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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2997 |
| St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute |
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| Requester: |
A. Quinton White, Jr. Ph.D. |
Organization: |
Jacksonville University |
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| Project Title: |
St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute |
Date Submitted |
1/13/2006 1:16:32 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
King |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Will provide research support for the St. Johns River and for a field location for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. |
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| Recipient: |
Jacksonville University |
|
Contact: |
A. Quinton White |
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2800 University Blvd. N. |
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Contact Phone: |
(904) 256-7100 |
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Jacksonville 32211 |
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Contact email: |
qwhite@ju.edu |
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| Counties: |
Duval |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| THE ST. JOHNS RIVER AQUATIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
*Objective - Jacksonville University is seeking financial assistance for the construction of a new St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute as part of a planned complex focusing on the St. Johns River. The goal of the university in establishing the new institute is to provide a premier biological and environmental research and education facility.
The Institute will serve as an on-campus learning community providing research opportunities for JU students, visiting high school and college students, scholars, scientists and engineers engaged in research involving local, state, and national ecosystems. All these individuals and groups will be afforded opportunities for hands-on research on environmental and ecological issues confronting the St. Johns River as well as for gathering information on the life, history and current condition of the river itself. Since the St. Johns, the adjacent wetlands and the nearby Atlantic coastal waters share a kinship of environmental science concerns and issues with similar ecosystems nationwide, the knowledge gained from the research work accomplished at JU will have a national benefit.
*Relationship between City of Jacksonville and the University - From its beginning as a small port city to its present day status as one of the largest ports in the western hemisphere, Jacksonville's economic and cultural vitality is directly tied to the ecological health of the St. Johns River. The city's historical role in leading the development of northern Florida has also increased awareness of the community's responsibilities to this river resource so critical to the region's well being. It is in this context that the Institute at Jacksonville University will play an important role in the ecological, environmental and economic health of the region.
There is a harmonious relationship between the commercial use of the river and its ecology. There are eleven oil off-loading facilities along the river, which serves as the transportation corridor to central Florida for oil barges supplying electric power plants. Over 2400 ships call at Jacksonville's three public and 20 privately owned marine terminals each year to load and unload a combined 17 million tons of cargo. Despite this commercial use, the river is a haven for numerous diverse species including the Florida manatee and the bald eagle and has a vast expanse of fresh water wetlands and salt marshes.
The Institute is an integral part of the university's plan to create a direct link between education and the environment. The city and the university have partnered on a number of exceptional programs to ensure the well being of the aquatic inhabitants and the ecological and environmental health of the St Johns. Foremost among these is the Duval County Manatee Protection Plan, originally funded by the City of Jacksonville in 1993 and continuing today, for the monitoring of the manatee population of the St. Johns River. This annual program has ensured that Florida's most identifiable symbol has flourished in the St. Johns River.
In the summer of 1999 the Riverkeeper position for the St. Johns River was established, and at the invitation of the President of JU, is housed on campus. The mission of the Riverkeeper, a full-time, privately funded, non-governmental ombudsman is to protect, preserve and restore the ecological integrity of the St. Johns River watershed.
*Why Jacksonville University for the establishment of a St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute? - No other institution of higher learning has a natural waterfront on one of the nation's most historic and beautiful rivers. In September 1997 the St. Johns was designated as one of the American Heritage Rivers. Like many other estuaries in the southeast, the river has numerous pristine areas. Commercial development has been largely restricted to the area immediately around the downtown Jacksonville area, upriver and near its mouth at Mayport. A large section of the river between downtown and the Intracoastal Waterway is dominated by tidal marshes. These vast wetlands serve as nursery areas for juvenile marine life, commercially important fish and shellfish. They also play a vital role in maintaining the water quality of the St. Johns and other estuaries in Jacksonville by acting as a filtration system for pollutant-laden urban runoff. Wetlands are vital to the well being of all rivers and the importance is even more pronounced with urban rivers.
As the population of Jacksonville grows, the wetlands are the most likely areas to be impacted as increased surface runoff from development and roadways cause changes to this ecosystem. Relatively few rivers in urban areas have the type of ecological resource as the St. Johns. The Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) recently entered into a long-term partnership with JU to conduct research on the St. Johns River and its marshes. It is with judicious planning and appropriate care during development that an expanding population can coexist with the environmental bounty present in Northeast Florida. This vision can only be possible through the concerted effort of a dedicated research community working in alliance with local governments and citizens to insure good stewardship of the St. Johns River. In this way, Jacksonville would become a model for city growth in sensitive ecological areas and a city with "best practices" experience.
*National Role of Jacksonville University - Members of Jacksonville University's Department of Biology and Marine Science have been actively involved in hydrocarbon pollution research for over twenty years and produced the first comprehensive study of oil pollution in the St. Johns River. These scientists are frequently called upon as consultants and experts on oil pollution issues. The faculty have received recognition in the form of honors, awards, grants and fellowships for their research and program achievements from agencies of the federal government: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, US Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service and NOAA. Similar recognition has come from the State of Florida, City and Port of Jacksonville, JEA and numerous national organizations.
*The Facility - The institute will occupy a 30,000 sq. ft. two-story building on the riverfront portion of the campus with a screened area for work with live specimens in ambient temperatures as well as showers and restrooms on the ground level. The second level will have teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, offices and a water quality lab along with a small kitchen, conference room/library and computer lab. It is anticipated that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Duval County School Board may have programs that will share the facility. Boat basin to service research vessels is also envisioned as part of the facility. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Jacksonville University is seeking financial assistance for the construction of a new St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute as part of a planned complex focusing on the St. Johns River. The goal of the university in establishing the new institute is to provide a premier biological and environmental research and education facility.
The Institute will serve as an on-campus learning community providing research opportunities for JU students, visiting high school and college students, scholars, scientists and engineers engaged in research involving local, state, and national ecosystems. All these individuals and groups will be afforded opportunities for hands-on research on environmental and ecological issues confronting the St. Johns River as well as for gathering information on the life, history and current condition of the river itself. Since the St. Johns, the adjacent wetlands and the nearby Atlantic coastal waters share a kinship of environmental science concerns and issues with similar ecosystems nationwide, the knowledge gained from the research work accomplished at JU will have a national benefit.
*Relationship between City of Jacksonville and the University - From its beginning as a small port city to its present day status as one of the largest ports in the western hemisphere, Jacksonville's economic and cultural vitality is directly tied to the ecological health of the St. Johns River. The city's historical role in leading the development of northern Florida has also increased awareness of the community's responsibilities to this river resource so critical to the region's well being. It is in this context that the Institute at Jacksonville University will play an important role in the ecological, environmental and economic health of the region.
There is a harmonious relationship between the commercial use of the river and its ecology. There are eleven oil off-loading facilities along the river, which serves as the transportation corridor to central Florida for oil barges supplying electric power plants. Over 2400 ships call at Jacksonville's three public and 20 privately owned marine terminals each year to load and unload a combined 17 million tons of cargo. Despite this commercial use, the river is a haven for numerous diverse species including the Florida manatee and the bald eagle and has a vast expanse of fresh water wetlands and salt marshes.
The Institute is an integral part of the university's plan to create a direct link between education and the environment. The city and the university have partnered on a number of exceptional programs to ensure the well being of the aquatic inhabitants and the ecological and environmental health of the St Johns. Foremost among these is the Duval County Manatee Protection Plan, originally funded by the City of Jacksonville in 1993 and continuing today, for the monitoring of the manatee population of the St. Johns River. This annual program has ensured that Florida's most identifiable symbol has flourished in the St. Johns River.
In the summer of 1999 the Riverkeeper position for the St. Johns River was established, and at the invitation of the President of JU, is housed on campus. The mission of the Riverkeeper, a full-time, privately funded, non-governmental ombudsman is to protect, preserve and restore the ecological integrity of the St. Johns River watershed.
*Why Jacksonville University for the establishment of a St. Johns River Aquatic Research Institute? - No other institution of higher learning has a natural waterfront on one of the nation's most historic and beautiful rivers. In September 1997 the St. Johns was designated as one of the American Heritage Rivers. Like many other estuaries in the southeast, the river has numerous pristine areas. Commercial development has been largely restricted to the area immediately around the downtown Jacksonville area, upriver and near its mouth at Mayport. A large section of the river between downtown and the Intracoastal Waterway is dominated by tidal marshes. These vast wetlands serve as nursery areas for juvenile marine life, commercially important fish and shellfish. They also play a vital role in maintaining the water quality of the St. Johns and other estuaries in Jacksonville by acting as a filtration system for pollutant-laden urban runoff. Wetlands are vital to the well being of all rivers and the importance is even more pronounced with urban rivers.
As the population of Jacksonville grows, the wetlands are the most likely areas to be impacted as increased surface runoff from development and roadways cause changes to this ecosystem. Relatively few rivers in urban areas have the type of ecological resource as the St. Johns. The Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) recently entered into a long-term partnership with JU to conduct research on the St. Johns River and its marshes. It is with judicious planning and appropriate care during development that an expanding population can coexist with the environmental bounty present in Northeast Florida. This vision can only be possible through the concerted effort of a dedicated research community working in alliance with local governments and citizens to insure good stewardship of the St. Johns River. In this way, Jacksonville would become a model for city growth in sensitive ecological areas and a city with "best practices" experience.
*National Role of Jacksonville University - Members of Jacksonville University's Department of Biology and Marine Science have been actively involved in hydrocarbon pollution research for over twenty years and produced the first comprehensive study of oil pollution in the St. Johns River. These scientists are frequently called upon as consultants and experts on oil pollution issues. The faculty have received recognition in the form of honors, awards, grants and fellowships for their research and program achievements from agencies of the federal government: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, US Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service and NOAA. Similar recognition has come from the State of Florida, City and Port of Jacksonville, JEA and numerous national organizations.
*The Facility - The institute will occupy a 30,000 sq. ft. two-story building on the riverfront portion of the campus with a screened area for work with live specimens in ambient temperatures as well as showers and restrooms on the ground level. The second level will have teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, offices and a water quality lab along with a small kitchen, conference room/library and computer lab. It is anticipated that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Duval County School Board may have programs that will share the facility. Boat basin to service research vessels is also envisioned as part of the facility. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,250,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$1,250,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$5,729,000 |
|
In-kind Amount |
$2,800,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Yes |
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Agency |
Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Yes |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
JCCI River Dance Study |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Duval County Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
11/17/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
|
No |
