Dark Water

The widest part of the St. Johns River meanders north through downtown Jacksonville. Along the way, it drinks from the springs, lakes and tributaries of southeast Florida and feeds off swamps and marshes that nourish the tannic dark water. From southern Duval where the river enters the city, the dark water is a thick and musky tea steeped in the roots of giant cypress, sable palm and Sweetbay that line its shores. Despite the dark color, the cool water has a clean fresh smell.


The river flows slowly here. The grey moss covers the trees along the banks wave in the Florida breeze. People wave to you from their docks as you move with the river. It is a slow friendly part of the river; moving north towards its destiny.

At the end of the river, in Mayport, the animals come in from the ocean to spawn in the rich estuaries of the Timucuan Preserve. The estuary is a vast marshland beaming with life. The shallow well-protected waters allow fish to procreate in safety while providing water rich in nourishment for their offspring.

Kestrel, osprey, eagles, spoonbills and hawks steal the fish out of the water. Blue Herron, egrets, cranes, avocets and stilts dig in the shallow water for fish and oysters. Hard-shelled mollusks thrive where the river greets the ocean. In this part of the world, ancient people built societies around oysters.

Between these two extremes is where life gets interesting. Downtown the river is home to sea life that can live in both salt and fresh water. The river ebbs and flows with the tides. Manatees and dolphins visit downtown Jacksonville. The waters and the animals mix to make a beautiful thriving heritage river right in the heart of downtown, all in Duval County, all in Jacksonville. The people of Jacksonville value their river and the diversity of its waters. Much like the water life, the life on land is a rich mix of diversity. Thriving people who just like the river have lost lives to extinction.