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Manatees of the Ocklawaha River, Florida
2017-04-10
2017-02-20
An Information, Opinion, & Sources Report
Compiled by Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca
With the assistance of A Cruising Down the River Captain Erika Ritter
Original Article Posted to Internet: 21 July 2011
Original Webpage Created: 20 November 2011
Original Webpage Last Revised: 22 February 2017
THIS WEBSITE CREATED: 22 February 2017
This Website Last Revised: 23 October 2020
"The story of 'LEESBURG' the Manatee" from the Lake County Water Authority -- see link
http://lcwa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=ee2b89db61bd472cbaa400c19a2e446f
Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca and A Cruising Down the River Captain Erika Ritter have now logged over 80 Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) observations since 2008 in the Ocklawaha River (and Silver River) upstream of Rodman Reservoir.
We log and attempt to take photos -- this is not always easy -- of any manatee sightings on the Ocklawaha River (and Silver River) above Rodman Reservoir. These records are then emailed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Save the Manatee Club. Some manatees have been identified by their PROP-SCARRED BACK DESIGNS from these photos.
NOTE: Some of the credible written works by others (i.e., magazine/newspaper articles, web pages, etc.) that are referenced in this report would not be considered "peer-reviewed" scientific documentation.
NOTE -- IF NEEDED: Right-click-on individual photos then "Open image in new tab" to ENLARGE them!
MANATEE sightings during 2019 in the Silver River (that we actually witnessed)
2019-04-07: TWO manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River at about 1045 to 1230 hrs EDT. ONE manatee had an electronic tracking collar float attached to it.
2019-04-07
2019-04-07
2019-03-23: FIVE manatees (2 cows, 2 calves, & a juvenile adult) were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River at about 1150 to 1230 hrs EDT.
EMAIL FROM MONICA ROSS regarding observation of MANATEES by Capt. Erika S. Ritter on March 23, 2019 TO Paul Nosca & Erika S. Ritter:
Thank you so much for the forward and thank you Erika for taking the time to forward your photos.
The large manatee in photos 1771 and 1772 is Millie. I cannot identify the other animal she is with but she doesn't have a calf with her yet and that animal is fairly big. He/she doesn't look it up against Millie but Millie is a BIG girl. We saw Millie yesterday and last week but based on her behavior, I am expecting she may have a calf any day now.
The mother/calf pair in photos 1774 & 1776 are Esme and her calf (we haven't named yet). We did not see her yesterday but we did see four other manatees besides Millie in the river.
When our tagged manatee Trevluc was locked through the Buckman on 3/21, he was with 16 other manatees. Burrell Lock reported four manatees in their lock on the 25th to FWC field biologist but they could only get photos of one of the animals.
They are moving all over the system...tis the season!
Monica Ross, M.S.
Senior Research Scientist
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
Email: mross@cmaquarium.org
Cell: (407) 739-9260
http://www.cmaresearchinstitute.org
www.manateerescue.org
2019-03-23
2019-03-23
2019-03-23
2019-03-23
MANATEE sightings during 2019 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2019-06-05: ONE adult manatee was seen at about 1500 hrs EDT by Captain Erika Ritter, Mrs. Connie Mercer, and the Ocklawahaman in river mile 33 of the Ocklawaha River.
MANATEE sightings during 2018 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2018-11-20: ONE adult manatee was seen at 1600 hrs EST by Ocklawahaman in river mile 40 of the Ocklawaha River. The river water temperature was 73 degrees F.
2018-09-18: ONE adult manatee was seen at 1430 hrs EDT by Ocklawahaman in river mile 37 of the Ocklawaha River. The river water temperature was 80 degrees F.
2018-09-17: TWO manatees (an adult & a juvenile) were seen at 1500 hrs EDT by Ocklawahaman in river mile 33 of the Ocklawaha River. The river water temperature was 80 degrees F.
2018-09-17
2018-09-17
2018-09-17
2018-09-17
2018-09-17
2018-09-17
2018-09-02: ONE manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter in river mile 31 of the Ocklawaha River.
2018-06-24: THREE manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in river mile 32 of the Ocklawaha River.
MANATEE sightings during 2018 in the Silver River (that we actually witnessed)
2018-10-12: SIX manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
2018-10-12
2018-10-07: FOUR manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
2018-06-03: FOUR manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter at 0950 hrs EDT in the Silver River.
