Diya Comar spent years surfing at Jacksonville Beach before she began to understand the environmental challenges affecting the water beneath her board.

Now a senior at The Bolles School on San Jose Boulevard, Comar has founded Salt & Soul, a website focused on coastal awareness, water stewardship and public health education in Northeast Florida. The platform shares information about water quality and plastic pollution while connecting residents with volunteer cleanups and other local stewardship opportunities.

From Fieldwork in California to a Platform Back Home

Comar told the Ponte Vedra Recorder that Salt & Soul went live Feb. 16. The project grew out of her participation in the Scripps Scholars program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, where hands-on fieldwork helped shape her understanding of pollution and Jacksonville's environmental challenges.

"People care about local beaches and waterways but don't always know how to help," Comar said. "My goal is for someone to read an article, understand why an issue matters and then leave knowing something tangible they can do to help."

Interactive Tools Let Users Track Their Own Impact

Salt & Soul publishes articles on topics including coastal water quality and plastic pollution. Its site also lists local cleanup events and stewardship opportunities. Among its interactive features is an Ocean Plastic Tracker, which lets users explore how floating plastic can move from local waterways into the broader ocean over time. Comar said she also created a Water Footprint calculator for the platform.

Part of a Broader Push to Protect Jacksonville's Waterways

The project comes as attention to Jacksonville's waterways continues to grow. In June, more than 30 volunteers installed 84 oyster-shell-and-cement habitat modules in the Trout River at Riverview Park. Organizers said the structures are intended to support oyster growth, help filter water and stabilize the shoreline.

Educators also have new opportunities to involve students in water science. The St. Johns River Water Management District is accepting applications from Mandarin-area teachers for water science grants of up to $3,000, according to the Mandarin Beacon.

What's Next

Comar plans to study the intersection of environmental science, public policy and global health in college. Residents can visit Salt & Soul to read its articles, explore its tools and find Jacksonville-area cleanup and environmental events.