This morning on “Wild Florida,” journalist and Master Naturalist Lisa Grubba talked about public access to northeast Florida’s waterways and gave tips on how beginning paddlers can get the best information for planning trips.
Jacksonville has 1,100 miles of shore line, more than any city in the country. That includes 22 miles of beaches, 40 miles of Intracoastal Waterway, and the longest section of the St. Johns River – with its many tributaries – in the state. The city of Jacksonville has been working on improving public access to area waterways for several years now as part of its Water Activation initiative, which was a response to calls from the public for more water amenities.
On today’s show, we discussed three big projects that are just coming online – improved Downtown boat docks, new fishing piers on the Trout River, and a new conservation area called 7 Creeks Recreation Area which has miles of hiking and paddling opportunities.
The city has been improving docking Downtown and adding new docks to neighborhoods nearby that have never had water access before, according to Brain Burkett, Waterfront Project Manager with the Parks Department. Five new boat slips have been added at Friendship Fountain on the Southbank, increasing dockage that was previously only accessible to the Water Taxi. Ten new slips are in process just east at River Place Tower, also previously only available to the Water Taxi. Across the St. Johns River on the Northbank, dock repairs/replacement are underway at the former Landing site, which experienced significant damage in Hurricane Irma. New docks will be added in front of the Times-Union Center once its bulkhead is replaced.
The neighborhoods of Brooklyn and 5 Points, just to the southwest of Downtown, will each be getting new docks soon. A dock should be completed later this summer at Jackson St. in Brooklyn, near the YMCA. Later this year, a dock will be completed at Post St. in 5 Points where it meets the river, near the Cummer Museum.
Light shows are also coming to Downtown and will be visible from both the riverbank and the water. There will be a show from the Times-Union Center on the Northbank and Friendship Fountain on the Southbank that will interact with each other. Lighting on the Acosta and Main Street bridges will be incorporated into the show, which can been seen from the water, from the pedestrian walkways, from the Riverwalk, which will be expanded on the north side from the Acosta Bridge to the Times-Union Center.
The city has also added three new fishing piers on the Trout River and improved water access at Half Moon Island on the Nassau River near Main Street. Burket says the existing nature preserve there is on a high bluff and makes a great spot for picnicking or visiting even if you’re not a boater or paddler.
Last November, JaxParks also announced the formation of a new conservation area called “7 Creeks Recreation Area,” a 5,600 acre parcel formed by combining federal, state and city lands, in addition to land owned by North Florida Land Trust. The new area connects Bets-Tiger Point Preserve, Bogey Creek Preserve, Cedar Point, Jim Wingate Preserve, Pescatello Island and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, among others.
Burket recently kayaked there, calling it “gorgeous,” with few signs of human habitation. He said there were fish jumping, dolphins, wading birds and at one point he saw an enormous flock of white pelicans.
When the city began planning improvements to public access several years ago as part of its Water Activation initiative, one of the first things it did was develop a list of all sites already available, the amenities of each and condition. The city website has comprehensive information about waterways access under its Things To Do/Water Life tab and on the Parks Department site.
There are more than almost 60 boat ramps in the city – 27 non-motorized launches and 29 motorized-boat ramps. Paddlers can launch from any motorized site but beginners should proceed with caution. The ramps can be very busy on weekends and holidays and there may be a lot of wake from boats coming and going at the ramp. If a paddler really wants to launch from one of the boat ramps, the parks page links to a live feed of ramps at 21 locations, so it may be possible to see how busy the ramp is before you go.
One of the best sources of information the parks department has compiled for paddlers is a document called “Site Characteristics” that tells the skill level needed, the conditions, the hazards, and the accessibility of each non-motorized launch site. Beginners especially need to consider this information when planning trips, because the waterways in the area vary dramatically. Downtown, for example, has very strong currents and big ships and should only be attempted by experienced paddlers.
Most of the area waterways are tidal, except for lakes, and it’s important to factor in the tides when planning a trip. The St. Johns River, for example has two incoming and two outgoing tides per 24-hour period, each six hours apart. As Burket says, paddlers always want to go with the tide rather than against it. To check the tide in a particular area, click here.
The city has also developed four paddling guides, in conjunction with the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute. Users can download them from the city website or check with area outfitters and sporting goods stores for free laminated copies.
Visit Jacksonville’s website also has comprehensive information on area waterways and things to do. There is information on fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, diving, surfing, cruises and water tours.
Thanks for listening, reading, and getting in touch. Enjoy Florida’s beautiful outdoors and hope to see you out there.
Lisa Grubba is an environmental journalist and Florida Master Naturalist. “Wild Florida” is a monthly segment on WJCT 89.9 FM’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross which is always live at 9:00 a.m. and can be heard later by clicking here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen in each month for an overview of what’s going on outdoors in northeast Florida.
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