2018-06-03
2018-04-13: ONE adult manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter at 1025 EDT in the Silver River. This manatee had an electronic tracking collar float attached to it.
2018-04-07
2018-01-07: ONE adult manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
MANATEE sightings during 2017 in the Silver River (that we actually witnessed)
2017-04-02
2017-04-02
2017-04-02: ONE young (about 9 feet long) manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter at 1116 hrs in the Silver River.
2017-03-10: ONE young (an alone infant?) manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
MANATEE sightings during 2017 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2017-08-28: ONE adult manatee (moving downstream) was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1130 hrs EDT within river mile 37 (about 3 miles upriver from Eureka CR-316 Bridge). Water temperature 78 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 35.32 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 20.77 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-06-13: ONE adult manatee (moving downstream) was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1150 hrs EDT within river mile 43 (about 1 mile upriver from Gores Landing). Water temperature 77 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 35.27 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 20.50 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-06-07: TWO adult manatees were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1620 hrs EDT within river mile 33 (Eureka area). Water temperature 77 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.02 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 20.17 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-06-05: ONE adult manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1610 hrs EDT within river mile 33 (Eureka area). Water temperature 77 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.00 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 20.00 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-05-09: ONE adult manatee (moving upstream) was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1330 hrs EDT within river mile 40 (about 2 miles downriver from Gores Landing). Water temperature 74 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 33.81 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.40 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-05-09
2017-04-11: ONE manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1240 hrs EDT within river mile 33 at the Eureka Lock. Water temperature 73 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.33 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.37 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-04-11
2017-04-11
2017-04-10: ONE manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1300 hrs EDT within river mile 33. Water temperature 73 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.34 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.38 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-04-10
2017-03-18: FIVE manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter at about 1215 hrs EDT within river mile 33. No photos were taken as her cell phone camera was full of pictures. Erika was in a hurry to load her pontoon boat onto its trailer at the Eureka West Boat Ramp for a 1330 hrs EDT trip at Silver River from Rays Wayside. NO manatees were seen by Capt. Erika on Silver River on 2017-03-18.
2017-03-13: TWO manatees (separately), a juvenile then an adult later, were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1330 and 1630 hrs EDT within river mile 33. Water temperature 72 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.03 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.05 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-02-20: THREE manatees (moving downstream) were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1445 hrs EST within river mile 33. Water temperature 73 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.18 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 18.93 feet NGVD 1929.
2017-02-20
2017-02-20
2017-02-20
2017-02-20
2017-02-20
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2017-02-20
2017-02-20
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2017-02-20
2017-02-20
MANATEE sightings during 2016 in the Silver River (that we actually witnessed)
2016-12-31: At least FOUR manatees were seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
2016-12-17: ONE manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter in the Silver River.
2016-12-31
MANATEE sightings during 2016 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2016-10-24: A single manatee (an adult with a prop-scarred back moving downstream) was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1245 hrs EDT within river mile 46. Water temperature 73 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.82 feet NGVD 1929.
2016-07-06: A single manatee (a juvenile moving upstream) was seen by Ocklawahaman at 1520 hrs EDT within river mile 36. Water temperature 79 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.34 feet NGVD 1929.
2016-05-17: THREE manatees (moving downstream) were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1540 hrs EDT within river mile 36. Water temperature 75 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.56 feet NGVD 1929.
MANATEE sightings during 2015 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2015-05-18: THREE manatees (moving upstream) were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1700 hrs EDT within river mile 35. Water temperature 75 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 35.34 feet NGVD 1929.
2015--05-18
MANATEE sightings during 2014 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2014-06-12: SIX manatees (4 adults & 2 calves/juveniles) were seen by Ocklawahaman at 1800 hrs EDT within river mile 35. Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 36.78 feet NGVD 1929.
NOTE: From that day's photos that I emailed to the Save The Manatee Club, the USGS has tentatively identified two manatees: (1) BS336, Snorty a.k.a. Dragon and (2) BS558, Duke.
2014-06-10: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman at 0940 hrs EDT within river mile 34. Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 36.62 feet NGVD 1929.
2014-06-12
2014-06-12
2014-06-12
MANATEE sightings during 2013 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2013-11-25: A single manatee was seen by Captain Erika Ritter and Mrs. Connie Mercer (with her two nephews).
2013-04-23: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman within river mile 33. Water temperature 72 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 34.10 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.46 feet NGVD 1929.
