

🍻 Support local breweries & businesses in our watershed

🏆 Have fun and win prizes! You’ll earn rewards for visiting 5+ locations, each visit is a point, plus you can earn bonus points for completing challenges. There will be a raffle at the end of the campaign with awesome prizes!

GET YOUR PASSPORT! ☕️ 25Taps.com 🍻

Thank you to all of these friends to our who are participating!

Azalea City Brewing Company (Palatka)
Beer:30 - San Marco (San Marco, Jax)
Blue Springs Brewing - Riverwalk Pizzeria & Brew Pub(Orange City)
Bold Bean Coffee Roasters ☕️ (Riverside & Jax Beach)
Bold City Brewery (Riverside, Jax)
Captain Jax Dockhouse(Ortega, Jax)
Central 28 Beer Co. (DeBary)
Dart Bar & Games (Riverside, Jax)
Deviant Wolfe Brewing (Sanford)
Eden Abbey Brewing Community (Mt. Dora)
Engine 15 Brewing Company(Jax Beach)
Eternal Roots Kava Lounge (Southside, Jax)
European Street Cafe (Riverside, Jax)
Fishweir Brewing Company (Murray Hill, Jax)
Grace Note Brewing (Ortega, Jax)
Green Room Brewing (Jax Beach)
Hoppy Porch Community Taproom (Atlantic Beach)
Hyderhead Brewery INC (Deland)
Ivanhoe Park Lager House (Orlando)
Keg & Coin (Riverside, Jax)
The Lazy Manatee (Arlington, Jax)
Myrtle Avenue Brewing (DT Jax)
Ruby Beach Brewing (DT Jax)
Southern Swells Brewing Co. (Jax Beach)
Tepeyolot Cerveceria (San Marco, Jax)
Veterans United Craft Brewery (Southside, Jax)
Wicked Barley Brewing Company (Jacksonville, FL)

05/28/2026

You deserve a little treat for making it through hump day. 🐪

This coming Wednesday, June 3, join us on the St. Johns River Taxi for -

💧 Golden hour river & downtown views 🌇🌅

💧 Wildlife sightings 🐬 🦅

💧 Wine/Beer 🍻

💧 Commentary from the one and only Dr. Quint White, founding member of SJRK and the first Executive Director for the Jacksonville University Marine Science Research Institute

05/27/2026

Black Birders Week Jacksonville Events 🦅

🐦 Guided Mindfulness Meditation + Bird Sound Experience | Wednesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. | Ribault Scenic Drive Park

🪺 Birdwatching Trail Walk | Saturday May 30 at 10 a.m. | Riverview Park

Join The Naham Experience, Duval Audubon Society and SJRK to get out in nature this week and learn about birding! Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to commit to spending more time outside. 🌳

Learn more & RSVP: https://stjohnsriverkeeper.org/event/2026-black-birders-week/

05/26/2026

Paddle the Ocklawaha with us 🛶

This Friday, May 29 💧 OR 💧 Saturday, June 13

💧 3.5 hour paddling tour of the Ocklawaha River with expert guide

💧 Enjoy a panorama of river forests and swamps

💧 Take in a wonderful menagerie of wildlife with very little sign of civilization

💧 Experience & learn about local history

Learn more & reserve your spot: https://stjohnsriverkeeper.org/event/2026-05-paddle-the-ocklawaha/

05/25/2026

Today we pause to recognize and reflect on those who have given their all for this beautiful land. 🇺🇸 🌳 💧

05/23/2026

“The reason that they’re phasing these particular septic tanks out is because they’ve ranked them as some of the highest in terms of failing septic tanks in Jacksonville,” said Jimmy Orth, the Executive Director for St. Johns Riverkeeper.

He says the program is necessary to improve the water quality of the St. Johns River.

"Unfortunately, most of our tributaries that flow into the St. Johns in Duval County are impaired, meaning that they’re polluted too high; the levels of f***l coliform bacterium are too high. And so, this is one of the efforts to try to clean that up," Orth said.

He says it’s crucial that the city continues to appropriate funding.

Read more:

A Jacksonville neighborhood is relieved to see progress on JEA’s septic tank phase-out project.

05/22/2026

Explore Clay County with us tomorrow morning!

🗓️ wetlands exploration at Camp Chowenwaw Park • Saturday, May 23 at 9am

We’ll meet in the picnic area to the left of Big Cabin. Link in bio to RSVP.

See you tomorrow !

05/21/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Jacob Holly!

Jacob volunteered for the first time at a cleanup, and now is involved on the Rising Tides Steering Committee.

💧 Why do you support and volunteer for St. Johns Riverkeeper?

I love the river and the natural landscape that we have here in Jacksonville. I volunteer to help keep it beautiful and love seeing how much a little work can improve an area!

💧 What is your favorite experience from volunteering for St. Johns Riverkeeper?

I love the reactions that we get from people especially in Blue Cyprus Park. People are so appreciative and it motivates me to do more clean-up events!

💧 What do you love to do on our river?

I love the wildlife and I like to go kayaking and fishing all over Jacksonville. I'm not the best fisherman so sometimes my fishing trips turn into birdwatching trips. :)

💧 THANK YOU for being an awesome volunteer, For the River!

05/21/2026

🚨 Raw Sewage Spill Alert: Jacksonville, FL (Mandarin)

Where: 9955 Merlin Dr E, Jacksonville, FL 32257

💩 What: Due to a broken six-inch Force Main, an unknown amount of raw sewage was released into a neighboring street and storm drain on 5/19. The storm drain discharges into an open stormwater conveyance channel leading to the St. Johns River.

💩 Result: The spill has been contained, the pipe repaired, and clean-up is complete. Sampling for f***l coliform bacteria is set to take place today.

💡 It is our hope that shedding light on these incidents will not only generate more community awareness, but decrease risks to public health and foster more accountability to ensure that these events are reduced to the maximum extent possible.