After more than 9 years of advocating for and managing this Ocklawaha River restoration-related, sign-for-free online petition that I created – “FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM” – I am ending it today with 4,289 supporters.

Within this petition I only posted information associated with the controversial Ocklawaha vs. Rodman issue that was accurate and documented by official government agencies and other credible sources or supported by my own in the field / on the water observations backed by written logs and photographs. And never did I solicit or accept any financial contributions from anyone for this cause, believing that stating your opinion in favor of Ocklawaha River restoration should be free for you just like voting in a real election.

On this day of Thanksgiving 2025 it has become evident to me that this petition does not have enough support to justify my time and effort in continuing its existence. It is apparent to me that most folks “march to the beat of a different drum” and listen only to what they want to hear when considering this contentious issue. Granted if there were hundreds of thousands of people who believed in Ocklawaha River restoration – that were registered voters – they would have a great opportunity to influence the legal real property owner of the lands and waters involved, the government of the State of Florida (in its entirety). But I haven’t seen any evidence of those kinds of numbers.

Thank you to all that signed this petition for your sincere interest in this Ocklawaha River vs. Rodman Reservoir argument and your willingness to affix your name and pro-restoration opinion to this petition. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2025,

“Ocklawahaman” Paul Nosca