2013-04-23
2013-04-23
2013-04-23
2013-04-23
2013-04-23
MANATEE sightings during 2012 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2012-10-02: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman. Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 35.13 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 20.79 feet NGVD 1929.
2012-09-05: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman, Captain Erika, and Mr. Frank Pattie. Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 35.40 feet NGVD 1929.
2012-06-24: A single manatee was seen by Captain Erika (and her 6 passengers) during T.S. Debby rains.
2012-05-31: Two manatees (an adult and a juvenile) were seen by both Captain Erika & Ocklawahaman. Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 37.25 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 18.88 feet NGVD 1929.
2012-05-30: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman (there may have been a second smaller manatee also). Water temperature 76 F. Conner (SR-40) gage 37.31 feet NGVD 1929. Eureka (CR-316) gage 18.80 feet NGVD 1929.
2012-05-23: A single manatee was seen by Captain Erika and Mr. Frank Pattie.
2012-05-31
Slow Please
Report Manatee Injuries: 1-800-404-FWCC
Provided by Save The Manatee Club
Signs (with wording very similar to the paragraph just above) were posted at the Kenwood, Paynes Landing, Eureka East (CR-316), Eureka West (CR-316), Gores Landing, & Rays/Ocala Boat Basin (SR-40) boat ramps in June 2012. They were requested by Capt. Erika Ritter.
2011-04-23
2011-04-23
SOME FLORIDA MANATEE INFORMATION
Captain Erika Ritter and Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca had the rare opportunity to observe as many as five Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) together in the middle Ocklawaha River near Eureka during the last couple weeks of April 2011. The Eureka area is about 33 river miles upstream from the St. Johns River and about 21 river miles upstream from the Kirkpatrick (Rodman) Dam. Manatees -- probably including these five and maybe even a couple more -- were also reportedly seen up to 23 miles further upriver at Silver Springs (which is the 73-degree F supreme headwater of the Ocklawaha) or the Silver River during several different months of 2011.
2011-04-23: Conner (SR-40) gage 35.94 feet NGVD 1929; Eureka (CR-316) gage 19.88 feet NGVD 1929.
Additional observations of one or two manatees at a time had been reported occasionally by Ritter, Nosca, and others from 2008 to 2011 along the middle Ocklawaha River and Silver River.
Manatee sightings near Eureka in 2011 began about March 6th and continued sporadically until approximately November 2nd. By the beginning of March or November in that year, the daily average water temperature for this segment of the mainstream Ocklawaha had reached some 70 to 72 degrees F -- the river's flow having either just warmed or cooled from where it had been for the previous couple of months.
Manatees apparently are able to swim upstream without any great difficulty against the swift 1-mph current of the middle Ocklawaha River. An experienced canoeist or kayaker paddling their watercraft cannot follow manatees that are traveling upriver without soon falling far behind. The manatees appear to move, unhurriedly, towards the current at perhaps 4 to 5 mph. Maximum upstream speed of a man-powered canoe or kayak on the middle Ocklawaha is about 3 mph.
One of the five manatees seen in April 2011 was "Bertram" who is identifiable by his number 47 freeze-brand. He has an interesting life history to read about which is available online. In short, "Bertram" was about 20 years old in 2011 and has been taken out of the St. Johns River Basin at least twice for "rehab" at Sea World near Orlando. "Bartram" is the name of his twin brother.
2011-04-23
"Save the Manatee Club" from 2011:
"Ocklawaha River, Florida: In April of this year, Paul R. Nosca and Captain Erika Ritter spotted five manatees on the Ocklawaha River, which flows north from central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka. They reported that the manatees were feeding and swimming for about an hour and that one of them had a #47 tattoo. Adoptive parents of Phyllis from Blue Spring will be delighted to know that #47 is Bertram, one of her two twins born in 1991."
2011-03-05
2011-03-05
MANATEE sightings during 2008 in the middle Ocklawaha River (that we actually witnessed)
2008-07-07: A single manatee was seen by Ocklawahaman within river mile 33.
In order for them to migrate upstream on the Ocklawaha River, manatees have to enter Rodman Reservoir via the Cross Florida Barge Canal through the Henry H. Buckman Lock (lock tender phone# 386-329-3575) which reopened for navigational and manatee-safe passage in 2005. Florida Department of Environmental Protection lock tender employees at Buckman manually record both IN and OUT the amount of migrating manatee individuals during the year. This maintained written log of manatee traffic is not computerized as of latest communication. https://www.floridastateparks.org/trail/Buckman-Lock
It could be presumed that manatees might traverse the Cross Florida Barge Canal anytime that the water temperature is maybe 72 degrees F or warmer. In 2012 the water temperature of the adjacent St. Johns River first increased to about 72 degrees F near the middle of March.
