JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University (JU), University of North Florida (UNF), and Penn State Berks published the 18th State of the River Report, which overviews the conditions in the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
The research team will discuss findings during a virtual presentation hosted by WJCT Public Media at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. The team will also present results Feb. 13, 2026, at the Environmental Symposium organized by the City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Protection Board and the UNF Institute of Environmental Research and Education.
The report presents a detailed assessment that highlights persistent concerns alongside some indicators of stability. Elevated fecal bacteria levels remain in many tributaries, and human-generated sources were confirmed in the majority of impaired waterways, the report found.
Harmful algal blooms continue to recur amid reduced monitoring data. Long-term trends show rising total phosphorus in sections of the mainstem and persistently high phosphorus in tributaries such as Deep Creek, while commercial blue crab catch has continued to decline. Submerged aquatic vegetation has remained severely depleted since 2017, and development pressures are increasing wetland loss and shifts from vegetated to nonvegetated wetlands.
“The findings point to continuing stressors on the St. Johns River and its tributaries, with the potential for climate change to amplify these challenges. Nutrient loading, including rising concerns over contaminants in biosolids, is a central factor,” Gerry Pinto said, associate research scientist at JU’s Marine Science Research Institute.
Some measures showed mixed results, the report said. Dissolved oxygen and total nitrogen conditions are generally satisfactory in the mainstem but vary widely across tributaries, and salinity trends continue to fluctuate after recent storm activity. The report emphasizes the complexity of the basin’s conditions and the ongoing need for expanded monitoring and restoration.
“Fecal indicator bacteria levels in the tributaries are an ongoing concern. The 2022-24 FDEP biennial assessment reveals that 49 tributaries in the basin are impaired. For 41 of these, the source of contamination is confirmed to be human by chemical tracers or genetic markers. Failing septic tanks are a key contributor, and septic tank phase-out projects are advancing in three Jacksonville neighborhoods: Biltmore, Beverly Hills and Christobel,” said Pinto.
“The report makes clear that progress in some areas is being offset by concerns in others. These mixed results highlight why sustained investment in monitoring, research and restoration is essential if we are to truly understand and improve the health of the basin,” Pinto said.
The full report includes a Guide for the General Public that summarizes key findings, explains implications for recreation and suggests ways residents can get involved in protecting the river. The report’s website features maps and data visualizations showing vulnerabilities and resiliency potential, K-12 resources for teachers, video clips on algal blooms and manatees, and oral histories from people who live, work and recreate on the river.
Among the report contributors at JU were Pinto (principal investigator), Gretchen Bielmyer-Fraser, Nisse Goldberg, William Penwell, Ashley Johnson and technical editor Niki Spadaro. At UNF, contributors included Christopher Baynard, Dale Casamatta, Scott F. Jones and Brian Zoellner, with web support from UNF’s Center for Instruction and Research Technology. Radha Pyati of Penn State Berks wrote the executive summary and the turbidity section.
The report is intended to inform data-driven decision-making, monitoring priorities and restoration efforts for the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
Click here to see the full report.
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