If you care about the future of Florida’s wild spaces — its wetlands, its fisheries and its water security — now is the time to act. Powerful interests are once again trying to erase Rodman Reservoir from the map, and this time they may have the funding to do it.
Buried in the proposed state budget is a line item that would dedicate money toward removing the dam. If this survives the budget negotiations between the House and Senate — or avoids a veto from the governor — it opens the floodgates to a destructive, costly and short-sighted dismantling of one of Florida’s most vital freshwater resources.
Even more troubling, the sponsor of the funding bill made no effort to consult with the local state delegation, county commissions, or the municipalities in Marion and Putnam counties — communities that will be directly and permanently affected by the reservoir’s removal.
The proposed “partial restoration” plan offers no meaningful mitigation. It includes:
- No replanting of shorelines
- No filling of the Cross Florida Barge Canal — the very scar on the land that led to the dam’s construction
- No funds for actual restoration, which could cost billions
At the same time, Florida is spending billions statewide to construct reservoirs to store and treat nutrient-laden water using aquatic vegetation — a natural filtration system that Rodman already provides. It’s absurd to tear down one of the few existing systems that actually works.
Rodman sits 19 feet above sea level and holds 21 billion gallons of freshwater. The St. Johns River Water Management District has identified it as a future alternate water supply capable of delivering up to 30 million gallons a day to offset aquifer damage caused by sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. Rodman already meets the criteria for both resiliency and water security — two of the state’s highest infrastructure priorities.
Meanwhile, no one is talking about removing other dams in the watershed — like those at Moss Bluff, Haines Creek, or Lake Rousseau — despite the fact that they predate Rodman and have similar ecological impacts. Why the singular focus here?
The truth is simple: Florida’s growth will outpace the capacity of the aquifer by 2050. Without reservoirs like Rodman, the state will face a water crisis of its own making.
If Rodman goes, so does a world-class fishery, a sanctuary for countless species, and a vital water resource for future generations.
Act now. Demand the removal of the budget line item. Share the facts. And visit the Save Rodman Reservoir Facebook page to learn more and get involved.
