FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE, LET'S INVITE Governor Ron DeSantis and/or Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez with Noah Valenstein (Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) to tour Rodman Reservoir and the Ocklawaha River during the DRAWDOWN period! And understand that if these state officials visit the area during the DRAWDOWN they would most likely ride on FDEP, FWC, or SJRWMD watercraft to see these waterways.
NOW, LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY AGAIN:
Why Hasn't Rodman Dam Been Breached YET?
The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) in 2016 explained the 2 OFFICIAL REASONS why Rodman Dam hasn't been breached yet in the following three paragraphs:
"In 1991, federal de-authorization of the Cross Florida Barge Canal Project resulted in the transfer of canal lands to the state of Florida. An ad hoc Canal Lands Advisory Committee (CLAC) was formed to provide recommendations to the Governor and Cabinet on the disposition of the barge canal lands and structures. After deliberating on the recommendations of the CLAC, the 1993 Legislature passed Chapter 92-213, Laws of Florida, which directed the Department of Natural Resources (now the Florida Department of Environmental Protection [FDEP]) to ' . . . study the efficacy, both environmental and economic, of complete restoration of the Ocklawaha River, partial restoration of the river, total retention of Rodman Reservoir, and partial retention of the reservoir . . .' Funds were provided for the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to undertake the study of these four alternatives. As part of the comprehensive assessment performed by SJRWMD, Volume 11 of the Environmental Studies Concerning Four Alternatives for Rodman Reservoir and the Lower Ocklawaha River, Surface Water Quality and Alternatives Analysis for Rodman Reservoir (ECT, 1994) predicted a post-restoration increase in nitrogen (in the form of nitrate+nitrite-N) and phosphorus (as orthophosphate) loads of 878 and 30 metric tons/yr to the LSJR.
"Despite the predicted increase in downstream nutrient load, the positive aspects related to the restoration of floodplain functions, increased unique habitat and migratory fish passage appeared to provide overall net environmental gain. At the directive of then-Gov. Lawton Chiles and the Florida Cabinet, FDEP in 1997 submitted a permit application to SJRWMD for the removal of Rodman Reservoir to restore a free-flowing lower Ocklawaha River.
"But in 1999, once the permit application package was complete, the case for the restoration was deemed insufficient to meet the environmental resource permit (ERP) and consumptive use permit (CUP) public interest tests, and SJRWMD staff informed FDEP that they could not recommend approval to their Governing Board. The most prominent concern contributing to the recommendation of denial centered on the potential adverse impacts of increased nutrient load to the lower St. Johns River. Adding to this concern was the fact that the lower St. Johns at the time was one of the most prominent water bodies included on the 1999 consent decree between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Earthjustice to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired Florida waters. FDEP requested that SJRWMD not take agency action and to hold the permit in abeyance indefinitely, a status which has continued until this day."
EXCERPTED FROM:
Hendrickson, J. 2016. Effects on Lower St. Johns River Nutrient Supply and TMDL Target Compliance from the Restoration of a Free-Flowing Ocklawaha River. Technical Publication SJ2016-1. 107 pp. St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, Florida.
ftp://secure.sjrwmd.com/technicalreports/TP/SJ2016-1.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/important-excerpts-from-sj2016-1
NOW NOBODY -- other than John Hendrickson of SJRWMD -- had ever explained to me before in clear black and white English why the Ocklawaha River hadn't already been restored to free-flowing again (by the breaching of Rodman Dam) after Governor Lawton Chiles and the Cabinet in 1995 mandated that this would happen!
And "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca has NOT discovered any reason to believe that John Hendrickson of the SJRWMD has not been truthful about the OFFICIAL REASONS why Rodman Dam hasn't been breached yet!!!
"Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca's HONEST OPINION: SO WHAT ARE THE REALITIES ABOUT THIS HOLDUP TO THE RESTORATION OF THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER?
The St. Johns River is Florida's only "American Heritage River" and WHY is that a major problem for the restoration of a free-flowing-again Ocklawaha River?
Although I spend very little time on the St. Johns River itself, "Ocklawahaman" in 2016 -- after reading "Technical Publication SJ2016-1" authored by John Hendrickson of the SJRWMD -- had to finally accept this COLD, HARD, and SIMPLE FACT:
Why hasn't Rodman Dam (aka Kirkpatrick Dam) already been breached to restore the free-flowing Ocklawaha River? Because, YES, the St. Johns River is more important to Florida and the United States of America than its largest tributary stream -- the Ocklawaha River!
The ST. JOHNS RIVER since its designation by President William J. Clinton (D) on July 30, 1998 is the only "American Heritage River" in Florida and that's probably a major reason why the SJRWMD has not yet approved the Environmental Resource Permit (for Ocklawaha River restoration) applied for by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 1997.
We know that Democrats JFK, LBJ, & HHH were no friends of the free-flowing Ocklawaha River -- BUT did the action of President Bill Clinton (D) in 1998 undercut the earnest efforts of Florida Governor Lawton Chiles (D) to FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM?
"American Heritage Rivers are designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to receive special attention (coordinating efforts of multiple governmental entities) to further three objectives: natural resource and environmental protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation." http://www.wikiwand.com/en/American_Heritage_Rivers
A restored to free-flowing again Ocklawaha River has been presumed potentially GUILTY of further polluting the St. Johns River (with excess NUTRIENTS) until it can be proven potentially INNOCENT (of further polluting the St. Johns River with excess NUTRIENTS) by the environmental scientists at the SJRWMD.
An Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) must be approved before Ocklawaha River restoration can begin BECAUSE the Ocklawaha flows into the St. Johns -- Florida's only AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER!
And that is why John Hendrickson's scientific work for the SJRWMD is so vitally important to Ocklawaha River restoration and why the rest of the "goings-on" probably "ain't worth a spit in the river!"
Ocala National Forest, United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture LAND OWNERSHIP and the RODMAN DAM / RODMAN RESERVOIR / OCKLAWAHA RIVER RESTORATION ISSUE:
(1) Only half of the original, traditional Ocklawaha River CHANNEL in the area of Rodman Dam is on USFS-owned land.
(2) The USFS only owns about 167 acres (within the established boundaries of the Ocala National Forest) of denuded and submerged floodplain swamp lands at Rodman Dam. BUT there are more than 2,900 acres of Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway lands -- most of it heavily and lushly timbered -- already located inside the established boundaries of the Ocala National Forest. Public lands inside the Ocala National Forest boundary can be legally swapped between the USFS and the State of Florida.
(3) Now even if the USFS had total land ownership at Rodman Dam, the USFS -- just like any other governmental agency -- would still have to obtain an approved Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) before Ocklawaha River restoration can begin BECAUSE the Ocklawaha flows into the St. Johns -- Florida's only AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER!
And remember the 1999 CONSENT DECREE between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Earthjustice. June 10, 2002 – "The Impaired Waters Rule became effective on June 10, 2002. The FDEP's promulgation of the Impaired Waters Rule was authorized by the Florida Legislature, through the enactment in 1999 of the Florida Watershed Restoration Act, codified at Fla. Stat. § 403.067. This act directed the FDEP to develop and 'adopt by rule a methodology for determining those waters which are impaired' and which, therefore, must be included on the Impaired Waters List. Fla. Stat. § 403.067(3)(b). The Florida State Legislature's action was in response to a consent decree approved by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Florida Wildlife Federation, Inc. v. Browner, No. 4:98CV356-WS (N.D.Fla. Aug. 7, 1999)."
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0403/Sections/0403.067.html
When you join with "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" in our quest to advocate for the restoration of the 56-mile length Ocklawaha River-Silver River system to free-flowing again -- Silver Springs to the St. Johns River estuary -- by signing the online petition FOR-FREE $$$, it costs you NO $$$!
Most sincerely, "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca, the original creator and administrator of the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition.