I love sharing photos of the St. Johns River in Florida, not only because of its beauty and history but also because some places in the river are hard to access, even for people with boats. I also like to share the good news of an ecological success story – the St. Johns River Wetland Restoration project.
Most people think of the St. Johns River as a muddy, alligator-infested waterway. But I see beauty and history. There is abundant wildlife that depends on the health of the river. There are abandoned, historical canals and structures to explore and photograph, included flooded forests and shady streams. I enjoy photographing the diverse terrain and wetlands and sharing the photos on Google Maps.
Much of the St. Johns River area is inaccessible to normal boats because of narrow canals or shallow water. Some areas can’t be accessed by canoe because it’s too far from a boat ramp to paddle. Using a jet ski, or PWC, allows me to access remote areas that are inaccessible for most boaters. I am able to photograph areas that have not been photographed and included on Google Maps. This allows people around the world to see beautiful areas on the river that even most locals have never seen.
We often hear or see news of environmental disasters in our oceans, lakes, or rivers. But the St. Johns River is an ongoing ecological success story! One hundred years ago, the wetlands around the Upper St. Johns River, were drained and channeled for citrus crops. Wildlife died and left the area and the Indian River Lagoon became polluted with toxic algae blooms. The conclusion of a decades-long restoration project has resulted in the return of wildlife and restoration of a healthy St. Johns River and Indian River Lagoon. I love sharing the good news of this project by including photos on Google Maps.
Thanks to Google Maps and my photos, people around the world are able to enjoy the beauty of the St. Johns River.