Mystery Over How River Became the Big Muddy St. Johns River Sediment Can Damage Underwater Plants and Kill Small Sea Life.

By STEVE PATTERSON

The dark water of the St. Johns River turned a creamy coffee color Thursday afternoon as rainstorms poured thick sediment into the waterway in downtown Jacksonville.

Turbid water streamed through McCoys Creek and created a plume of muddy water starting south of the creek and reaching toward the Main Street bridge. The spill’s source wasn’t certain Thursday.

Florida Department of Transportation representatives working on a vast highway interchange near the creek said they checked their construction site but didn’t think the flow started there. People checking the creek reported signs of similar silt upstream and found the silt fences, hay bales and barriers at the construction site working correctly, said Mike Goldman, an agency spokesman.

“On something like this, we’re going to do a thorough investigation and continue to do so,” Goldman said.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon said he checked the length of the creek and didn’t find any trace of the muddy water once upstream of the road project. He said he wasn’t sure where the problem started, but he saw muddy water coming off of the construction site.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection was checking the spill, agency spokeswoman Jodi Conway said.

Sediment carried by stormwater can slowly fill creek beds and can damage underwater plants and kill small sea life.steve.patterson@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4263

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