"Statement About Halting Construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal" "I am today ordering a halt to further construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal to prevent potentially serious environmental damages. "The purpose of the canal was to reduce transportation costs for barge shipping. It was conceived and designed at a time when the focus of Federal concern in such matters was still almost completely on maximizing economic return. In calculating that return, the destruction of natural, ecological values was not counted as a cost, nor was a credit allowed for actions preserving the environment. "A natural treasure is involved in the case of the Barge Canal--the Oklawaha River--a uniquely beautiful, semitropical stream, one of a very few of its kind in the United States, which would be destroyed by construction of the Canal. "The Council on Environmental Quality has recommended to me that the project be halted, and I have accepted its advice. The Council has pointed out to me that the project could endanger the unique wildlife of the area and destroy this region of unusual and unique natural beauty. "The total cost of the project if it were completed would be about $180 million. About $50 million has already been committed to construction. I am asking the Secretary of the Army to work with the Council on Environmental Quality in developing recommendations for the future of the area. "The step I have taken today will prevent a past mistake from causing permanent damage. But more important, we must assure that in the future we take not only full but also timely account of the environmental impact of such projects--so that instead of merely halting the damage, we prevent it." - Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States January 19, 1971 http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3044 "Because I'm getting old, and the dam is still there!" - Archie Carr June 26, 2016 "Ocklawaha River restoration is absolutely essential for the recovery of Silver Springs, the Silver River, and the Ocklawaha River fish and wildlife and all of the people who value those healthy ecosystems." - Dr. Robert "Bob" Knight July 11, 2016 Florida residents and/or property owners: Please consider signing for-free the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition at https://www.change.org/p/st-johns-river-water-management-district-free-the-ocklawaha-river-by-the-breaching-of-rodman-dam Marion County Florida's Ocklawaha River - Silver River - Silver Springs drainage historically contained trophy NATIVE largemouth bass well beyond 10 pounds PLUS naturally-reproducing NATIVE Atlantic-race STRIPED BASS weighing up to 30 pounds or so. Why not have BOTH largemouth and striped bass again? "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca. "There are lake fishermen, and there are river fishermen, and seldom do the twain agree!" - Original author unknown. The SJRWMD "Technical Publication SJ2016-1" by John Hendrickson contains the data best supporting that the restoration of the Ocklawaha River will be beneficial for the entire St. Johns River basin. ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT OCKLAWAHA RIVER RESTORATION? THINK OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS and then… PLEASE SIGN (FOR-FREE) THIS PETITION -- It may be the MOST IMPORTANT THING that YOU can do (or have ever done) to assist SJRWMD and FEDP to determine the best interests of the greater St. Johns River basin. Where else can you get "this much bang for the buck?"