Committee advances bill to restore Ocklawaha River, adds Navy officer to advisory council
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Summary
The Natural Resources Committee reported HB 981 favorably (16-0) after proponents and opponents debated environmental restoration, local water impacts and economic benefits; sponsor Duggan added the commanding officer of NAS Jacksonville to the advisory council by amendment.
Speaker pro tempore Duggan introduced HB 981, the Northeast Florida River Springs and Community Investment Act, describing it as a community-driven plan to balance conservation, economic development and recreation tied to restoring the Ocklawaha River.
The sponsor explained and offered an amendment to add the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Jacksonville to the bill’s 15-member advisory council; the committee adopted that amendment by voice vote and then heard public testimony. Duggan said the Department of Environmental Protection would oversee restoration and noted that "the US Army Corps of Engineers. They have designated it as a high hazard dam." He framed the issue as regional, saying the Ocklawaha touches 12 counties and raising concerns about properties at risk.
Opponents including JR Grimes, a local cattle farmer, and Putnam County Commissioner Larry Harvey told the panel the bill could harm local water levels. Grimes said he had "had to turn my pumps on to keep my cattle ponds full" after drawdowns. Harvey called it "not a community wide bill," stressed the reservoir’s value as an alternate water supply for Putnam County, and noted a prior state appropriation of about $1,700,000 to maintain the dam.
Proponents included conservation groups, local officials and scientists. Chip, vice president of the Great Florida Riverway Trust, urged restoration while promising transition support for anglers and communities. Nina Bhattacharya of the Reunite the Rivers Coalition described a 60-plus organization coalition backing the bill. Casey Fitzgerald, science advisor to the Great Florida Riverway Trust, recommended the Ocklawaha River Restoration Science and Economics Report as a fact-based tool.
Economist Alan Hodges summarized the economic analysis, citing a Pew-funded estimate that removing the Kirkpatrick (Rodman) Dam would cost about $70,000,000 with an additional $25,000,000 for recreation improvements — a $95,000,000 total over five years — and projected visitation and economic gains with a reported benefit–cost ratio around 1.32. Hodges said drawdowns in past years produced increased visitation to normally submerged springs.
Linda Myers, president of the Great Florida Riverway Trust, outlined four bill components: resiliency, revitalization (an economic development program for Putnam and Marion counties), recreation (state projects and a local grants program), and restoration to reunite the Ocklawaha and Silver rivers and uncover submerged springs.
After sponsor closing remarks and committee debate in which Representatives Cross and Mooney voiced support, the clerk called the roll; the committee recorded 16 yays, 0 nays and reported HB 981 favorably.
The committee’s action advances the bill to the next stage of consideration; no floor action or implementation schedule was set during the hearing.
