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NFC: Fw: AMRIVERS alert: FLORIDIANS -- HELP RESTORE THE OCKLAWAHA TIME IS LIMITED!
Here's what this alert is about:
FLORIDIANS -- HELP RESTORE THE OCKLAWAHA – TIME IS LIMITED!
----------------------
We need your help to defeat Florida Senate Bill 1976/House
Bill 1599 – the Anti-Ocklawaha Restoration Bill. The time
is now to educate Florida Senators and Representatives who
may soon vote on this legislation.
The bills would designate the Kirkpatrick Dam, Rodman Pool,
and Buckman Lock as a state recreation area, administered
by the Division of Recreation and Parks of the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection. The area is
currently managed for multiple-use as part of the Marjorie
Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, so the bill is not
necessary for recreation. The true purpose of the bill is
to block restoration of the Ocklawaha River by prohibiting
alteration of the area.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has
permit applications pending to conduct restoration. The
opponents of restoration will attempt to use this bill to
block review of the permits and consideration of the
overwhelming scientific and economic evidence supporting
restoration of the Ocklawaha River. For more information on
the bills, visit Florida Defenders of the Environment’s
webpage at http://www.fladefenders.org/actionalerts.shtml
or call 352-378-8465.
Support Ocklawaha restoration by emailing the letter below
to your Representative and Senator, the members of the
Senate Comprehensive Planning, Local, and Military Affairs
Committee, and Senate President Toni Jennings.
Also please fax the Senators – listed below – who have not
yet decided how to vote on SB 1976:
SWING VOTES: Fax These Senators!
Senator Charles Clary (R), Fax: (850) 833-9158
Senator Roberto Casas (R), Fax: (850) 487-5842
Senator Anna Cowin (R), Fax: (850) 487-5842
Senator Locke Burt (R), Fax: (850) 487-5542
Senator Walter Campbell (D), Fax: (850) 487-5394
Senator W.D. Childers (R), Fax: (850) 484-5100
Senator Mandy Dawson (D), Fax: (850) 487-5841
Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R), Fax: (850) 487-5429
Senator Howard Forman (D), Fax: (850) 487-5841
Senator Steven Geller (D), Fax: (850) 487-5428
Senator John Grant (R), Fax: (850) 487-5842
Senator James Hargrett (D), Fax: (850) 487-5442
*Senate President: Senator Toni Jennings (R), Fax: (850)
487-5844
Senator Daryl Jones (D), Fax: (850) 487-5450
Senator Ron Klein (R), Fax: (850) 487- 5456
Senator Thomas Lee (R), Fax: (850) 487-5485
Senator John McKay (R), Fax: (850) 487-5842
Senator Richard Mitchell (D), Fax: (850) 487-5495
Senator William Myers (R), Fax: (850) 487-5842
Senator Kendrick Meek (D), Fax: (850) 487-5540
Senator Tom Rossin (D), Fax: (850) 487-5496
Senator James Scott (R), Fax: (850) 487-5296
Senator Jim Sebesta (R), Fax: (850) 487-5517
Senator Ronald Silver (D), Fax: (850) 487-5525
Senator Daniel Webster (R), Fax: (850) 487-5527
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INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=147997A6909B956935352C64802
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program, and edit
the letter below as you wish. If your email program does not have
a "reply to sender" option, you can copy and paste the letter below into
a new email message and mail it to
alert-response-147997A6909B956935352C64802 at actionnetwork_org.
You must include the whole letter in your response including "-YOU MAY
EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END OF LETTER-". Please do not
add your name and address to your letter. Action Network automatically
does this for you.
We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to our sample letter
below, and put the alert talking points into your own words. An
individualized letter is worth ten computer generated letters. Of
course, hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large impact,
so please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.
Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Senator Toni Jennings
Senator Patsy Kurth
Senator William Myers
Senator Howard Forman
Representative Jerry Melvin
Senator Lisa Carlton
Senator Steven Geller
Senator Charlie Clary
Senator Charlie Clary
Senator Tom Lee
Senator Richard Mitchell
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
Along with the 43 local, state, and national conservation
organizations that have formed the Alliance to Restore the
Ocklawaha River, I urge you to vote against SB 1976/HB
1599. These bills would designate the Kirkpatrick Dam,
Rodman Pool, and Buckman Lock as a state recreation area.
The area is currently used for recreation as part of the
state's Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, so the
bill is not necessary for recreation. The true purpose of
the bills is to block restoration of the Ocklawaha River by
prohibiting alteration of the area as it existed on January
1, 2000. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
has permit applications pending to conduct restoration. The
opponents of restoration will attempt to use this bill to
block review of the permits and consideration of the
overwhelming scientific and economic evidence supporting
restoration of the Ocklawaha River.
Draining Rodman Pool, breaching Kirkpatrick (Rodman) Dam,
and filling Buckman Lock would restore 16 miles of the
Ocklawaha River, 7,500 acres of floodplain forest, and 20
natural springs. This restoration would bring multiple
benefits to people and wildlife. Restoration would create a
60-mile scenic canoeing trail to the St. Johns River with
public lands on both sides and would provide more diverse
recreation in the area including bank fishing, camping,
hiking, and hunting. The restoration will uncover 20
springs that have been drowned by the impoundment; the
largest of which—Blue Springs—had a pool the size of a
football field and discharged nearly 7 million gallons of
freshwater per day.
Leaving the dam and lock in place carries a significant
economic and ecological toll as well. The dam and lock are
the number one structural cause of manatee deaths in the
St. Johns basin. They cost $300,000-500,000 per year to
operate, currently require up to $2.5 million for repairs,
and will require many millions of dollars in the future for
repair and replacement. A restored river runs for free.
Part of the dam and impoundment occupy the Ocala National
Forest under an expired special use permit. Renewal would
require expensive new environmental studies and the
approval of a federal agency that has supported restoration
for 30 years. The dam blocks the movement of striped bass,
channel catfish, shad, eels and other fish to upstream
areas.
Again, I urge you to oppose SB 1976/HB 1599. This
legislation should not be allowed to block the ecological,
recreational, and economic benefits that restoration of the
Ocklawaha River will bring to Floridians now and in the
future.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------
Sincerely yours,
robert rice
2213 prytania circle
prytania circle
navaree, FL 32566
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