TALLAHASSEE, FL (352today.com) – On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, Florida lawmakers Sen. Jason Brodeur (R, 10th District) and Rep. Wyman Duggan (R, 12th District) introduced the Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs and Community Investment Act in the state Senate and House.
If passed, SB 1066 and HB 981, respectively, would require the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to create a plan to breach Rodman Reservoir’s Kirkpatrick Dam in Putnam County, and engage in a multi-agency project to oversee the commercial, recreational and environmental aspects of allowing the Ocklawaha River to return to its natural waterway, connecting the Silver, Ocklawaha and St. John’s rivers and Silver Springs and impacting the 12 Florida counties along the watershed, including Alachua, Lake, Marion and Putnam counties in the 352.
The legislation represents the culmination of a long-term effort by environmentalists, civic leaders and business interests alike to restore the Ocklawaha. Proponents of the plan claim it will not only eliminate the dangers presented by Kirkpatrick Dam (which is categorized as a “high hazard” by the State of Florida due to the potential loss of life and property should it fail) and return a large portion of northeastern Florida wetlands to their natural state, but also provide widespread economic opportunities for job creation, increased environmental and recreational tourism, and business attraction and diversification.
“The Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs and Community Investment Act is our region’s Everglades restoration, reconnecting rivers, improving fishing and boating opportunities, and benefitting communities along the 217-mile riverway,” said Rep. Duggan in an announcement. “It’s time to let the Ocklawaha flow again.”
According to a fact sheet distributed by the Great Florida Riverway Trust, a recent analysis estimates that the effort could create 859 job-years’ worth of economic benefits, totaling $198.23 million over 20 years and offering a return of more than $2 for every dollar invested.
“The Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act delivers a fresh approach to restoring the Ocklawaha River designed to expand outdoor recreation and support economic growth,” said Sen. Brodeur. “It ensures communities around the Rodman Reservoir remain strong and positioned for long-term success, while bringing broadscale benefits to a 12-county region from the headwaters of Lake Apopka to the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.”