The following paragraph is an exact quote of a comment that I received from a sincere supporter of retaining Rodman Reservoir as it currently is: "The Rodman Reservoir, aka Lake Ocklawaha, has been in existence for nearly 50 years. Mother Nature has an amazing ability to heal her environment when humans have interfered, as has occurred in creating this body of water. Rodman Reservoir has been designated among the top 10 bass fishing lakes in the NATION for 2016 by Bassmaster Magazine, ranking number 8 in the NATION. Avid fishermen travel from all over the country to fish here, which brings in enormous revenue to the local economy, through motel stays, restaurants, fishing and boating equipment, fuel and all things associated with fishing and visiting from outside of the area . Much more revenue is generated than if there would be an increase in kayaking. Manatees are free to come and go through Buckman Lock, as the lock-tenders are vigilant to open the lock for them whenever they are sighted. While kayaking in Rodman, I have personally seen numerous manatees year round. Another factor rarely pointed out is the actual cleansing action of this body of water. Polluting nutrients are reduced from Eureka to the Dam. This has been validated and documented through the University of Florida under IFAS and the Lakewatch program, whereas water samples are taken in multiple locations MONTHLY throughout Rodman, and this has been ongoing for over 10 years, with data analyzed and compiled through the University. The benefits now clearly outweigh in favor of not again tampering with Mother Nature, now that this body of water is a balanced ecosystem and more beneficial than detrimental." My reply back to this nice individual was: "Dear xxxxx xxxxxx, The latest data is from SJRWMD: “Technical Publication SJ2016-1: Effects on Lower St. Johns River Nutrient Supply and TMDL Target Compliance from the Restoration of a Free-Flowing Ocklawaha River” which was authored by John Hendrickson, Environmental Scientist VI, of the SJRWMD. This document needs to be read by anyone interested in this issue. For the important excerpts see: https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/important-excerpts-from-sj2016-1 Sincerely, Paul" The dedicated folks that want Rodman Dam and Rodman Reservoir to stay in place forever -- no matter what its owners (the State of Florida and the USA) want for the benefit of the entire St. Johns River basin -- must be intently studying "Technical Publication SJ2016-1: Effects on Lower St. Johns River Nutrient Supply and TMDL Target Compliance from the Restoration of a Free-Flowing Ocklawaha River" which was authored by John Hendrickson, Environmental Scientist VI, of the SJRWMD. How do I know this? Because after my reply to the Lake Ocklawaha supporter's comment (above) their complete website went "lights out" for the first 7 days of September 2016 and they have failed to post a September-October 2016 newsletter! Their old July-August newsletter (which touts a 2015 Lakewatch report) is the newest available (as of 1145 hrs EDT, 15 Sep 2016). As we close-in on 1,800 signatures for this "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition, please let me remind those of you that have already signed FOR-FREE (and done your part) that TWO votes beats ONE in the "Rough and Tumble" of Politics! And much MORE "votes" is much better! We should all know from the national news lately what the "Rough and Tumble of Politics" is! If you can persuade your spouse, significant other, friend(s), or other family member(s) to also sign FOR-FREE this "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition then please do! The more "votes" for this petition that SJRWMD and FDEP will have to acknowledge, the better for our cause to get "them" moving forward on the restoration to free-flowing "Source to the Sea" again of the "Real-Florida-By-God" 56-mainstream-mile Ocklawaha River - Silver River - Silver Springs system! REMEMBER that according to the nice folks that want Rodman Dam and Rodman Reservoir (a.k.a. Lake Ocklawaha) retained as they currently are -- as man-made obstructions to the free travel of aquatic/marine life including manatees between the St. Johns River and Silver Springs -- "Rodman must be saved from the small but highly vocal minority that want it destroyed." 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?" 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? My sincere thanks for your consideration - "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca. https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/poll-do-you-favor-the-breaching-of-rodman-dam-to-restore-a-free-flowing-ocklawaha-river https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/petition-free-the-ocklawaha-river-by-the-breaching-of-rodman-dam