felt justifiably proud of their efforts, they also understood that their fight was far from The Wicked Ditch Will Never Die: The over. Profound questions remained over the On-Going Controversy over Rodman shape of the 77,000 acre linear park that was Reservoir to take the place of the canal. The rancorous

debate over the fate of the Ocklawaha River Steven Noll, University of Florida loomed largest of all. The Rodman Dam David Tedeger, Santa Fe College and its attendant Rodman Reservoir, built as

part of the canal‘s infrastructure in the late On January 22, 1991, Governor 1960s, still remained intact and prevented Lawton Chiles and the Florida Cabinet the Ocklawaha from flowing freely. If the signed a deauthorization bill that finally issue of the dam was not solved to the ended the Cross Florida Barge Canal, the satisfaction of Marjorie Carr, if it still Army Corps of Engineers project designed blocked the river, would her years of hard to cut a 107 mile swash across the Florida work be all in vain? After all, her efforts to peninsula. Started in 1964 and stopped in prevent the canal from being built had 1971 by both presidential edict and judicial started as a campaign to save the river itself. decree, the canal lay dormant for twenty The Rodman controversy provided more years, with not enough political the last, longest, and still on-going chapter support to either re-start the project or in a story that began with European officially stop it. Much of the credit for encounters in Florida as early as the 16th halting the canal went to Marjorie Harris century. Though Spanish explorers searched Carr, the feisty Micanopy scientist and for a water passage across the peninsula, it housewife who made it her life‘s work to was not until Florida became an American fight against the canal and its destruction of territory in 1821 that the push for the her beloved Ocklawaha River. Though Carr development of a cross- peninsular canal and the Florida Defenders of the took shape. Throughout the 19th and into the Environment (FDE), the organization she early 20th centuries (during both territorial helped to found in 1969 to galvanize both and statehood phases), Army Corps of public opinion and the scientific community,

Engineers personnel repeatedly surveyed fragile aquifer. Tying the necessity of the Florida, looking for the optimal route for a canal to national defense issues in a time of canal. While the engineers determined a war, supporters from Ocala and Jacksonville cross- peninsular transit was feasible, they pushed Congress to approve construction of simultaneously concluded that building it the newly-designed barge canal along the would be difficult, expensive, and probably same route as the defunct ship canal. In July not worth the effort. Supporters of a of 1942, Congress authorized the building of waterway, anxious to develop Florida as a the Cross Florida Barge Canal, but did not center of trade and commerce, latched onto allocate any funds for that project. It would the possibility of building a canal and take twenty-two years for the federal assiduously lobbied Congress for funding government to finally provide funding for and support. However, it was not until the canal- and in February 1964, President September 1935, with a need for jobs in the Lyndon Johnson came to Palatka and wake of the Great Depression, that President oversaw the long-awaited ground breaking Franklin Roosevelt allocated $5 million for for the project. Floridians remained the construction of a ship canal across profoundly divided about the necessity of Florida from Jacksonville on the Atlantic the canal, and by the late 1960s public coast to Yankeetown on the Gulf of Mexico. opinion shifted towards ending construction. This 107 mile long, 30 foot deep gash would Marjorie Carr of Gainesville and her utilize the paths of the existing St. Johns, environmental organization, Florida Ocklawaha, and Withlacoochee Rivers to Defenders of the Environment (FDE), cross the state. Within a year, however, proved crucial in that change. In 1969, FDE construction was halted due to significant sued the Corps of Engineers to stop opposition from Florida agricultural interests construction, and in January 1971, both the concerned about the canal‘s potential for courts and President Richard Nixon ordered destroying the state‘s fresh water supply. work halted on environmental grounds: that Refusing to concede their dreams of continued canal construction would economic growth had failed, canal boosters endanger the beautiful, subtropical re-designed the waterway as a shallower Ocklawaha River. Carr and her allies had barge canal which would not harm Florida‘s won a significant victory by halting canal construction, but it took twenty more environmental issues and concerns, activists agonizing years to turn canal lands into a cling tenuously to the memories of their state park. Even with that accomplishment, hard-won political victories (like stopping however, Rodman Dam still blocked the the Cross Florida Barge Canal) and hope flow of the Ocklawaha, making Carr‘s they can re-energize. 