House approves Ocklawaha River restoration bill despite lawmaker’s fears for rural Florida

By a 107-3 vote, the House passed a bill to restore the Ocklawaha River to its natural flow and breach the Kirkpatrick Dam.

Some lawmakers have called HB 981 one of the biggest environmental projects the state has ever taken up, similar to the Everglades restoration.

“With the restoration of the Ocklawaha River, we had the opportunity to reunite rivers to restore some of our vibrant springs communities and bring manatees back to places where they once lived,” said Rep. Lindsay Cross, a St. Petersburg Democrat who is an environmental scientist. “This will be something that we look back at decades from now as a crowning jewel of the state of Florida.”

But one lawmaker who represents Putnam County, where the river runs through, stood against the bill on the House floor and argued it could hurt rural Florida.

“One thing my community has had for generations is the Rodman Reservoir. It’s our place. It’s where people fell in love. It’s where kids learned to fish. It’s where even today some families still put food on the table. Many in my district do not have much, but what they do have, they cherish,” said Republican Rep. Judson Sapp.

“Rodman attracts tourists who come for world-class bass fishing. That matters. It matters for small business, for local jobs, and for a rural community that cannot afford to lose another thing.”

Rep. Kevin Chambliss, a Homestead Democrat, and Rep. Lauren Melo, a Naples Republican, joined Sapp in voting against Republican Rep. Wyman Duggan’s bill.

Meanwhile, the Senate companion bill (SB 1066) sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur, a Lake Mary Republican, is ready for the full Senate floor.

Even as the river restoration project gains momentum in the Legislature, it remains to be seen whether it escapes Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen.

DeSantis has a history of vetoing the Ocklawaha River money.

“Stay tuned!” DeSantis Press Secretary Molly Best said when reached for comment Wednesday on DeSantis’ intentions if the Legislature passes the river restoration bill.

Duggan hinted that the bill already had input from DeSantis as he advocated for it on the House floor.

“This legislation, built on collaboration with community stakeholders, the Legislature, and the Governor, is long overdue,” Duggan said. 

The nearly 80-mile Ocklawaha has statewide importance because it is the main tributary to the St Johns River, the longest river in Florida.

HB 981 would order the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a plan to restore the Ocklawaha River by Jan. 1, 2027, and complete the work by Dec. 31, 2032.

“If enacted, the legislation would reconnect Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha River to the St. Johns River for the first time in more than half a century — restoring a vital floodplain forest, reviving springs and fisheries, expanding public access to world-class outdoor recreation, and strengthening rural and riverway economies across Northeast Florida,” the Great Florida Riverway Trust said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote.

In addition, the bill seeks to expand outdoor recreational activities, such as manatee viewing, paddling tours and more in Putnam, Marion, Clay and St. Johns counties.

The bill creates the 19-member Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council.

Those who are chosen will not get paid and will help oversee the outdoor recreation plan that will get additional state grant funding.

The Governor will appoint nine members to represent river recreation businesses, anglers, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, environmentalists and commerce. Local communities, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville will also have representation on the group.

One of the most controversial issues of the project was removing the Kirkpatrick Dam, originally known as the Rodman Dam, which became a popular place to fish.

The dam was built in 1968 at a time when a project to slice through Florida and create a barge canal to run coast to coast was still in motion. 

Former President Richard Nixon halted the Cross Florida Barge Canal in 1971 and years of litigation, questions and delays carried on for years about what to do with the land.

Environmentalists and river enthusiasts have fought to restore the river, which they said would help native fish thrive and uncover 20 hidden natural springs. In turn, those would bring tourists happy to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature.

“Florida has a proud tradition of doing the hard right thing to protect our natural heritage from the Everglades to the Kissimmee River. And the Oklahoma River deserves that same commitment,” Duggan said. “For nearly 60 years, Floridians championed the restoration and waited for their leaders to act.”

Meanwhile, Sapp argued restoring the river could threaten waterfront homes, cause flooding and lower property values.

“My community will never be the same again if this passes,” the Green Cove Springs Republican said.