Agency
1997The Effects of Proposed Restoration on Manatees and Manatee Habitat
- Author
- Kent Smith
- Source
- Florida DEP
Analysis of Rodman/Ocklawaha manatee use and restoration implications.
Our advocacy is grounded in scientific research, government reports, and expert analysis. All sources are linked and verifiable.
This website presents advocacy positions based on peer-reviewed research, government studies, and expert analysis. We prioritize official government reports and published scientific research over anecdotal claims. Every claim can be traced to the sources listed below.
We encourage visitors to examine primary sources directly and draw their own conclusions.
Research on manatee populations, habitat requirements, and ecosystem connectivity
Analysis of Rodman/Ocklawaha manatee use and restoration implications.
Comprehensive recovery plan addressing warm-water refuges and habitat connectivity.
Policy and advocacy discussion explicitly referencing breaching the dam and restoring access.
Analysis of manatee habitat potential and benefits of dam removal.
Information on flooding impacts, river miles, and Cross Florida Barge Canal legacy.
Research on Florida springs accessibility and "thermal network" for manatees.
Information on reservoir management, water flow, and spring systems
Official St. Johns River Water Management District page on Silver Springs minimum flows and levels. Documents the science behind spring flow decline - primarily caused by groundwater withdrawals, not dam-related head pressure. Includes historical flow data and recovery strategies.
Peer-reviewed academic paper analyzing spring flow variability in Florida's karst aquifer systems. Provides scientific evidence that spring discharge is controlled by aquifer recharge and groundwater extraction rates, directly refuting claims that downstream impoundments like Rodman Dam could suppress spring flows.
USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5144. Comprehensive study of Silver Springs hydrology, nutrient loading, and factors affecting spring discharge. Demonstrates that groundwater withdrawals and aquifer levels - not surface water impoundments - are the primary drivers of spring flow changes.
Live USGS monitoring station data for Silver Springs (Station 02239500). Shows real-time and historical discharge measurements, proving spring flow decline correlates with regional groundwater pumping trends, not Rodman Reservoir water levels.
Official data summary on drawdown mechanics, frequency, and water quality impacts.
Educational overview of drawdown frequency, duration, and mechanics.
Official information including drawdown schedule details and reasons.
Notes on drawdown timing and details for aquatic plant control and habitat.
Water quality data, algae blooms, and submerged aquatic vegetation
How nutrients (N & P) fuel blooms and sources of nutrient pollution.
Official water management district information on algae blooms and nutrient dynamics.
Hurricane Irma's impact: tannins/dark water → light limitation → SAV stress.
Submerged aquatic vegetation decline post-Irma with light limitation and eelgrass habitat details.
Peer-reviewed research on SAV patterns, tannins, and light dynamics.
Historical background on Rodman Dam and the Cross Florida Barge Canal
Comprehensive narrative with key figures: 7,500 acres flooded, 20 springs submerged.
Overview and argument that Rodman is a vestigial canal-era dam without modern purpose.
Moss Bluff Lock & Dam purpose and history: "reconstructed in 1968" for navigation purposes.
Supplementary sources and background information
Official guidance on health impacts and management of harmful algal blooms.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's mercury testing program for freshwater fish.
Comprehensive guidebook on fish consumption advisories.
Scientific research and advocacy for Florida springs restoration and protection.