River Voices Story Five - The River Sleuths

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Photo of David Girardin looking at boat

Narrator: To protect the St. Johns River, government agencies need a clear picture of the quality of the river's water. Part of that understanding comes from methodical sampling of the river along its length. Getting on the river in Palatka about 50 miles south of Jacksonville, David Girardin, an environmental scientist with the St. Johns River Water Management District, heads out to obtain samples from several locations in the river's lower basin.

Photo of people looking at a chart

David Girardin: Ok, Messer, I think what we'll do today is run north, probably stop first site at Scratch Ankle, and then up to Po Po Point, maybe Hollis Cove and then we'll work the Switzerland area over on the east side of the river. I think that's what we'll try to run today. We'll probably head all the way up to Jacksonville too, go into downtown.

Photo of people on boat deck

Narrator: Girardin's team literally has the river under a microscope. They are sampling the river to monitor dissolved oxygen, temperature, and clarity. They also look for harmful nitrates and phosphates. Primary sources of these pollutants include fertilizers used on lawns and farms, and discharge from industry, sewage treatment plants and failed septic systems.

Photo of water sample

David Girardin: We want to keep the water agitated. We want a completely homogenous sample.

Photo of algae growth

Narrator: Excess pollutants can lead to algae growth and a downward spiral in water quality that can kill fish, river plants and even harm people.

Photo of David Girardin on boat deck

David Girardin: We want to make sure that the water doesn't just turn green with algae and phytoplankton. The only way that we can ensure that is to not only monitor the river on a regular basis but to watch those areas that are in the most danger of having problems. And we can actually see some events as they occur just because of the monitoring that we are doing.

Photo of Jacksonville

Narrator: In the heavily developed lower basin of the St. Johns, algae blooms are more frequent and a sign that the river is seriously stressed by human activity. It's difficult for Girardin, a self-proclaimed river rat, to absorb what the numbers reveal about the river's health.

Photo of David Girardin and friend in canoe

David Girardin: I spend probably most of my leisure time on this river. I moved to Palatka 27 years ago and immediately fell in love with this river. I've explored the entire thing from the headwaters all the way to the mouth numerous times. It disturbs me to see the direction the river is going in. I expect people to take a personal interest in something that is as beautiful as this river.

Photo of water sample

Narrator: Girardin and his team send the samples off to a lab where tests will reveal its current health and perhaps a picture of what the future holds

Photo of boat on trailer

David Girardin: All ashore that's goin ashore...thanks for your help.

The Water's Journey: The River Returns film
is an original film by Karst Productions, Inc.
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All Photos © 2005 Russell Sparkman/Fusionspark Media, Inc., unless otherwise noted.