Bring Back the Fish

Many of the species caught before the river was dammed are no longer present or rarely seen in the upper reaches of the Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs. The Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam has not only impacted the natural section of the Ocklawaha it has also reduced fish and shellfish populations in Silver Springs, the St. Johns River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Many species depend on migration upstream or downstream from Silver Springs to the Atlantic. And the sluggish river, reduced freshwater flows, warmer water temperatures from blocked springs, and unfiltered water due to lost wetland forests have negatively contributed to St. Johns River Estuary fish habitat.

In addition to good fishing, a restored river would bring back much larger striped bass (not the hybrid sunshine version) and would create a more sustainable fishery from the Ocklawaha to the St. Johns and the Atlantic Ocean. Lost fish is not the only environmental impact, a sluggish, warmer river has created massive islands of invasive aquatic vegetation that impede navigation and block boat ramps along the riverway.

The poster to the right highlights species that have or are disappearing from the Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs. Other essential species such as the striped and white mullet and channel and white catfish have been decimated. These fish helped keep the ecosystem in balance by consuming algae and cleaning the river bottom. They were a focal point for tourists at Silver Springs. Recent studies show those iconic species are being replaced by exotic fish like the Tilapia and Armored Catfish.

The only way to get these species to come back and bring back their productivity is to provide a natural river connection by breaching the Rodman Dam.