Advocates Push to Reunite Two Florida Rivers Decades After Canal Project Abandoned

Environmentalists seek to remove dam and restore natural flow of Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs system

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:06pm

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Decades after the abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal project, advocates are pushing to remove the Kirkpatrick Dam and reunite the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers in northeast Florida. The dam and reservoir have disrupted the natural ecosystem, drowning springs and impacting wildlife. While some local groups oppose removing the dam due to the reservoir's economic benefits, environmentalists argue restoring the river would revive a 'national treasure' and allow nature to 'do its thing'.

Why it matters

The Cross Florida Barge Canal project was halted in 1971 due to environmental concerns, but the dam and reservoir built for the project have continued to negatively impact the local ecosystem. Removing the dam would restore the natural flow of the rivers and springs, benefiting wildlife and the overall health of the region's waterways.

The details

The Kirkpatrick Dam was built as part of the abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal project, creating the Rodman Reservoir which has submerged 9,500 acres of land, including parts of the Ocala National Forest, 20 springs, and wildlife crossings used by manatees. Every few years when the reservoir is drained, the springs reemerge and the land returns to its natural state, but environmentalists want to permanently open the dam to fully restore the Ocklawaha River and its connection to the Silver Springs system.

  • The latest drawdown of Rodman Reservoir started in October 2025 and ended in early March 2026.
  • The Florida legislature considered a bill in 2026 that would have supported a $70 million project to restore the Ocklawaha River by opening the dam over four years, but the bill did not pass before the legislative session ended.

The players

Florida Defenders of the Environment

A non-profit environmental organization advocating for the permanent removal of the Kirkpatrick Dam to restore the Ocklawaha River.

Nina Bhattacharyya

The executive director of Florida Defenders of the Environment.

Save Rodman Reservoir

A group that opposes permanently emptying the Rodman Reservoir, arguing it has become an important recreational and economic resource for the local community.

Steve Miller

The president of Save Rodman Reservoir.

Joshua Alexander

A Putnam County Commissioner who argues that removing the dam would negatively impact the local economy.

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What they’re saying

“By removing the dam, we would reunite the waters. We would have springs reemerge. Wildlife would be able to move back and forth — migratory fish, manatees and so much more. Removal of the dam would really fix a wrong that was created decades ago.”

— Nina Bhattacharyya, Executive Director, Florida Defenders of the Environment

“Something is going to happen, maybe next year, maybe in a couple of years. Something has to be done.”

— Jason Brodeur, State Senator

“This system is a national treasure. Hundreds of millions of gallons of fresh water feed and cool the river. Before the dam, you had a direct waterway to the ocean with small springs all along the way.”

— Mark Emery, Nature Filmmaker

“There's a bigger picture than what is being shown. Don't gamble away on speculative outcomes.”

— Steve Miller, President, Save Rodman Reservoir

“We have created chicken salad out of chicken. We are not a rich economy, and I believe it would affect our economy.”

— Joshua Alexander, Putnam County Commissioner

What’s next

The advocates for restoring the Ocklawaha River plan to regroup and identify the best strategy for moving forward after the recent legislative setback. They remain optimistic given the strong bipartisan support the bill received before the session ended.

The takeaway

The decades-long effort to remove the Kirkpatrick Dam and restore the natural flow of the Ocklawaha River highlights the complex balance between environmental preservation and economic interests. While the dam's removal would revive a 'national treasure' and allow nature to heal, local groups argue it would negatively impact the regional economy. This debate reflects the broader challenge of undoing past environmental mistakes while accounting for the human communities that have adapted to those changes.