Current Conditions
- Putnam County and the Silver Springs community are experiencing poor economic conditions.
- Putnam and Marion Counties’ out-of-area visitor counts are considerably lower than the state average. Out-of-area visitors spend more money a day.
- Annual direct visitor expenditures are estimated at $6 million at the Rodman reservoir sites compared to $20 million at the natural Ocklawaha river sites.
- Annual use of the reservoir recreation sites has been on a downward trend since 2004, while use of the Ocklawaha river sites remained steady and consistently increased over three years.
- Trophy bass fishing has declined evidenced by fishing tournament results and bait shop closures.
- The reservoir area is an unreliable recreational resource due to frequent aquatic weed blockages.
- Out-date lock and dam structures currently need significant repairs estimated at $4 million.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- Direct visitor expenditures in the restored natural river increase by millions annually (See above).
- Revenues from expanded recreational uses such as striped bass sport fishing, paddling, snorkeling, boating, hiking, camping and mountain-biking are expanded.
- Percent of out-of-area visitors increase in Putnam and Marion Counties, driving receipts up.
- Short-term jobs created include conducting river restoration and construction efforts.
- Long-term jobs are created in the hospitality industry, guide services, recreational vehicle and equipment sales and other related areas.
- Value of 7,500 acres of re-established forested wetlands is estimated at $50,000-$75,000 per acre due to water quality, flood protection, and habitat value they provide (FDEP mitigation value).
- Added 150 million gallons a day of water supply created from springs uncovered and reduced evaporation have significant economic and environmental value.
Current Conditions
- Fish diversity and quantity have declined due to loss of floodplain habitat.
- Migrations of once-abundant native anadromous fish species are now essentially blocked.
- Migratory fish can no long move from upstream freshwater spawning habitat to downstream estuarine nursery and feeding habitat.
- Freshwater-tolerant coastal estuarine fishes and mobile invertebrates such as Striped Mullet, Sheepshead and Blue Crabs have lost their ability to move through the ecosystem.
- Essential riverine fish habitat needs include uninterrupted flow, oxygenation, and natural river level fluctuations have been negatively altered by dam and artificial impoundment.
- Original dynamic free-flowing river has been altered to a sluggish, weed-filled impoundment.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- Fish diversity and abundance restored in the upper Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs.
- Once abundant fish populations access upriver spawning and trophic habitat.
- High-quality sportfishing expanded in the river for species such as the Striped Bass and American Shad.
- The upper river is enriched from transfer of fish eggs, larvae and excreted nutrients.
- More migratory and transient fish available to predatory fishes, alligators, ospreys, eagles and others.
- Natural connectivity and functionality between free-flowing river and downstream estuary is restored for species like the White and Channel Catfish, once seen through Silver Springs’ glass bottomed boats.
- Tributary flows from Orange and Deep creeks are re-established increasing stream habitat for potentially two listed species.
- Ecotourism expands for boaters, paddlers, and snorkelers interested in viewing fishes, including large sturgeons in the clear waters of the restored river and springs.
Current Conditions
- One of Florida’s longest undisturbed river systems is altered impacting historic Silver Springs, the Ocklawaha, the St. Johns River and connected tributaries.
- Acres once hosting valuable wetland forest, a diminishing habitat, are now a declining water reservoir.
- Wildlife corridors for birds and mammals from the Ocala to the Osceola National Forest is severed.
- The connection between the coastal estuary of the St. Johns River and the free-flowing Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers, important to migratory fish, shrimp, crabs and aquatic species, is not functioning.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- The river system from Silver Springs to the estuaries of the St. Johns River is thriving and productive.
- Major conservation areas are connected from the Ocala to the Osceola National Forest.
- Connectivity is increased due to the critical linkage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor for roaming black bears and panthers.
- Rare and endangered birds and mammals of the cypress and mixed hardwood swamps return.
- Habitat is increased for birds such as warblers, vireos, neotropical migrants, owls, and wood storks.
- Up to 12 listed plant species are reintroduced or revitalized, based on USFS projections.
Current Conditions
- Manatees have lost much of their warm water winter refuge habitat in recent years.
- Natural spring habitat has diminished due to reduced flows from groundwater pumping and impaired water quality. Many power plants with refuge sites are being retired.
- More manatees are attempting to find a pathway to Silver Springs through the Buckman Locks and Rodman Dam. Many have difficulty returning to open water.
- Manatees are congregating at nearby sites such as Welaka, Salt Springs and Silver Glen Springs.
- Sightings in the Buckman Locks area increased from 246 in 2014 to 454 in 2018
- Manatee habitat areas, such as Blue Springs State Park, are overcrowded.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- A natural river gateway is provided in and out of the Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers by connecting the natural river and removing barriers obstructing manatee access.
- Almost twenty natural springs are uncovered, a magnet for manatees.
- A haven is created for manatees at historic Silver Springs, increasing visitor counts.
- Pressure is taken off other site such as Blue Springs.
- Manatees assist in consumption of invasive aquatic vegetation, reducing the need for herbicides.
Current Conditions
- Temperature at the Rodman Reservoir is higher than the natural river.
- Velocity on the damned portion of the Ocklawaha River is slower.
- Stagnant water at the dam allows for sediment, nutrient and contaminant buildup.
- All of these conditions have resulted in loss of fish and wildlife diversity and an increase in invasive aquatic plants causing frequent river and ramp blockages.
- Public health advisories have been issued for fish caught above and below the dam.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- Temperature of a restored Ocklawaha is estimated to drop by almost 10 degrees.
- Velocity of a free-flowing river will be greater.
- Invasive aquatic weeds decrease due to reduced temperatures and nutrients, and increased flow.
- Approximately 7,500 acres of forested wetlands are restored that were destroyed by the dam.
- More than 8,000 acres of floodplain forest are improved between the dam and the St. Johns River.
- Forested wetlands provide valuable nutrient and contaminant filtering and natural flood protection.
- The food web in the Silver, Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers is improved by reducing undesirable bacteria in phytoplankton communities, assisting in meeting water quality standards.
Current Conditions
- The Rodman Reservoir experiences a net loss of 5 to 10 million gallons per day of freshwater by evapotranspiration from the Rodman pool compared to a natural river corridor. This estimate does not include effects of water temperature and wind which increase the net loss of freshwater
- Twenty known springs are inundated by the impoundment of the Rodman Reservoir.
- Silver River discharge has decreased by approximately 35 percent since the dam was put in place largely due to groundwater pumping.
- Water supply is too expensive to economically treat for consumption, due to contaminants from herbicides used on invasive aquatic weeds and other pollutants.
Benefits of Partial Restoration
- Net increase in freshwater flow of 5 to 10 million gallons a day to the Lower Ocklawaha and St. Johns rivers just from reduction of evapotranspiration off the open reservoir.
- Additional flow of 97 to 266 million gallons per day into the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers from springs that are no longer drowned by the Rodman impoundment.
- New spring flows provide some degree of thermal cooling.
- Increased flow, temperature reduction, improved clarity, and reduced use of herbicides improves overall water quality.