The Kirkpatrick Dam is an environmental disaster. This dam prevents the migration of the Florida West Indian Manatee from migrating to Silver Springs as well as blocking 15 hidden springs from Floridians. This dam is also at risk of collapse estimated to cause $60 Million in flood damages.

Background:

The Cross Florida Barge Canal was an economic recovery program created in the depression era. The goal was to create a dam and canal system that would allow cargo ships to cross Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico without having to go around the peninsular state. Within this system many dams were proposed to create reservoirs for the canal system to function. Only 1/3 of these dams were fully completed before the Cross Florida Barge Canal was canceled by President Nixon in 1971 due to a series of environmental lawsuits. Historically, the most problematic dam in this failed canal system is the Rodman Dam now known as the Kirkpatrick Dam.

Beyond the Kirkpatrick Dam was once a lush abundant floodplain cypress forest with 15-20 springs filled with Submersed Aquatic Vegetation(SAV). This floodplain was called the Ocklawaha River Basin connecting to the St. Johns River. For 60 years it has been flooded and at least 15 Central Florida springs have been hidden from Floridians since. The Kirkpatrick Dam prevents manatees and several native fish species from migrating to Silver Springs.

Over the past decade conversation has started on the removal of this Dam as recent drawdowns have exposed hidden features at the bottom of the reservoir. Drawdowns are the purposeful lowering of the levels of the reservoir close to base levels. This has been occurring to naturally dehydrate the noxious invasive aquatic weeds generated by the dam. As the drawdowns occur over the span of months, locals witness a resurgence of wildlife, baby cypress trees taking root, re-establishing a historic cypress forest, and immediate regrowth of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation(SAV) from higher amounts of sunlight. All of this occurs just to be reflooded into a giant reservoir lake after the weeds are dead.

Problem:

The Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam is blocking Florida Manatees from about 1,000 manatees worth of  critical Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Habitat. SAV’s are the Manatees favorite and preferred food to eat. Currently the West Indian Manatee is facing local extinction in the neighboring Indian River Lagoon; it is critical we ensure the survival of this species for future generations. The reason why so many manatees have died the past two years is from seagrass die off in the Indian River Lagoon from nutrient overload and sediment pollution. Due to lack of habitat suitability these manatees are going to have to migrate elsewhere throughout the state seeking out aquatic grasses to eat or they face a die off in the thousands. 

The high costs that are put into this dam have to do with the amount of noxious aquatic weeds generated from blocking water flow. These weeds block boat access ramps and clog up the space around the dam. The solution in recent decades has been to spray powerful herbicides onto these plants such as hydrilla and water hyacinth or utilizing a drawdown every few years. Not only is this expensive to maintain but most of the year fishing access to the reservoir is blocked by these weeds rendering the reservoir useless a majority of the time. 

The biggest economic problem we are facing here is the complete collapse of the Kirkpatrick Dam. This dam was built to last only about 50 years and currently we are four years beyond this 50 year mark. The amount of damage a dam collapse would cost downriver is about 60 Million Dollars worth of damage to homes, personal property, infrastructure, and forestland. 

Solution:

In this case the problem is the solution. The owner of the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam is now the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. We must advocate this cause for the removal of the Kirkpatrick/Rodman Dam to benefit the Florida Manatee Population and the local tourism economy of Palatka and surrounding areas. Many studies have shown that returning the Ocklawaha River Basin to its natural state is financially beneficial and will have a high return rate. 

Floridians and tourists beyond deserve access to the hidden springs beneath Rodman Reservoir. Undamming this reservoir would give Floridians the unique opportunity to witness the complete regrowth of a historically lush cypress Forest located within a wildlife corridor. Research shows that the removal of this dam would economically boost the local tourism industry from the hidden springs, manatees, and recreational opportunities. This would positively benefit the locals around this tributary in Central Florida.

Seagrass restoration in the Indian River Lagoon will take time, the manatees in this region do not have that time left. They will be forced to migrate or starve. By opening up access to the Ocklawaha River Basin on the St. Johns River we can give the necessary relief the manatee population needs right now while we come up with solutions to the poor water quality in the Indian River Lagoon. Please advocate for the removal of the Kirkpatrick Dam by signing this petition, contacting your local representatives, and spread the conversation around this issue. Thank you for your time and consideration.