GUEST

Restore the Great Florida Riverway

Elizabeth Neville
Elizabeth Neville

Fifty years ago – in a victory for Floridians and our environment – President Richard Nixon signed an executive order halting the construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Today the canal and its surrounding lands form a greenway, but the project’s remnants continue to harm the Great Florida Riverway. That's why thousands of riverway supporters – the “Voices for the Rivers” – are working to give this economic and environmental treasure a brighter future.

The Great Florida Riverway is a vast 217-mile system of rivers and springs that flows north from Lake Apopka to the Lower St. Johns River estuary ending at the Atlantic Ocean. The riverway supports many diverse river communities and ecosystems – including more than 50 freshwater springs, forested wetlands in the Ocala National Forest and the flowing waters of the 100-mile St. Johns River estuary.

Like the Everglades to the south, restoring the Great Florida Riverway is vital to improving the ecological and economic health of north and central Florida. Breaching the Rodman/Kirkpatrick dam is crucial to restoring the natural flow of the impounded Ocklawaha River – which is the heart of the Great Florida Riverway and has been designated as one of America’s most endangered rivers by American Rivers.

Recently more than 22,000 letters from riverway supporters were delivered to Gov. Ron DeSantis, asking him to restore the Great Florida Riverway. While the press often reduces this issue to a tired dichotomy of "environmentalists vs. bass fishermen,” the reality is that restoring this river system has a passionate and diverse base of supporters. It includes anglers, scientists, business owners, paddlers, outdoors enthusiasts, boat captains, environmentalists, artists and politicians across the political spectrum.

Our reasons for supporting this restoration are varied and multifaceted.

Some supporters are focused on the benefits to water quality and wetlands. In all more than 15,000 acres of forested wetlands would be restored, improving the water quality of the St. Johns River ecosystem and reducing the threat of harmful algal blooms. Wetlands restoration would also help to capture and store carbon, which in turn would reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases. In addition we would support coastal resiliency by restoring more than 150 million gallons per day of freshwater flow to the St. Johns River estuary.

Other supporters are excited about the riverway’s potential to provide essential warm water winter habitat for hundreds of manatees – which could be done by recovering the Ocklawaha’s submerged freshwater springs and improving access to Silver Springs.

There are also significant economic benefits to restoring the Great Florida Riverway. University of Florida economist emeritus Alan Hodges has projected that restoration would have a $47.3 million net benefit over 10 years – as well as a benefit-cost ratio of 1.76 (in other words, we would yield $1.76 in net benefits for every $1 invested).

Finally, community and conservation leaders are working together on transformational recreational amenity concepts, such as the Kirkpatrick Outdoor Center, that would support the economy and the area’s outdoor traditions.

Gov. DeSantis has pledged to improve Florida's economy while also ensuring clean water for all Floridians. By restoring the Ocklawaha River, DeSantis can accomplish both goals – and develop a Great Florida Riverway that's worthy of its name.

Elizabeth Neville is the senior Gulf Coast representative for the Defenders of Wildlife.