2 success incomplete.1 In the summer of 1991, the Florida The on-going controversy over the legislature began the process of preparing to fate of Rodman reservoir reflects broader decide how to best utilize the land once issues surrounding both the political and designated for the Cross Florida Barge environmental history of modern Florida. Canal but now cumbersomely labeled the FDE‘s success in stopping barge canal Cross Florida Greenbelt State Recreation construction represented a watershed and Conservation Area. When the federal moment in the state, as citizen activists government turned the canal property back showed their ability to shape public policy. to the state of Florida in 1990, it mandated It seemed to portend a prospect where that it be turned into a park for the benefit of concern for Florida‘s fragile ecology would state citizens. As the initial part of that become a paramount issue in determining process, the state legislature established the the state‘s political future. But the Canal Lands Advisory Committee (CLAC), continuing Rodman deadlock indicated an advisory board composed of politicians another path, one directed by conservative and interested citizens, whose input would politicians more concerned about help shape the future status of the canal development than the environment. The lands. In recognition of her importance to impasse over the ultimate disposition of the the issues surrounding the disposition of the dam and reservoir, and the fate of the property, the legislature appointed Carr to Ocklawaha River itself, reveals much about serve on the committee, representing ―the the nature of the political culture in the public at large.‖ CLAC‘s primary Sunshine State in the late 20th and early 21st responsibility lay in creating a master plan centuries. With the tide seemingly for the best use of the land. That meant irrevocably turning away from balancing a variety of competing interests,

articulated during more than a year of local hands of state officials. In many respects, public meetings. For Carr and many in FDE CLAC validated much of Carr‘s there was not much to debate. They felt environmental vision. Yet, it abdicated its such passive recreational pursuits as hiking most important responsibility by refusing to and canoeing should stand alone at the address the contentious issue concerning the center of the greenway experience. On the ultimate disposition of Rodman Dam and the east side of the canal cut, however, many of Ocklawaha River. Instead, it voted for yet Putnam County‘s residents remained another study on what to do with the dam, steadfast in their demand for the retention of this time proposing a three year review Rodman Reservoir as a bass fishing under the auspices of the St. Johns River paradise. Spending the weekend trolling on Water Management District. This new a motorized bass boat, they saw ―something review would once again examine the usual magic about the shout of the adult female technical, environmental, and economic when she realizes she has caught her first cost-benefits of the reservoir. The proposal fish. Take them to Rodman reservoir and left many members of FDE howling in enjoy life.‖ All of this was rather alien to protest at what they saw as just another Carr and her allies. For them, fishing was round of delays. With Marjorie Carr now something better experienced on the free- weak with emphysema at the age of seventy- flowing, densely canopied Ocklawaha with a seven, FDE officials plaintively conceded ―canoe or johnboat, . . .not a noisy two-cycle their leader would not live to see her dream smoke-belching gasoline guzzling outboard fulfilled. After the meeting, David Godfrey, engine‖ on what they saw as the flat and FDE‘s Ocklawaha Restoration Project unappealing waters of the stagnant Rodman Director plaintively announced that ―the reservoir. river will not be restored in her lifetime. On September 17, 1992, CLAC met This decision today means that action may in Ocala to issue its final report on the future not even begin in her lifetime‖ (Panel: Study of the Greenbelt, now called the Cross Rodman September 18, 1982). Florida Greenway. As an advisory board, its The September committee meeting recommendations held considerable weight represented an important transitional but the ultimate fate of the land rested in the moment. Besides wrestling with the issues associated with the deauthorization of the considered by some as one of the best bass canal itself, it also introduced state senator lakes in America. In July, the Senator George Kirkpatrick of Gainesville to the encouraged Dan Canfield, a professor at the debate. A member of the state legislature University of Florida‘s Department of since 1980, the fifty-three year old Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, to conduct Democrat quickly became the face of the yet another study–this time specifically movement to retain Rodman Reservoir. designed to refute FDE‘s claim that the Contentious and prickly, he reveled in his reservoir was nothing more than a weed- well-earned reputation as a political street congested ecological disaster. Funded in fighter. ―I‘m someone who comes on the part by the Putnam County Chamber of scene asking the questions that these Commerce, Canfield‘s forty-six page report frustrated rednecks have always wanted to added to the furor over the disposition of ask,‖ he remarked in a 1995 interview. ―I Rodman. Kirkpatrick and pro-Rodman keep refusing to take no for an answer. I‘m supporters used Canfield‘s research to perceived as arrogant. But if someone buttress their position to protect the lake. manages to turn me on their side . . . then Canfield concluded that his study was they‘ve got their own personal Rottweiler.‖ designed ―to determine if a case could be With the influence of senatorial seniority, he made for Rodman Reservoir.‖ Asserting became the chairman of the powerful Senate that the reservoir was ―not a ‗dying‘ water Rules Committee in 1993 and remained a body that is destined for ‗biological senility‘ bitter adversary of Marjorie Carr and other in our lifetime,‖ he added it ―would continue environmentalists who wanted to see the to serve as a refuge for not only fish and Ocklawaha flowing freely (Dunkelberger wildlife, but also anglers.‖ With February 6, 2003; Swirko February 6, 2003). consideration of the reservoir‘s economic Even before the final CLAC benefits for the local Putnam County meeting, Kirkpatrick organized a coalition economy, Canfield reached a simple of interests bent on preserving Rodman conclusion: ―we recommend that Rodman Reservoir, which had become a haven for Reservoir be retained for now. . . . There is recreational and sports fishing, even no compelling biological/ecological reason

to rush restoration at this time.‖ The intensive campaign of intimidation that I scientific rationale behind the Canfield have ever seen.‖ FDE, recognizing report soon became the basis of support for Kirkpatrick‘s power as the incoming keeping the reservoir intact (Canfield chairman of both the Rules Committee and February 1993). next session‘s Appropriations Committee, Canfield delivered his report to accused the Senator of threatening various CLAC‘s September meeting. Kirkpatrick state agencies with budget cuts if they praised the study as a significant blocked any effort to study the lake and dam improvement over previous studies done at once again. Kirkpatrick downplayed his the behest of FDE, which he claimed had influence. ―My effort,‖ he averred, ―has ―numbers . . . quoted from a study done in been to make sure that the recommendation 1988 whose numbers were collected from a is based on accurate information.‖ When report done in 1978 which had been taken asked about his alleged threats, Kirkpatrick straight from biased studies done . . . in the played coy. ―I didn‘t do any of that,‖ he early 1970s.‖ Not surprisingly, FDE said. ―I talked to DNR [Department of dismissed Canfield‘s conclusions as Natural Resources] and asked how we could ―garbage‖ and accused him of being, in their come up with a compromise. There‘s been biting words, a ―biostitute‖ in the pay of no threats by me.‖ With the cockiness that pro-Rodman advocates. CLAC did not take became part of his persona, he loudly FDE‘s assertions at face value; instead, the proclaimed FDE‘s complaints were ―just committee played it safe and concluded that sour grapes‖ (Kirkpatrick n.d. 3; Rodman Canfield‘s study necessitated even further Decision Relayed September 18, 1992; scientific investigation. This further round Hamaker September 18, 1992; Panel: Study of delays led many FDE members to see a Rodman 3 Years September 18, 1982). more sinister reason for the decision in the In December 1992, the Governor and very person of Senator Kirkpatrick himself. Cabinet met in Tallahassee to review Marjorie Carr blasted him for his strong-arm CLAC‘s recommendations on turning the bullying tactics. ―Senator Kirkpatrick has former canal into a linear park. Though the clobbered them [CLAC members],‖ she public meeting dealt with many of the fumed. ―He has carried out the most broader concerns related to the transitional process, contentious debate centered expressed frustration with the glacial pace of squarely on the fate of Rodman Reservoir. resolving the controversy, the amendment Once again, adversaries descended on the passed unanimously. This policy statement capital and staked out their positions to placed the executive branch and its agencies hopefully sway government officials their firmly on the side of Marjorie Carr and river way. This time, however, Marjorie Carr‘s restoration. FDE and fellow illness made her too weak to appear in environmentalists were elated. Calling the person. Instead, her supporters brought amendment a ―wise decision,‖ Timothy along an emotional videotaped appeal from Keyser of the Florida Wildlife Federation their leader. In it, Carr called the agreed that ―restoration of the wildlife Ocklawaha ―a natural work of art‖ and habitat is more important than maintaining a asked the Cabinet to ―restore it and care for degrading [sic] system.‖ From Gainesville, it as if it was a Pieta by Michelangelo.‖ She Carr concurred, ―It is a giant step forward summarily dismissed the economic and for Floridians‖ (Cabinet: Pull Rodman Plug recreational concerns of those who pleaded December 16, 1992; Cabinet Urges End to for retaining Rodman Reservoir. ―I realize Dam December 16, 1992; Castor December bass fisherman will be inconvenienced,‖ she 15, 1992). said. ―I trust they will find good fishing in Not all Floridians were as sanguine nearby lakes.‖ Heeding Carr‘s words, as Carr. In Putnam County, local fishermen Commissioner of Education (and Cabinet expressed disbelief as the Cabinet appeared member) Betty Castor offered an to pull the plug on Lake Ocklawaha. ―I amendment to the CLAC proposals that can‘t imagine how anybody can go to overrode their call for another study of the Rodman,‖ announced fishing guide Billy Rodman area. Directing the Department of Peoples, ―and see what‘s there and make Natural Resources to ―immediately take that kind of decision.‖ Wes Larson of the steps‖ to ―complete the restoration of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce free flowing Ocklawaha River,‖ she called bemoaned the estimated loss of 110 jobs and for the drawdown of Rodman Reservoir. $7.2 million in annual fishing revenue if the Backed by Governor Lawton Chiles, who dam was removed. Putnam County

Administrator Gary Adams concluded, ―I would be countered by George Kirkpatrick, think it is a terrible economic blow to who warned ―the Cabinet decision Tuesday Putnam County.‖ In Gainesville, George is far from the final say on the future of the Kirkpatrick seconded Adams‘ assessment. Rodman Dam and the lower Ocklawaha Embittered with the Cabinet meeting‘s River.‖ On the other side of the Capitol, result, he claimed its vote was ―based on Ocala Representative George Albright strong emotions that had very little concurred: ―By no means is this cast in relationships to the facts,‖ and concluded stone.‖ For the next few months, that the Cabinet ―bypass[ed] an appointed Kirkpatrick and his allies prepared for battle task force and completely rejected all their over the fate of Rodman (Cabinet Urges End recommendations‖ (Fishermen Worried to Dam December 16, 1992; Beebe About Another One Getting Away December 16, 1992). December 16, 1992; Cabinet: Pull Rodman By the next legislative session, Plug December 16, 1992; Beebe December George Kirkpatrick dominated the debate 16, 1992; Cabinet Urges End to Dam surrounding Rodman Dam. Beating back December 16, 1992). numerous efforts to comply with the At first glance the Cabinet decision Cabinet‘s decision, Kirkpatrick instead seemed to finally resolve the issue in FDE‘s offered a plan to fulfill CLAC‘s demand for favor. However, buried in the language of further study. By the summer of 1993, the Castor‘s amendment was the phrase, ―upon legislature passed a measure allocating favorable legislative action,‖ which took the $900,000 for an eighteen month examination controversy out of the governor‘s hands and of Rodman Reservoir. In many respects, placed it firmly in the hands of the state that study–managed by the newly house. Even FDE recognized the tentative established Department of Environmental nature of their victory. We are ―fully aware Protection (DEP), which then subcontracted that only half the task is done,‖ David most of the research to the St. Johns River Godfrey admitted. ―The unanimous vote Water Management District–was the gives us momentum going to the legislature, summation of a generation of scientific and that‘s a whole other ball game. But it research. And given the contentious nature sends a strong message.‖ That message of much of that work, the resulting twenty volume report, submitted in January 1995, Secretary Virginia Wetherell that he, offered no final resolution of the issue. representing the legislature, and not the Though it concluded that ―no further studies governor, was in charge. ―Any movement are necessary to answer the question‖ towards restoration would presume . . . the concerning Rodman, the report was often so legislature will eventually decide against ambiguous and technically arcane that both keeping the structure [Rodman Dam].‖ He sides saw it as confirming their position. added presciently, ―This would be highly George Kirkpatrick most certainly thought premature.