(6.1) HISTORY: RARE PHOTO of Ocklawaha River just before Rodman Dam was closed 9-30-1968
RARELY SEEN PHOTO OF THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER STILL FREE-FLOWING
JUST PRIOR TO THE CLOSURE OF THE RODMAN DAM ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1968
BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Created: 19 September 2013
Last Revised: 27 September 2020
SPECIAL NOTE AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
It is now 52 years since RODMAN DAM was closed across Florida's OCKLAWAHA RIVER
Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca, like many others who are TRULY interested in seeing--in our lifetimes--Rodman (Kirkpatrick) Dam breached and the Ocklawaha River restored to free-flowing again (from Silver Springs to the St. Johns), is patiently waiting to see what is "next" from the Florida Defenders of the Environment, Florida Wildlife Federation, U.S. Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and EARTHJUSTICE about Ocklawaha River restoration!
http://fladefenders.org/?p=183
http://earthjustice.org/cases/2014/removing-an-outdated-dam-on-the-ocklawaha-river
30 September 2020 is the 52nd anniversary of this REAL FLORIDA Tragedy!
View this extremely rare photo of Florida's Ocklawaha River that was taken just before Rodman Dam was closed 9-30-1968 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Ocklawaha River was still free-flowing (under a seemingly well-constructed roadway bridge) through a reportedly 200-foot-wide gap of the earthen dike prior to the closure of Rodman Dam on September 30, 1968. This photograph was just recently (25 August 2013) re-discovered by Captain Erika Ritter in her family's archives.
It may be speculated that this is the picture that "THEY" have been hiding for all these years from the view of Ocklawaha River restoration advocates and supporters--including RIVER BASS ANGLERS in Marion County who would like to catch both LARGEMOUTH BASS and STRIPERS! This particular snapshot gives a hint of possibly how simple and inexpensive it would be for Rodman Dam (a.k.a. Kirkpatrick Dam) to be breached allowing the 56-mile Silver and Ocklawaha River system to be free-flowing again through a 200-foot-wide gap in the earthen dike. Florida MANATEES and spawning STRIPED BASS would once more be able to travel unimpeded between the St. Johns River and Silver Springs. LARGEMOUTH BASS would still be plentiful with many of trophy size. Marion BLUE SPRINGS (somewhat comparable to the Ocala National Forest's Juniper Springs) and the other 20 or so artesian springs now drowned under Lake Ocklawaha (a.k.a. Rodman Reservoir or Rodman Pool) would be re-born as clear-water "jewels" available for use by manatees, fish, and human divers or swimmers.
VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBPAGE
"September 30, 1968: An Infamous Date for the Ocklawaha River"
"September 30, 1968 An INFAMOUS Date for Florida's Ocklawaha River"
An Information, Opinion, Photos, & Sources Report
Compiled by
Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca
With the assistance of Captain Erika Ritter
Email: ocklawahaman1@gmail.com
End.