THE DEADLINE FOR NEW SIGNERS WILL BE ON OR ABOUT 2020-12-24!
As the tabulation of this online petition's names nears its ending, for the sake of perspective here are some data and numbers related to the Ocklawaha River restoration issue.
Most all of us seem to agree that breaching Rodman Dam to restore a free-&-swift-flowing-again 56-mile Ocklawaha-Silver River system is important. But are there enough of us to impact the policy decisions of elected officials?
I am a Florida rivers enthusiast. I have canoed, explored, fished, hiked and hunted (at times) along segments (and their corridors) of all of these Florida rivers and streams from the NW to the SW in this state: Chipola, Apalachicola, Ochlockonee, Little (Ochlockonee), St. Marks, Wakulla, Aucilla, Wacissa, Suwannee, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, St. Marys, St. Johns, Salt Springs Run, Juniper Creek, Alexander Creek, Wekiva, Econlockhatchee, Ocklawaha, Deep Creek, Orange Creek, Eaton Creek, Silver, Withlacoochee, and Hillsborough.
In the Ocklawaha River basin, no doubt my favorite segment is the mostly natural cool-and-swift-flowing middle Ocklawaha between SR-40 and CR-316. I have had many great experiences on the lower Ocklawaha below Rodman Dam too. Rodman Reservoir has provided me some very good memories also BUT I PREFER THE DENSELY FORESTED FLOWING RIVER and that's why I advocate for restoration.
This "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" Change-dot-org online petition in the 4.5 years of its existence has achieved nearly 4,100 supporters WORLDWIDE but only about 2,550 names that I can identify as Floridians. At the beginning I really thought that 10,000 or 15,000 signers would be obtained just from the state of Florida. It seemed that I had read somewhere that 10,000 verified signatures of Florida voters were required to add a referendum question to the official ballot. Disappointingly however, this petition will end up with only about 2,550 Florida names.
For popularity comparison, the "Support a Clothing-Optional Beach for Tampa Bay!" online Change-dot-org petition has received 16,942 signatures!
WHO OWNS THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER AND THE MORE IMPORTANT ST. JOHNS RIVER THAT IT FLOWS INTO?
The state of Florida acquired title to sovereignty submerged lands on March 3, 1845, by virtue of statehood. Sovereignty submerged lands include all submerged lands, title to which is held by the Board of Trustees (Governor and Cabinet) of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
https://floridadep.gov/lands/bureau-public-land-administration/content/submerged-lands-management
HOW MANY REGISTERED VOTERS ARE THERE IN THE 3 COUNTIES THAT CONTAIN THE MAINSTREAM OCKLAWAHA RIVER CHANNEL?
(1) Lake County has more than 267,000 registered voters;
(2) Marion County has more than 268,000 registered voters;
(3) Putnam County has more than 51,000 registered voters.
WHAT IS THE LATEST AVAILABLE ONLINE NUMBERS (THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNCOVER) OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE "NOT-FOR-PROFIT" GROUPS?
Florida Defenders of the Environment: About 2,000 or so.
Florida Wildlife Federation: About 13,000 or so.
St. Johns Riverkeeper: About 1,500 or so.
Save the Manatee Club: About 40,000 or so.
The "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition effort has been based upon SCIENTIFICALLY-DOCUMENTED LITERATURE that report the effects on lower St. Johns River nutrient supply and TMDL target compliance from the restoration of a free-flowing Ocklawaha River. Sorry, but I am not enthusiastic about initiatives that don't post their individual membership numbers and seem to promote data that is not supported by the literature.
MY OPINE: At 49 years since the Cross Florida Barge Canal project was halted, perhaps it is way-past-due time for this Ocklawaha River restoration issue to be placed on a LEGAL official ballot in 2022 or so as a referendum question of some type (non-binding or such) for actual LEGAL Florida voters to make their wishes known about (and politicians to take a stand on)? Supporting peer-reviewed scientific literature and reasons for, projected costs, projected returns, and so on could be explained in a real LEGAL petition that attracts the LEGAL signatures of registered-to-vote Floridians. Maybe 10,000 or so certified names of those who LEGALLY have voting rights in this state would be required to make it happen? COME-ON, ARE WE ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT RESOLVING THIS ISSUE - OR NOT?
I am a registered Florida voter and -- avoiding any possible perjury issues -- would be agreeable to signing ONCE a real LEGAL official petition to place a real question on a real LEGAL official ballot pertaining to restoration of the Ocklawaha River by the breaching of Rodman (Kirkpatrick) Dam as long as the wording of the petition is true, accurate, and correct with real documentation and scientific literature citations to support its argument.
AGAIN, THE DEADLINE FOR NEW SIGNERS OF THIS ONLINE PETITION WILL BE ON OR ABOUT 2020-12-24!
Most sincerely, "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca, the original creator of the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" online petition.
NOTE: The "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" Facebook group page will continue into 2021!!!
DATA, ECOLOGY, FACTS, FIREARMS, FISHING, HISTORY, HUMOR, HYDROLOGY, NEWS, OPINION, PADDLING, PHOTOS, SPRINGS, VIEWS, & WILDLIFE of the Ocklawaha River, Florida & SO MUCH MORE -- the "FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM" Facebook group page -- IT'S EASY TO JOIN & POST & IT'S FOR FREE $$$! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1937718656450177/