by Mike Sharkey
for Financial News & Daily Record
on 01/15/2010
At some point in the relatively near future, the Army Corps of Engineers will begin its deepening of a 15-mile stretch of the St. Johns River from the mouth to Dames Point. Portions of that stretch are anywhere from 38 feet to 41 feet. However, the project will assure the 41-foot depth is consistent.
The project will allow ships who qualify as “post-Panamax” to deliver cargo to Jacksonville’s port. The Panama Canal is currently undergoing a widening and deepening project that will allow enormous cargo ships from Asia to pass through instead of sailing around South America.
The highly-anticipated dredging project here is expected to help generate thousands of jobs and infuse millions of dollars into the local economy. It also has local environmentalists gripping.
Surprisingly, the St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Jacksonville Port Authority are closer to being on the same page than you might think. Both recognize the role the port plays in the local economy and both are cognizant of each other’s wishes as the project moves towards starting.
“When the Panama Canal opens, it will really change the way trade moves through Jacksonville,” said Dave Kaufman, senior director of planning and properties for the Port Authority.
Kaufman, speaking at Thursday’s Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting, said both the MOL terminal and the planned Hanjin terminal would have economic impacts of $300 million and generate about 5,000 jobs each.
“That’s a large increase in economic activity for this region,” he said. “In order to accommodate larger ships, we need to deepen that portion of the river. We are also charged with looking out for the interests of the community, not just economically, but environmentally.”
According to one study done by the St. Johns River Water Management District, the deepening project will affect the salinity — and therefore the ecosystem — of the St. Johns for many miles upstream. Kaufman and Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon both contend that reports aren’t done and the true affects of the dredging aren’t known yet. Armingeon said the salinity report won’t be done for another year and it’ll take another year for all of the affected entities to review it and offer up their opinions.
“We don’t really have a position other than following the process that is underway,” said Armingeon, who agreed with Kaufman’s assessment that the growth of the port is good for the local economy. “When the decision ultimately comes, we will be part of it. We do have concerns that the dredging and deepening could cause the salinity line to move upstream.
“We are a ways away from having the data to analyze. The process is underway and we all have to monitor it. This is not a decision that will be made tomorrow or in April.
“We have met with Port officials for a couple of years and expressed our concerns. They have been open and answered all of our questions. We support Jaxport and certainly recognize its importance to the community. What’s best for the river is best for the community. This is a decision that, ultimately, as a community we will come together and make.”
Also at the Waterways Commission meeting, Lisa Rinaman of the mayor’s office said the City is currently updating its manatee protection plan. She said the City has been working with several local and state agencies on the basics of the plan. Next week, the City will put out a request for proposal to coordinate and write the plan. Responses to the RFP are due Feb. 12 and Rinaman said she expects the City to award a contract in early March.
“We hope to have it done by mid-summer,” she said, adding the Waterways Commission will get to review the plan and give its approval. “Then we will go through the formal process of City Council approval.”
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=530057
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