NOTE: Daily and recent water temperatures (in degrees C and F) of the St. Johns River just downstream of the mouth of the Cross Florida Barge Canal (which leads to the Buckman Lock) can be read at the webpage of the "USGS 02244040 ST. JOHNS R AT BUFFALO BLUFF NEAR SATSUMA, FL" stream-flow gage:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/uv/?site_no=02244040&agency_cd=USGS
You may have to enter a new "Begin date" and "End date" at that webpage!
"CAUTION MANATEE AREA" sign at the eastern (to St. Johns River side) approach to Buckman Lock
East gate (to St. Johns River side) of Buckman Lock
A renown Pulitzer prize winning newspaperman and outdoors writer, who passed away in 2009, had been quoted by proponents of retaining Rodman Reservoir (in their introductory newsletter which is available as a hardcopy) as having written:
"The tiny trickle of the old Oklawaha would have barely covered the backs of some of the 13-foot, 3000 pound manatees."
"They would be easy victims of many accidental manatee deaths from any outboard boat that tried to navigate the river. They better stay in the big water."
Although manatees seem to be warmly clothed in whale-like blubber, they in fact require small protected waters of 68 degrees F and warmer such as natural artesian springs and spring runs for survival during the winter.
Laist, D.; C. Taylor; & J. Reynolds (2013): http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058978
"To mitigate effects of inevitable power plant closures, a long-term program to improve manatee access and protection at springs is required. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in particular has begun taking important, well-placed steps in this regard, but further actions are needed. Among them are the following: ...(2) removal of dams obstructing manatee access to major springs and river segments, particularly those along the Ocklawaha and Withlacoochee Rivers;...and (6) experimental efforts to move some manatees (perhaps initially using rescued animals scheduled for release back into the wild) from the Atlantic Coast and Southwest Florida regions to springs now unused or little used by manatees (e.g., Silver Spring on the Ocklawaha River and Rainbow Spring on the Withlacoochee River)."
The Florida manatee is listed as an "endangered species" and is fully protected under both federal and state law.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) spreadsheet file of Ocklawaha River / Rodman Reservoir manatee sightings from 1974 into 2012:
2011-04-23
SUGGESTED READING
Callahan, J. 2010. "Students get eyeful of sea cow at Silver River" article. Ocala Star-Banner newspaper (3 June 2010) that is available on an Ocala.com webpage. Ocala, FL.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20100603/ARTICLES/100609913
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 2000. "Sea stats: manatees, Florida's gentle giants" pamphlet. Florida Marine Research Institute (St. Petersburg, FL), FWC, Tallahassee (TAL), FL. Available as a hardcopy.
Habitat Working Group. 2007. Historical manatee habitat of the Ocklawaha River and effects of proposed restoration on manatee use; a white paper prepared by the Habitat Working Group. The Habitat Working Group, a subgroup of the Florida Manatee Recovery Team.
Available as a "Microsoft Word" document.
Hamaker, E. 1987. "Manatee sightings raise eyebrows at attraction" article. Ocala Star-Banner newspaper (4 July 1987, page 1A). Ocala, FL.
Laist, D.; C. Taylor; & J. Reynolds. 2013. Winter habitat preferences for Florida manatees and vulnerability to cold. PLOS ONE 8(3): e58978. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058978. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058978
Muller & Associates, Inc. 2007. Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway management plan (15 June 2007). Prepared with Office of Greenways & Trails, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), TAL, FL.
https://www.americantrails.org/images/documents/CrossFLgreenwayMgmtPlan.pdf
Nosca, P. 2016. "The Springs of the Ocklawaha River, Florida: From Rodman Dam Upstream to Eureka Dam (River Miles 12 to 33)" webpage report. "Ocklawahaman" website. Paul Nosca, Eureka, FL.
Ritchie, B. 1995. "Another dead manatee found near dam" article. Gainesville Sun newspaper (25 August 1995, page 3B). Gainesville, FL.
Save The Manatee Club. 2011. "Meet the manatees: Bertram and Bartram; first recorded twins at Blue Spring State Park" article. Save The Manatee Club webpage. Maitland, FL.
