Our Mission
The Great Florida Riverway Trust was established to support America’s next great restoration project – reuniting the Great Florida Riverway, a 217-mile system joining historic Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Reconnecting this 217-mile system by breaching a portion of the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam, would reconnect and restore four ecosystems: the Ocklawaha River, Silver Springs, the lower St. Johns River and the coastal Atlantic Ocean of the southeastern United States.
This nationally significant project, beginning at Lake Apopka near Orlando and ending at the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville, helps restore 50 springs and three rivers, directly or indirectly benefitting 12 Florida Counties. It is essential to maintain Florida as a leading state in the nation for tourism, to provide long-term water resources for millions of central and northeast Florida residents, and to strengthen the Florida Wildlife Corridor and its $30 billion-dollar outdoor economy.
Breaching the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam to restore this riverway avoids a dam failure with potential loss of life, provides upstream and downstream resiliency, enhances water quality, and reconnects a critical migratory path for fish and manatees and a historic blueway for people. It helps revitalize vital fisheries in the lower St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers. It can provide much-needed warm water winter manatee habitat for 10+ percent of Florida’s suffering manatee population.
As a 501(c)4 organization, the Trust is unique in its ability to urge elected leaders – at every level of government – to breach this more than fifty year log jam and free a vital 217-mile riverway. To accomplish this mission, we will provide the history, science, economics and facts to key local, regional, state and federal leaders for informed decision making on this critical restoration project. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with conservation, outdoor recreation, business and tourism organizations.
It is also our goal to support leaders in developing a vision and strategy for complementary recreation and community infrastructure to ensure this project provides strong economic benefits to local communities for years to come
The History
In the 1900s, a national push for expansion and progress in Florida resulted in the damming, diking and destruction of two of America’s national treasures – America’s Everglades and the Great Florida Riverway. This valuable 217-mile system reaches from its headwaters at the Green Swamp and Lake Apopka in Central Florida along the Ocklawaha River to historic Silver Springs and finally to the St. Johns River ending at the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. The Great Florida Riverway was severed in 1968 by the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam, part of the unfinished and ill-conceived Cross Florida Barge Canal.
The dam flooded more than 7,500 acres of forested wetlands, 20 springs and 16 miles of the Ocklawaha River. The continued decline of water quality, spring flow, wetland forests, fish, wildlife, and recreation led American Rivers to designate the Ocklawaha River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2020.
The more than 50-year-old, high-hazard dam also poses a significant threat, specifically to 539 properties located downstream. A dam failure could cause catastrophic flooding resulting in potential loss of life and millions in damages. On the other hand, breaching the dam and partially restoring the free-flowing river would eliminate the risks of a dam failure and provide thousands of acres of natural flood storage.
Today, most Americans agree that the building of the dam was a tragic mistake, significantly impacting the water, wildlife and natural beauty of the Sunshine State.
The Biggest Conservation Bill for 2026
Restoration
Restoring the Ocklawaha river to its natural, free-flowing state, with restoration activities completed by 2032. Reconnects Silver Springs, near Ocala, and the Silver and Ocklawaha rivers to the St. Johns River.
Economic Development
Facilitated by Florida Department of Commerce with input from local communities, the economic development program would create jobs, attract business investment, and diversify the economy in Putnam and Marion counties.
Outdoor Recreation
Local public outdoor recreation projects, as well as a grant program for four counties along the Ocklawaha, Silver and St. Johns riverway would expand public spring and river access with upgraded boat ramps, bank fishing areas, fishing piers, and other projects.
The Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs and Community Investment Act
On January 5, 2026, Florida lawmakers Sen. Jason Brodeur and Rep. Wyman Duggan filed SB 1066 and HB 981 entitled the “Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act.” Most likely the biggest conservation bill of the 2026 legislation session, this bold proposal takes a new approach to Ocklawaha River restoration designed to address the needs of the twelve counties that border the riverway from Lake Apopka to Jacksonville. The bill would expand outdoor recreation opportunities, improve public safety and resiliency, and strengthen the rural economy across Northeast Florida while improving the water and wildlife of multiple natural ecosystems – the Silver, Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers and historic Silver Springs.
A Broad-based Investment Benefiting a 12 County Region
Local Advisory Committee Shapes the Plan: Creation of an advisory committee consisting of local governments, business owners, conservation representatives, fishermen and other user groups along with state agency representatives to assist in developing and implementing plans for local economic development, outdoor recreation, and strategies to assure a smooth transition for homeowners and businesses directly impacted by the restoration project.
Legislation
Ocklawaha River Restoration: Science and Economics Report
Improves three rivers, springs & the Florida Wildlife Corridor
Expands river & springs access
- Shore and boat-based fishing
- Paddling, swimming, and wildlife viewing
- Hiking, biking and camping
- Tourism and local businesses
Creates jobs & strong communities
- $198.23 million in cumulative net economic benefits over 20 years.
- Creating new jobs in construction, tourism, outdoor recreation and related areas
- Increasing tourism and outdoor recreation use
- Sustaining St. Johns River fishing, shrimping and crabbing industries
- Revitalizing Silver Springs State Park and surrounding area
- Reduction of potential $57 million in economic risk from dam failure
