Rodman Dam removal for Ocklawaha River restoration clears state House

Restoring flow to the Ocklawaha River won support in the Florida House by a vote of 107-3, which would partially remove a dam that created Rodman Reservoir a half-century ago for the abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal.

State Rep. Wyman Duggan, who sponsored the bill, said it strikes a balance between environmental conservation, economic growth and outdoor recreation.

“Florida has a proud tradition of doing what’s hard and right to protect our heritage – from the Everglades to the Kissimmee River – and the Ocklawaha River deserves the same commitment,” Duggan told the House.

State Rep. Judson Sapp, whose district includes Putnam County where Rodman Reservoir is located, urged the House to vote against the bill. Sapp, R-Green Cove Springs, said it would inject environmental and economic uncertainty into a rural area where “every dollar we bring home matters in ways that wealthier parts of Florida may never truly understand.”

“But one thing my community has had for generations is Rodman Reservoir,” he said. “This is our home. This is where people fall in love. This is where children learn to fish. This is where, even today, some families put food on the table.”

Voting on the bill next moves to the full Senate, where Sen. Jason Brodeur has filed a companion bill to restore the Ocklawaha so it flows uninterrupted from Silver Springs to the St. Johns River.

Kirkpatrick Dam, also known as Rodman Dam, dates back to 1968 for the never-completed Cross Florida Barge Canal. The federal government stopped construction of the canal in 1971, but the dam remained in place and created the 9,500-acre Rodman Reservoir covering parts of Putnam and Marion counties.

The bill would create a 19-member Northeast Florida and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council, which would make recommendations for recreation and economic development funded by state grants.

Supporters of the legislation say that by opening part of the dam and gradually emptying Rodman Reservoir by the end of 2032, it will free up flow from springs covered by the reservoir and send billions of gallons of fresh water down the Ocklawaha to the St. Johns River, improving the ecological health of the state’s longest river.

Sapp said there is no certainty about that outcome. He said residents would lose the Rodman Reservoir and in return receive a “question mark with unknown results.”

Duggan said the bill puts in place a community plan that finally addresses the environmental impact of the barge canal project.

Restore Ocklawaha: River Restoration Bill Advances to Open Rodman Reservoir Dam

“For nearly 60 years, Floridians have championed river restoration and waited for their leaders to act,” he told lawmakers. “This legislation, built on collaboration with community stakeholders, the Legislature and the Governor, is long overdue.”

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a budget item for the Ocklawaha River in a larger budget bill. This year’s attempt uses standalone legislation that won resounding support in the House before being voted on by the Senate.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida House Approves Ocklawaha River Restoration Bill