Amazingly only 10.6% of the comments were pro-Rodman Reservoir!
"ELECTION RETURNS" from the SJRWMD "Rodman Reservoir / Kirkpatrick Dam Comment Form" spreadsheet PDF file.
Between October 29 and 30, 2021, I performed a grueling 8-hour manual count of the comments -- mostly of the "What would you like to see happen with the Rodman Reservoir and Kirkpatrick Dam moving forward?" column of the spreadsheet to ascertain the retain Rodman Reservoir vs. Ocklawaha River restoration sentiment of the people who commented on the recent SJRWMD questionnaire site.
Here are the results:
Of the some 10,500 total date and time respondent lines / rows to the survey, I could only honestly (and very liberally in their favor) identify 1,110 (10.6%) that I would list as supporters of retaining Rodman Reservoir / Kirkpatrick Dam.
The other 9,390 of the some 10,500 comments (89.3%) were supporters of Ocklawaha River restoration or maybe about 500 or so of that 9,390 were basically rambling manatee-concern diatribes or completely frivolous ranting.
Examples of listed words: The word "manatee" is mentioned 16,763 times in this entire document! "Springs" is listed 12,316 times. The words "Ocklawaha River" are mentioned 6,135 times in this spreadsheet. "Great Florida Riverway" shows up 2,925 times. "Outside of state" is listed 1,808 times. "Maintain" shows up 1,053 times. The word "survival" is listed 863 times. "Oklawaha" shows up 666 times. "Tourist" shows up 214 times. "Out of" is mentioned 120 times. "Out of state" shows up 23 times. Marijuana" was listed 4 times!
ANALYZING THE DATA
Examples of how important certain WORDS (or GROUPS OF WORDS) were to folks that contributed their input to the SJRWMD "Rodman Reservoir / Kirkpatrick Dam Comment Form" results --
Some words in this document) that have something to do (most likely) with FISHING:
"Fishing" = 3,373 times;
"Rodman Reservoir" = 1,187 times;
"Bass" = 657 times;
"Migratory fish" = 458 times;
"Business" = 329 times;
"Striped bass" = 227 times;
"Leave it alone" = 186 times;
"As it is" = 178 times;
"Bass fishing" = 137 times;
"World class" = 27 times;
"Lake Ocklawaha" = 16 times;
"Striper" = 10 times;
"Stripped Bass" [sic] = 6 times.
This SJRWMD spreadsheet of the RAW results is available at the link below. HINT: Enlarge to 300% so you can read it and search for YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS in it -- it is State of Florida PUBLIC RECORD! And as such, all of your written comments (except your email address) are viewable by anyone who examines this document. How much did you copy and paste from somewhere else?
https://www.sjrwmd.com/static/government/Rodman-form-submission.pdf
NOTE: I would have no problem raising my right hand in a court room and swearing that my manual count was performed fairly, honestly, and accurately to the best of my ability.
And, of course, the comment count in favor of Ocklawaha River restoration was nowhere near the 22,464 signatures that was claimed by the "Great Florida Riverway" back in March 2021 during their fundraising promotion.
As a retired State of Florida government administrator and US ARMY veteran, I voluntarily work INDEPENDENTLY advocating for FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM (since this petition was created by me on June 24, 2016) with the various Florida and U.S. agencies -- SJRWMD, FDEP, FWC, USFS, USFWS, etc.) in a professional, respectful manner -- NOT AGAINST THEM (as some kind of government "protester" seeking funds to keep a "non-profit" solvent). "Professional courtesy", I received an alert early Friday morning October 29, 2021 that the RAW RESULTS FILE (no totals) was close to completion -- would be done before noontime.
"Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca