Often destroyed, wetlands have ecological and economic value
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Often destroyed, wetlands have ecological and economic value

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Quinton White
| Special tJacksonville Florida Times-Union USA TODAY NETWORK

One of the main impacts that modern man has had on the environment in general and on the St. River in particular. Johns, was the destruction of wetlands. We saw it as useless land because it was flooded and it was difficult to build buildings or grow crops on it. So we poured dirt on top of them to raise the level and fenced off the edges along the shoreline. We often used material from dredging the river to fill wet areas.

For example, what we now know as Hecksher Drive was a salt marsh 100 years ago. By deepening the St. River Johns, to allow larger ships to reach Jacksonville, we stockpiled the spoils of this operation in adjacent wetlands. Once the new terrain had stabilized, oyster shells were placed on top to create a road leading to what was then Pilot Town and eventually to the Ribault Club on Fort George Island. In the late 1920s, German-born multimillionaire New York immigrant August Hecksher built a toll road along the river that today bears his name.

However, it was death by a thousand cuts, a little here and a little there. No one thought what they were doing was causing any real harm. At the time, we did not realize the important function that these “useless” wetlands played in the overall ecology of the river ecosystem.

Over the last few decades, we have realized both the ecological and economic value of these systems. These wetlands provide a buffer for storms and heavier rainfall. They act like sponges that absorb excess water when there is too much, but also slowly release it when there is too little. They reduce the impact of storm surge during hurricanes and act like kidneys, removing nutrients and sediment from runoff filtered by their vegetation. These estuarine systems are the breeding ground for many of our shrimp, oysters and commercially important fish.

So are there alternatives that can correct or reduce the impact of past destruction of our wetlands? The good news is that yes, at least a little. As we continue to dredge and fill our wetlands, we have not fully accepted what we have learned from past mistakes. Nevertheless, we have started to create new wetlands in the form of retention ponds for new development, but even these have their own problems.

On a more optimistic note, we have begun to create what we call “living shorelines,” which use vegetation instead of more traditional materials or innovative bulkheads that encourage more natural growth, and promote more environmentally friendly construction.

Locally, the Coastal Conservation Association’s chapter in Jacksonville, St. Johns Riverkeeper and the University of Jacksonville Marine Science Research Institute have teamed up to help build vertical oyster gardens, which, as the name suggests, are oyster shells strung on a fishing line that can be hung from a dock or bulkhead and serve as a catalyst for oyster settlement. Oysters are filter feeders and over 50 gallons pass through the gills of a single oyster per day.

If done correctly, these oysters have the potential to improve water quality in the areas where they are deployed. Let’s hope it’s not too little too late. Over the years, nature has proven that it is very resilient, but it can use all the help we can give it.

I’m glad you asked River Life

What happens to animals in the river during a hurricane or tropical storm?

The answer is neither simple nor comforting, as the effects can vary greatly. During a storm, if the animal is active, it may leave the immediate area and seek deeper, calmer water. But if they are attached like barnacles and oysters, or move very slowly like snails, they are at the mercy of the elements.

However, after a storm, the effects change and may become more severe for animals due to the amount of rainfall and the possible effects of rough water. Submerged aquatic vegetation may be uprooted and displaced. Increased sediment in the water column can lead to shading of plants or cause problems for animals that depend on their gills for oxygen. Fish can be observed “coughing” to get rid of excess silt and clay suspended in the water. Additionally, rain can cause a dramatic drop in salinity, which can have a significant impact on who can live where in the river. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or even years to get back to normal, if it happens at all.

River Life appears on the first Tuesday of each month in The Times-Union. Email Quinton White, professor emeritus and former executive director of the University of Jacksonville Marine Science Research Institute, with questions about our waterways at [email protected]. For more information about MSRI, visit ju.edu/msri.

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