Pulling the Plug on History 

With an arctic blast crippling much of the country, you may be considering a trip to Florida to escape the weather. The Sunshine State rarely disappoints as a way to bring your mood up in dreary January. Cold fronts here just last a couple days.

Traveling anglers will need to decide on a place to fish. Fellsmere’s bass meccas – Stick Marsh, Headwaters and the like – will attract lots of visitors. Many, though, will stop short to sample Rodman Reservoir, currently lowered for a draw-down.

Nearly every avid bass angler has heard of Rodman. The famous reservoir was created in 1968 as the result of a failed channelization project and remains one of the greatest trophy largemouth bass fisheries in existence. Over time, Rodman has cranked out more 10-pound bass than any other body of water in Florida, and still does. 

The drawdown brings increased attention from anglers, but also from individuals and organizations that would like to see Rodman drained for good. For decades, Rodman has been labeled as an environmental mistake and one worthy of correcting through removal. 

You’ll see strong evidence for both sides of the argument. Not surprisingly, some present inaccurate details and mistruths. I can help you sort those. 

I’ve been on, in and around Rodman for most of my life, first as an angler and later as a freshwater advocate. I’m familiar with the talking points and see what’s been left out. Most importantly, I work and study full-time to protect the St. Johns River, of which Rodman’s Ocklawaha River is a major tributary.

Limited on space, I’ll cut to the key points. When discussing removal of Rodman Reservoir, we must keep in mind:

Water quality benefits

The biggest threat to Florida’s already imperiled waterways is nutrient pollution. Excessive phosphorus and nitrogen are pounding our freshwater systems, leading to algae blooms and catastrophic habitat loss. Those in favor of removing Rodman cite increased flow to the St. Johns River as a desirable outcome. 

That flow, however, is already polluted, as can be seen upstream at Silver Springs where nutrients are dangerously high.

Currently, that same water runs down the Ocklawaha River and into the headwaters of Rodman, where it is met by a massive, diverse plant community, absorbing nutrients as the water proceeds. 

No study discusses nutrient levels within the river and reservoir, the role plants play in removing these nutrients and the effects of losing these plants, as would be the case if the reservoir was eliminated. Details matter. 

In the case of nutrient pollution elsewhere in Florida, managers are building large, diverse wetlands to uptake excessive nitrogen and phosphorus. Rodman provides that role now, yet remains on the chopping block. All the details have not been thoroughly discussed.

Fish and wildlife habitat

Both the Ocklawaha River and Rodman Reservoir provide diverse habitat for a number of species. The riverine environment was once home to numerous migratory fish and animals that have seen their range impeded or eliminated due to the reservoir. Advocates for removal of Rodman point to species like American eels, striped bass and manatees as the likely beneficiaries of a restored river. 

Rodman in its current state, however, provides key habitat for others, notably American alligators, bald eagles, large populations of gamefish, and numerous endangered or threatened plants and animals. Removal of the large waterbody will significantly reduce or eliminate the populations of many of these. 

The wins and losses column for each has never been fully investigated or reported. In addition, protocols put in place to ensure such careful examination appear to have been ignored. Finally, impacts to the Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers, should the dam be breached or removed, have not been presented. Immediately concerning are the impacts of manatees on remaining vegetation.

Economic Impact

It’s easy for bass anglers to understand the economic boom brought as a result of fishing. It's a subject frequently reported on by tournament organizations and chambers of commerce. In the case of Rodman, however, the figures remain obscure. Like the other issues discussed here, economic impact as a result of future decisions has not been impartially investigated.

In its current state, Rodman Reservoir attracts more visiting anglers than any freshwater resource in north Florida. While this is extremely evident during the drawdown period, it's less visible, but true, year round. As a guy who frequents a lot of area boat ramps, I can attest that more anglers fish on Rodman Reservoir than anywhere around. It’s the only remaining resource in north Florida still supporting a full-time guiding industry, for example. 

Advocates in favor of removing Rodman point to increased eco-tour and paddle sports activities should the reservoir be removed. A plus here would be an influx of recreationalists likely concerned about the environment, something our area could use more of. However, paddle and eco-tour opportunities currently exist on the Ocklawaha above and below the reservoir, yet see little engagement. Would a restored Ocklawaha River boost enthusiasm enough to overshadow anglers spending millions each year on the reservoir? Again, there has been no true apples-to-apples study.

A number of other areas of concern pop up when discussing removal of a large reservoir in the middle of Florida. Highs and lows exist for each viewpoint. 

Until we get all of those viewpoints expressed in a room overseen by the scientific community, the future of Rodman will remain unclear. Unfortunately, misinformed politicians and social media buzz seems to now be fueling this argument, rather than water samples and the Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Perhaps restoration of the Ocklawaha River will be the greatest comeback story in Florida’s resource history. Then, again, it may be looked at in the rearview mirror as a calamity.

For now, it remains an environmental gamble in the midst of a losing streak.

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.

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