For years, Jacksonville has been known as “The River City.” Our treasured St. John’s River has a lot of historical significance for Jacksonville.The Timucuan tribe lived along the banks of the St. Johns River for centuries. The French Huguenots settled Fort Caroline in 1564. And years later, British Colonials called the area Cowford, as it was a popular spot for ranchers to get their cattle across the river.
The St. John’s is also home to thousands of native species of animals, including dolphins, manatees and alligators. On occasion, some species of sharks are even known to venture into the river.
Our river gives us many economic benefits with fishing and boating, real estate, tourism and many river front businesses.
Because of Jacksonville’s growing population, we all must be proactive in protecting the St. John’s River from the negative impacts of an ever-growing city. This is where St. John’s Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman steps in.
The St. John’s Riverkeeper is responsible for making sure our precious waterways remain a clean and healthy environment for all the plants and animals that inhabit the river and the ecosystems surrounding it. Problems such as algae blooms, dredging and fertilizer run-off are ongoing problems affecting the St. Johns, and the Riverkeeper fights to pass laws to protect this vital asset for the people of Northeast Florida.
Aura Salon and other local Aveda salons are supporting the St. John’s Riverkeeper this Earth Month by raising money through bake sales, silent auctions, craft sales and donated hair services. Some stylists have pledged to donate a portion of their gratuities for the cause. Each stylist at Aura has a goal of raising $250 toward a salon goal of $9,000.
We would love for our guests to support us financially by visiting either of our locations and seeing all the goods we have to offer. You can also demonstrate your support to help the river at home in the following ways:
Create a river-friendly yard by using fertilizer alternatives, such as natural compost, and choosing to plant native plants that don’t require excessive watering.
Volunteer with your family at one of the River Cleanup days. Check out their calendar at StJohnsRiverKeeper.org.
Report any dangerous signs such as hazardous waste spills, injured wildlife or illegal dumping by calling (904) 256-7907.
If we do not do our part to protect our river, we will witness it becoming more and more polluted. Trash will continue to replace the beautiful wildlife and it will become too unsafe to consume the shrimp and fish we harvest from the river. The economy will suffer as businesses and tourists choose to go elsewhere. However, with your support, we can help to create a cleaner, brighter future for our River City. One that perhaps someday we will feel comfortable letting our children and grandchildren swim and play in again.