I've got 3 kayaks and is there anyone who wants to see and paddle Hogan's Creek Fri. morning at 9 and we'll do a little cleanup too. This is totally at your own risk. Bring your own gloves, garbage bags, food, drink, and anything else that you may want to bring.
Looking for roll up your sleeves, get dirty, smile on your face, Can't wait to do this again attitude. So who thinks they have what it takes to make it happen?
I'll supply a kayak, paddle, life jacket. Anyone out there who wants to participate in a waterway that will be one of the biggest city council and mayoral campaign issues that will say to the people of Jacksonville that we want everyone the opportunity to access, promote, and celebrate our St. Johns River our American Heritage River.
Total time on the water 2hrs. Call me 904-434-0839
Won't be in town, but would be interested in future events like this.
By the way, where are you putting in?
Near the base of the Mathews Bridge by the fire station.
would love to someday, but can't during the work week :-[
I imagine a viable clean up effort will tax the capabilities of small craft-perhaps have a big jon boat or similar handy.
And- above all,begin researching the creek system identifying trash point sources so that future restoration plans will include trash catch management at these key sources so that the junk does not enter the waterway in the first place.
Yes- a commitment to place and staff trash management facility.Anything else is just endless round and round.
Trash entry abatement a key elelement in my comments on upcomming Fishweir Creek restoration and should be employed elsewhere.
Better be wearing Haz-Mat suits and waders. That mud isn't all mud...
OCKLAWAHA
There is a lot to clean up. But today was a start. I put in around 9 out of the water a little after 10. When I got down to the Maxwell House plant the Lady St. Johns was heading north, the river with a sporty chop. Ospreys circling overhead.
Two bags of garbage. What fit in my kayak.
The potential for this inner city waterway is HUGE.
Anyone interested in a cleanup and paddle let me know. Definately will do it again. I'll work around your schedule as well as the tides. If there is anyone that is a fisherman and wants to take me and see if we can catch some fish I'm game for that too.
Noone your interest and passion is a real tribute to the river system and city.
Great to speak with you on the phone-you have a firm grasp on the issues and opportunities.
NM it was great to talk with you as well. You are so on target with identifying "Trash Point Sources".
We are both in different council districts. Love to see and paddle Fishweir creek with you someday. Who is the council rep for that? Are there two council reps because the creek crosses another council district? Just curious.
Regardless every city council and mayoral candidate needs to see Hogan's Creek from the water. This issue can be tied in to McCoy's Creek, and the 680' Promised Downtown Public Pier.
Keep score.
Quote from: Noone on November 06, 2010, 06:13:43 AM
NM it was great to talk with you as well. You are so on target with identifying "Trash Point Sources".
We are both in different council districts. Love to see and paddle Fishweir creek with you someday. Who is the council rep for that? Are there two council reps because the creek crosses another council district? Just curious.
Regardless every city council and mayoral candidate needs to see Hogan's Creek from the water. This issue can be tied in to McCoy's Creek, and the 680' Promised Downtown Public Pier.
Keep score.
To all readers with any interest in all things Downtown and "the river",and in the spirit of truly effective issue assessment and 'reporting' and empowering predictive capability let me be helpfully blunt:
**** It is imperative that you engage with Noone,the creeks and the Pier ****
Most of us simply look at the river
To experience the water bodies on the water is a revealing,exhilarating experience
In the past most quite correctly relegated "Kayak" to images of near freezing white water and upside down.Recent advancements in user friendly small vessel design have created wonderful opportunities for affordable and spontaneous water recreation limited only by the availability of yet another emerging phenomenon-small craft 'hand launch' access facility.
In all of my forays I have yet to boat Hogans Creek.Noone,I would like to reserve that introduction with you,in honor of your most magnificent local knowledge.
Big & Little Fishweir Creeks have experienced siltation infill impacts from multiple sources over a long period of time.No doubt many MJ readers have witnessed the mud banks clearly viewed from the Herschel bridge and the "Loop" restaurant.
A visit to my back yard,which is about a thousand feet upstream from the bridge reveals a graphic image of a particularly Gigantica impact stemming from a severe rainfall event in the 1980's that coincided with land clearing within the system basin- sand bar deposits visible above normal high tide stretching downstream to the Herschel bridge.One can step out on to dry land on what was fairly recently former open water.
Former Jacksonville Waterways Commissioner Carter Bryan (in an unusual extension of transparency) told me the city's initial response to the overnight infill of that 80's event was to quickly scramble to secure affidavits from the land clear site developers to the effect that no soil was lost from the site.
During the storm event water levels spiked quickly in the creek system arms that extend throughout a couple square mile 'basin",well towards Lane Avenue.The fast moving water heavily laden with roiling suspended sand moved quickly downstream at a consistent pace,on through the culverts at US17/Roosevelt.At a point about one thousand feet upstream of the Herschel bridge the creek widens,and at this point the water flow slows,allowing for deposit of sand at each inside turn of the established natural slightly meandering creek shoreline.Like beautiful snow banks,or sand bars at Talbot.
The tops of these sand bars are exposed and coincide with the water levels recorded and anticipated in 'rare' "500" year Fishweir Creek flood event.
(There is some discussion as to what the historical 'natural' shoreline was,yet our heart and gut,along with much historical evidence,suggests a need for 'restoration'.)
Number two on a long list of Duval county water bodies long identified in need of restoration (Hogan is # 1!),an ambitious and deserving joint City/Federal Army Corps Of Enginners restoration project concept has languished for years.
Initial project assessment study funding was pulled half way through the study a couple of years ago.City funding commitment was elusive.Although Big Fishweir is the Southwesterly boundary of RAP, community 'support' has been disjointed.Lax 'reporting" and a sense of futility by area residents has been a hallmark.(And please,refrain from any reference to the Riverkeeper.....)
Apparently the recently placed Public Works Storm Water fee,with related emphasis on stormwater management will prove to be the viable city funding source.The COE study and project design activity has stepped up-we are possibly on the verge of finally gaining traction,with the COE focus on three potential project scenario.Our very first RiverKeeper and Jacksonville's own Michael Hollingsworth is heading up the COE effort.
No one can tell me so far if the project(s) are designed to meet predermined budget constraint or system restoration need.
During initial project assesement the boundary of the perceived project was expanded to include Little Fishweir Creek and extended from the point of the first sandbar to a point further upstream to Roosevelt bridge,hopefully with an eye for trash catch facility.
The project is within Michael Corrigan's District.
Any MJ reader and loyal advocate (even politicians) who would like to tour my yard and creek (and perhaps hop in the kayaks!) is welcome.
my cell number 904 923 0033
I long ago extended the same offer to Michael Corrigan,but he never so much as made the gesture.
Now how about THAT for keeping score Noone!!
Onward,
N.M.
NM and Noone, can't believe I missed this post.
What's the weather supposed to be like Mon-Wed? I have those days off...
Fieldafm- How about Wend after the Jacksonvile Waterways Commission meeting. Have you ever been to one? During Public Comment I plan on asking the commission to sponsor an ordinance that would keep the Promised Downtown Public Pier separate from the 40 plus acres that was Shipyards/ Landmar.
Bring your camera. Do you have a kayak? If not I've got a tandem or can bring a single for you. My number is there so just give me a call and we can work out the details.
The people of Jacksonville should be absolutely scared to death and petrified that if you don't secure this opportunity for Public access that it will be reduced even more.
Looking forward to meeting you and after our paddle and working up an appetite we'll go up a few blocks and visit Robert at 8th and Ionia.