YES, the existence of Rodman Dam & Reservoir impacts -- "OVERHEATS" -- the summertime WATER TEMPERATURE of the lower Ocklawaha River (which then eventually flows into the lower St. Johns River) by some 10 (ten) degrees F. In fact -- during the summer -- RODMAN completely negates the cooling effect of Silver Springs upon this entire spring-fed river system as it empties into the St. Johns River "American Heritage River" estuary!
FACT: COOLER FRESH WATER TEMPERATURES DURING THE FLORIDA SUMMER are a critical factor that determines the health of fisheries and the occurrence and severity of algae blooms.
This is a March 16, 2019 SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT by "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I HAVE UNCOVERED BY ANALYZING THE AVAILABLE DATA: Here is a one-summer-day "THERMAL IMAGE" of the Ocklawaha-Silver River system.
My analysis of USGS / SJRWMD archived WATER QUALITY data from Tuesday June 23, 2015 reveals these findings regarding WATER TEMPERATURE at 9 locations (UPSTREAM to DOWNSTREAM) along the Ocklawaha River.
(1) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #64 -- the "upper" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River above Moss Bluff Dam" USGS / SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 88 F HI.
(2) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #54 -- the "upper" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River near Ocala FL (Sharpes Ferry CR-314 Bridge)" USGS / SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 89 F HI.
(3) 6/23/2015 SILVER RIVER MILE #5 (ABOVE OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #51) "Silver River near Silver Springs Headspring" USGS / SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 75 F HI.
(4) 6/23/2015 SILVER RIVER MILE #4 (ABOVE OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #51) "Silver River near Ocala FL" USGS / SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 77 F HI.
(5) 6/23/2015 SILVER RIVER MILE #2 (ABOVE OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #51) "Silver River S5 at Silver Springs" SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 77 F HI.
(6) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #51 -- the "middle" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River at Conner FL (Delks Bluff FL-40 Bridge)" USGS / SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 77 F HI.
(7) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #33 -- the "middle" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River at Eureka FL (CR-316 Bridge)" USGS streamflow gage: WATER TEMPATURE = 79 F HI.
(8) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #12 -- the "lower" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam" USGS streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 89 F HI.
((9) 6/23/2015 OCKLAWAHA RIVER MILE #5 -- the "lower" Ocklawaha River -- "Ocklawaha River at Johnson Field (FL-19 Bridge)" SJRWMD streamflow gage: WATER TEMPERATURE = 89 F HI.
https://www.sjrwmd.com/
https://www.sjrwmd.com/data/
https://www.sjrwmd.com/data/water-quality/
http://webapub.sjrwmd.com/agws10/hdswq/
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/current/?type=flow&group_key=basin_cd
2,502 have signed FOR-FREE $$$. Let’s get to 5,000!
THE LATEST NUMBERS: 2,502 supporters of the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition as of 1700 hrs EDT 3/14/19. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SIGNED FOR-FREE $$$!
When you join with the "Ocklawahaman" to "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" by signing the online petition FOR-FREE $$$ it costs you NO $$$. "Ocklawahaman" has NO lawyers or staff for you to payroll! YOU get to buy a backpack, BBQ dinner, canoe, or kayak with your own DOUGH and enjoy the remaining segments of the free-flowing Ocklawaha River and its superbly forested jungle-like corridor.
IMPORTANT NOTE: "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca is a totally non-commercial & NON-NOT-FOR-PROFIT, retired, private citizen and does not seek $$$ and does not accept any $$$ contributions for the administration and promotion of his individually-created petition! The State of Florida and the United States governments -- that provide me retirement benefits (for my past services to them) -- OWN almost all of the Ocklawaha River's water and its submerged and corridor lands and collect taxes from MOST all of us. Lets FOR-FREE $$$ encourage Florida and the U.S.A. to wisely follow the principals of ecology and FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM!
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
ACTUAL EXPERIENCE FISHING & HUNTING in the Florida outdoors (and that of our sister Southern states) and Florida government, history, politics, and the US military MATTERS!
UNLIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE, more of my life's outdoor time -- fishing, exploring, and hunting -- has actually been spent in the Ocklawaha River basin (canoeing its waters and swamp-stomping or hammock-humping its jungle-like swamps and hammocks) than anywhere else. "Ocklawahaman" has NO BASS FISHING "IMAGE" PROBLEM which is quite the opposite from all the other restoration personalities. And "Ocklawahaman" has actively advocated for Ocklawaha River restoration since 2006.
DATA, ECOLOGY, FACTS, FISHING, HISTORY, HUMOR, HYDROLOGY, NEWS, OPINION, PADDLING, PHOTOS, VIEWS, & WILDLIFE of the Ocklawaha River, Florida & SO MUCH MORE -- "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" -- IT'S EASY TO JOIN & POST & IT'S FOR FREE $$$!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1937718656450177/
And if there is a better & more accurate FOR-FREE $$$ song about the Ocklawaha River than this one -- let me know about it plus the link to it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIUn5Hg5ePE
Most sincerely,
"Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca,
Administrator of the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition &
Data Processing Administrator SES (Retired),
Florida Department of Financial Services &
Veteran, Finance Corps, U.S. Army