The current was slight and we made or way to where the spillway from the dam meets the river at mile 1.65. The Rodman dam, which has been a controversial issue in North Florida for decades, was built as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. Required fields are marked *. Kirkpatrick Dam is less than a mile west of the campground and offers a boat ramp to the Ocklawaha River, fishing piers, picnic areas and restrooms. “It is a slow process,” said Margaret Hankinson Spontak, a Marion County resident who chairs the Ocklawaha coalition. Side Paddles: There are some branches that parallel and connect to the river in this section, but are not really considered sides paddles as they are less wide, not often used and most likely blocked with fallen trees. Rest Areas: Davenport Landing, around mile 4.5 offers the best and only chance to exit your boat, stretch, relax and use the woods as a restroom if necessary. Rodman Reservoir is in Putnam County and considered a premier largemouth bass fishery located in north Northeast Florida, covers 9,500 acres, and is about 15 miles long. Tree trunks and branches continually pile against the dam's upstream side. As we reached the 3 mile mark, there were much less downed trees and the foliage of the trees showed hints of Fall despite still being in the 90°s. Remnants of the old landing were covered by the higher water and vegetation. Recently, and in days past, there has been quite a bit of controversy over the dredging of the river for JAXPORT and getting rid of the George Kirkpatrick Dam (Rodman Dam). That's a legacy of the hasty construction of the dam … Historical Weather. Marjorie Harris Carr, past president of Florida Defenders of the Environment played a key role in fighting against the continuing of The Florida Barge Canal through the Ocklawaha River. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. The 67-site Rodman Campground is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Palatka off State Route 19 on Rodman Dam Road. Rodman, built on the Ocklawaha River, is the last remnant of the ill-fated Cross Florida Barge Canal, which was halted in 1971, when it was only a third complete. Coalition members have begun conversations with politicians and groups that feel a stake in the areas around the Ocklawaha, which in April was named one of America's most endangered rivers by the national American Rivers organization. A project that created the Rodman Dam and Reservoir while also becoming the largest public works project in America to halted in the middle of construction. Ron DeSantis. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers work out plans for next year’s budget. Location: The ‘Lower’ Ocklawaha River is usually considered the section from the Eureka Dam on Hwy 316 East of Ft. McCoy, to its confluence with the St. Johns River. Current – Tidal: There are no noted springs along this section of the river and depth is controlled by rainfall and Rodman Dam. A four-gate spillway (Kirkpatrick Dam) controls the water levels of the reservoir. Seen here is Rodman Dam along the Ocklawaha River. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. It also features fishermen saying their views have changed. It's another defeat for the people who want to get rid of Rodman Dam. The Rodman dam, which has been a controversial issue in North Florida for decades, was built as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. Launch point: The launch is located at Kirkpatrick Dam Canoe/Kayak Launch on the west side of the dam spillway. That's a legacy of the hasty construction of the dam … 2007-2008 Rodman Reservoir Drawdown Photos. To find Rodman Dam enter the 29.509693 latitude, and -81.805916 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. Rodman Dam Spillway with its four 40-foot wide floodgates above a 6-foot elevation concrete crest. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is PALA which is approximately 13 miles away and has an elevation of 70 feet (50 feet higher than Rodman Dam). Any form of copyright infringement or theft of content from floridapaddlenotes.com is subject to DMCA takedown notice and or legal action. Width and Depth: The river averages between 85′ and 120′ wide. Cypress Trees were displaying their beautiful flower strands called Catkins. The flooded reservoir drowned over 7,500 acres of floodplain forest and 20 freshwater springs. Rodman Reservoir, also known as Lake Oklawaha, is a 13,000-acre lake that is one of Central Florida's finest bass fishing waters. This was an overcast day, temperatures in the low 90°’s with an occasional rain shower. The first week into the Fall season finds Florida Paddle Notes back on the Ocklawaha River. A federal judge will not reconsider an appeal of an earlier decision to dismiss a lawsuit designed to remove the dam and restore the Ocklawaha river. An Information, Opinion, Photos, & Sources Report. Your email address will not be published. May 18, 2017 — THE PHOTO: My first Ocklawaha River "lunker" largemouth bass caught (and released) after my 65th birthday. Rodman Reservoir (FL) Breaching Rodman Dam would benefit water quality, ecotourism. It is about 15 miles long almost 2 miles wide near the dam. Harvey prides himself on being environmentally conscious and thinks the Rodman Dam is key to that part of the state’s future. If the Rodman is to be emptied out for good, the one person the anti-dam people need in their corner is Gov. The groups are trying to raise their cause’s profile before the Florida Legislature meets in March, although they're not pushing any legislation about the Ocklawaha. It’s history is rich as are the wildlife and surrounding forests. 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