This is the way Florida takes care of its beautiful rivers. The people who are accountable for this praise themselves for the good job they are doing as stewards of our resources. If you agree they are doing a good job, you could write to DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein and his boss, Gov DeSantis and praise their work. Send a copy of this picture along. These two people have the power to fix it. Photo by Karen Chadwick.
Following is the notice from DEP about the drawdown. Before that , though, is a message from Karen Chadwick regarding the importance of this meeting:
From: Karen Chadwick <karenchadwick95@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2019 12:00 PM To: Karen Chadwick <karenchadwick95@yahoo.com> Subject: Sept 17 drawdown meeting
The public Rodman drawdown meeting with Greenways managers, FWC/FDEP etc. is September 17th at Ravine Gardens State Park from 6-8pm. This is your chance to tell them you want the drawdown to proceed and tell them you would like for the Ocklawaha River to be restored as the state plan has recommended for decades rather than continue status quo management. One of the planned projects during the next drawdown is to replace the Camp Branch culvert because it is rusted and crumbling and manatees keep getting stuck in it. The latest estimate is around $200,000.00 for this project that would need to be removed when the Ocklawaha River is restored which will give free passage to manatees and fish populations. Last year (2018) just under $300,000.00 was spent to remove floating logs from the dam and berm, which are piled up again and over $40,000.00 was spent on herbicide applications. Let’s stop spending money on unnecessary projects and applying so many chemicals to the waterway and follow through on the recommended restoration plan.
Please attend if at all possible. We don’t get a chance like this very often. Thanks.
See attached photo of floating vegetation in the canal under the hwy 19 bridge getting sprayed with herbicides. According to the FWC officer in this area the canal was sprayed at least 4 times in 2018.
Karen Chadwick
Ravine Gardens
1600 Twigg St.
Palatka FL 32177
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection notice of Drawdown Meeting
Working to protect freshwater resources, conserve public lands, and provide quality environmental education since 1969.
We encourage Floridians to come forward with their concerns about the continued and unnecessary environmental degradation of the Ocklawaha River, and to speak out to the State of Florida officials that they wish to see restoration of the Ocklawaha River move forward expeditiously.
CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us
DEP to Hold Public Meeting Regarding Drawdown
of Rodman Reservoir
~Opportunity to learn about the timing and purpose of the drawdown process~
WHAT: Public Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, September 17, 2019
6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Ravine Gardens State Park
1600 Twigg St.
Palatka, FL 32177
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting to discuss the drawdown of the Rodman Reservoir along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. The drawdown will be conducted from October 2019 through April 2020, providing an opportunity to maintain the ecological health and productivity of the reservoir while offering improved recreational benefits for the public. Rodman Reservoir has generally been drawn down every three to four years as recommended by the University of Florida’s “Lake Ocklawaha Plan 1979-1983.”
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the meeting by emailing Mickey Thomason or calling 352-236-7143. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/25affb2