Smith, K. 1997. The effects of proposed restoration of the Ocklawaha River in the vicinity of the Rodman basin on manatees and manatee habitat; report for the Office of Greenways & Trails (July 1997). Prepared for Office of Greenways & Trails, FDEP, TAL, FL.
http://myfwc.com/media/415372/Manatee_rodman.pdf
Thompson, P. et al. 2008. Petition for a rule to revise critical habitat for the Florida manatee, Wildlife Advocacy Project, Save the Manatee Club, Center for Biological Diversity, & Defenders of Wildlife (19 December 2008).
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Florida_manatee/pdfs/ManateeCHPetition.pdf
USFWS. 2010. 12-month finding on a petition to revise critical habitat for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Issued 12 January 2010. North Florida Ecological Services Office webpage, USFWS.
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Manatee/2009_CH_Petition/20100112_frn_Manatee_CH_12-mo_notice.htm
USFWS. 2012. "Sightings 1974 - 2012" [Rodman Reservoir manatees] online spreadsheet report. USFWS field office (10 August 2012), Jacksonville, FL. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxvY2tsYXdhaGFtYW58Z3g6MzBlMzI0MTczNzA3ZjllZg
Williams, T. 2012. "Has one Florida dam's day finally come?" webpage article. Audubon Magazine (July-August 2012). National Audubon Society, NY, NY.
http://mag.audubon.org/articles/conservation/has-one-florida-dams-day-finally-come
Old GRAPHIC Photos of MANATEE (Sea Cow) Hunting
(Before it became illegal)
From the "FLORIDA MEMORY COLLECTION" ARCHIVES:
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/33328
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/143778
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/142786
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/141596
The original "Manatees of the Ocklawaha River, Florida" webpage is located at:
https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahaman/manatees-of-the-ocklawaha-river-fl
How about an ANNUAL SILVER SPRINGS MANATEE FESTIVAL?
THE PHOTO ABOVE was captured by Capt. Erika Ritter on January 26, 2014 while we were attending the "Annual Orange City Blue Springs Manatee Festival" at Orange City/Blue Springs State Park in Volusia County, Florida.
FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM so that we can start planning our first ANNUAL SILVER SPRINGS MANATEE FESTIVAL!
Orange City, Florida Volusia County Blue Springs has been hosting an "Annual Orange City Blue Springs Manatee Festival" since 1985 and it generates tourism which generates much charity and business revenue dollars for that community. Volusia Blue Spring Run is maybe one half mile in length before it discharges into the St. Johns River.
http://themanateefestival.com/history.html
Just imagine the impact to Florida of an ANNUAL SILVER SPRINGS MANATEE FESTIVAL on the 5-mile long Silver Springs-Silver River natural spring-fed tributary supreme headwater of the Ocklawaha River!
Compare SILVER SPRINGS to VOLUSIA BLUE SPRINGS
https://www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/springs/silver/
https://www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/springs/blue-volusia/
Which one could hold more Florida manatees in the winter?
SNOOK and TARPON at the Ocklawaha River, Silver River, and Silver Springs of Marion County, Florida? Why Not?
On January 26, 2014 while at the Blue Spring State Park "Manatee Festival" near Orange City, Florida, "A Cruising Down the River" Captain Erika Ritter and "Ocklawahaman" Paul Nosca observed snook and tarpon along with many manatees, large channel catfish, tilapia, and longnose gar in the waters of (Volusia County) Blue Spring Run. This first magnitude artesian spring run empties into the St. Johns River some 145 river miles upstream (south) from the Atlantic Ocean mouth of the St. Johns near Jacksonville, Florida. This water is quite fresh -- planned freshwater drinking water withdrawal locations from the St. Johns River are even many miles downstream from here.
Note that the Ocklawaha River empties into the St. Johns River about 100 river miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. And note that SNOOK and TARPON seek-out fresh warm (70's) spring water in the winter when their usual fresh-to-brackish-to-salt water habitats drop into the 60's or 50's.
Snook and tarpon (for tourists to view or for anglers to catch) in the waters of the Ocklawaha River, Silver River, and Silver Springs of Marion County, Florida -- maybe 115 to 155 miles or so upstream of the Atlantic Ocean? WHY NOT? ONE Possible Answer: Rodman Dam a.k.a. Kirkpatrick Dam!
"FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM"
"FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM"
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