The Ocklawaha River needs your help. Tell the Florida Legislature that the Ocklawaha River, the St. Johns River and Silver Springs have suffered long enough.
The time has come to finally breach the Rodman Dam and restore the natural flow of the Ocklawaha. See a rendering of a breached Rodman and restored river at the end of this post.
While state and federal agencies have studied and recommended restoring the Ocklawaha for decades, politics have stood in the way, allowing this aging relic of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal to remain in place and preventing restoration from moving forward.
Breaching the Rodman Dam to restore the natural flow of the Ocklawaha would provide tremendous environmental and economic benefits:
- Restores more than 15,000 acres of floodplain forests and wetlands – a natural bio-filter for nutrient removal
- Restores more than 20 springs submerged as a result of the dam
- Allows valuable recreational and commercial fish species free access to their traditional range in the upper parts of the river and Silver Springs, including striped bass, channel catfish, mullet, American shad and eels
- Increases habitat for wildlife, including black bears and the endangered manatee
- Improves water quality in the Ocklawaha, St. Johns and Silver Springs
- Expands recreation, tourism, and economic opportunities
You can learn more about the benefits of restoration and access numerous resources by clicking here or downloading our factsheet. Also, read a letter that St. Johns Riverkeeper and its partner organizations recently sent to state legislators.
Contact Governor Rick Scott, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senate President Andy Gardiner and your representatives to tell them you support breaching the Rodman Dam and restoring the Ocklawaha River.
Governor Rick Scott
rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli
steve.crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov
Senate President Andy Gardiner
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov