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Ocklawaha River Basin
Favorable Governmental Actions
ACHIEVED or NOT
An Information, Opinion, Photos, & Sources Report
Compiled by Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca
Created: 19 February 2016
Last Revised: 19 October 2020
NOTE -- IF NEEDED: Right-click-on individual photos then "Open image in new tab" to ENLARGE them!
Since 2004, Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca has communicated with and offered data or opinion to the appropriate Florida and/or U.S. agencies seeking favorable governmental actions for issues that impact the ecology and/or the quality and safety of outdoor recreation in the Ocklawaha River basin.
THESE FIVE FAVORABLE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR
(1.) October 1, 2006
Repeal of the Florida statute (Section 790.11) that prohibited the possession of firearms outside of hunting seasons in any National Forest of this state. The Ocala Wildlife Management Area (Ocala WMA) is almost totally comprised of the Ocala National Forest.
http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2006-103.pdf
(2.) July 1, 2008
Also impacting the Ocala WMA and the Gores Landing Unit Wildlife Management Area -- Changed the wording of Florida Administrative Code 68A-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas to
(6) Guns:
(a) Possession of guns or firearms is allowed on wildlife management areas pursuant to the provisions of Florida Statutes, unless as otherwise prohibited under the legal authority of the landowner, lead managing agency, military installation commander, or pursuant to federal law. During periods closed to hunting or when the firearm is not a legal method of take, firearms shall be securely encased in a vehicle, vessel, camper, or tent, except those persons in possession of a valid Concealed Weapon or Firearm License may possess concealed handguns. No person shall discharge any gun for testing or target practice, except on a Commission shooting range or at Commission sponsored events.
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=68A-15.004&Section=0
(3.) March 26, 2009
2941 acres of Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway lands were incorporated into the Ocala WMA as legal for public hunting. This increased the total acreage of the Ocala WMA from 382,408 to 385,349 acres. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Establishment Order document can be viewed at bottom of this webpage.
http://myfwc.com/media/2447242/2007-2008-No-Net-Loss-Report.pdf (382,408 acres)
http://myfwc.com/media/2447245/2008-2009-No-Net-Loss-Report.pdf (385,349 acres)
(4.) May 13, 2015
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), some 22,440 live Atlantic-race STRIPED BASS fingerlings were stocked -- for the first time -- back into the free-flowing Ocklawaha River system at Eureka and Gores Landing (many miles upstream of Rodman [Kirkpatrick] Dam and Buckman Lock) on May 13, 2015. Atlantic-race striped bass were historically native to the Ocklawaha River as far upriver as Silver Springs and Moss Bluff. The FWC and USFWS documents announcing this stocking of striped bass can be viewed at the bottom of this webpage.
(5.) February 11, 2016
On February 11, 2016 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the new BLACK BASS daily bag and size limit regulations which will go into effect on July 1, 2016!
http://myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2016/february/11/bass-management/
JULY 8, 2016 UPDATE:
Ocklawahaman is very pleased to announce that on July 1, 2016 the new
BLACK BASS daily bag and size limit regulations went into effect in Florida!
http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/
Sign posted at an Ocklawaha River boat ramp
FAVORABLE GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE ACHIEVED!
OCKLAWAHA RIVER RESTORATION BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN (KIRKPATRICK) DAM
Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca advocates for the breaching of Rodman Dam and the partial restoration of the more than 10,000 acres of the Ocklawaha River and its floodplain swamp forest plus some 20 artesian springs that remain abnormally inundated by Rodman Reservoir. Analysis of USGS hydrological data since 1931 appears to show a huge loss of the Ocklawaha River Basin's historic water contribution to the St. Johns River -- a result of evapo-transpiration caused by Rodman Dam. Also, only about 2.5% of the Ocklawaha's pre-Rodman flow is available for migration of fish between the St. Johns River and the Ocklawaha River -- using Buckman Lock. And the pre-Rodman Dam Ocklawaha River-Silver River system was the only striped bass successful natural spawning habitat (needs about 50 miles of swift-flowing stream) in the entire St. Johns River basin. The Ocklawaha River-Silver River mainstream should be free-flowing once again for the 56 river miles from Silver Springs to the St. Johns River.
Petitioning:
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
"FREE THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER BY THE BREACHING OF RODMAN DAM"
Email: ocklawahaman1@gmail.com
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