‖ Thus began what became an so. After combing the report for any annual ritual of Florida politics. With the evidence that would favor his cause, he emergence of spring, the Governor and announced he was ―elated by the findings executive agencies, in addition to a majority included in the DEP report,‖ which ―gave us of the state legislature, would call for the even greater evidence of the positive removal of Rodman Dam. And George environmental impact of the [Rodman] Kirkpatrick, much like his Congressional ecosystem.‖ Though small parts of the predecessors who had blocked study may have supported his position, the deauthorization, stood in the way thrust of the report clearly warmed Marjorie (Kirkpatrick April 4, 1995). Carr‘s heart. Hidden in the volumes of When first examined, George dense prose was the simple statement– Kirkpatrick‘s commitment to Rodman Dam ―efforts should be directed instead at appeared rather unusual. Representing a restoration of the Ocklawaha River‖ university town that stood at the center of (Galantowicz 1994; George Kirkpatrick the movement to restore the Ocklawaha n.d.). River, he seemed out of sync with much of Following the report‘s his environmentally conscious constituency. recommendation, Governor Chiles ordered However, his district stretched far beyond the Department of Environmental Protection the city limits and embraced rural areas of to begin an immediate drawdown of the north central Florida, particularly Putnam reservoir in anticipation of restoration. County. An avid angler, Kirkpatrick had an Kirkpatrick lashed back, informing DEP affinity for the lake created by the dam and

the ―good ole boys‖ who fished in it. As he Relying on strategies strangely similar to the once noted, I ―represent the interests of the nascent anti-canal movement thirty years folks who love, use and depend on the earlier, they sought the preservation of Lake Reservoir for their livelihood.‖ He had to, Ocklawaha and its new ―ecosystem with for he recognized more than anyone that his abundant flora and fauna.‖ ―Our band of political fate rested in their hands. ragtag supporters had grown into a throng,‖ Kirkpatrick‘s support came from those rural Kirkpatrick reminisced, ―with folks calling residents who saw him as a defender of their and writing from every place imaginable. way of life. And with the Governor and Weary travelers made the trip to Tallahassee Cabinet consistently calling for restoration, for committee meetings on a weekly basis both he and the people of Putnam County just to make their presence felt. . . . Like a joined forces to fight against what they modern day barn raising, they rallied the considered an elitist alliance between troops with newsletters, phone calls and government bureaucrats and scientific faxes. . . . Meanwhile paid consultants and experts, who either at best ignored them or strangers to Rodman pushed the anti- at worst dismissed them as ignorant retention agenda.‖ Those very same words rednecks (Kirkpatrick April 4, 1995). could well have described Marjorie Carr‘s Things were ironically coming full earlier efforts against the Canal Authority circle. In the summer of 1995, a group of and the Army Corps of Engineers. Putnam County residents and recreational Kirkpatrick‘s chief legislative aide, Mike fishermen organized a group called Save Murtha, certainly thought so. ―They [FDE] Rodman Reservoir, Inc. to ―fight off the had something they loved back in the Sixties wishes of ‗those who know better.‘‖ and some bastards came and took it away Working within the neo-populist legacy of from them,‖ he exclaimed. ―Well, now we Ronald Reagan and the conservative have something that we love and some revolution of the 1980s, they were bastards are trying to take it away from us‖ determined to protect ―their‖ lake from (Kirkpatrick April 4, 1995; Patrick outsiders, those they considered ―paid November 1998). ‗enviro-wonks‘ [who] pontificated at public Over the next three legislative hearings about the evil that is Rodman.‖ sessions, Kirkpatrick and his allies did their job well, as they blocked any effort toward reaffirmed her sentimental attachment to the restoration by Governor Chiles and the river, sounding more like Sidney Lanier than Department of Environmental Protection. a research scientist with a stubborn For Marjorie Carr, eighty-two years old and commitment to the facts. ―Once the dam is now terminally ill, these setbacks must have gone,‖ she reflected, ―the manatees will be seemed like all her work was for nought. able to come up there during the winter. Rodman Dam–―that obscenity, that What a sight that will be‖ (Dewar February ridiculous mistake, that hideous 4, 1990; Ritchie June 13, 1997). monstrosity‖–remained. By the summer of On October 10, 1997, Marjorie Carr 1997, ―feeling lousy,‖ tethered to an oxygen finally succumbed to her illness. Accolades bottle, and forced to move from her immediately began pouring in for the cherished Micanopy homestead to a patio woman now beatified as ―Our Lady of the home in the middle of Gainesville, Carr Rivers.‖ Governor Lawton Chiles plaintively asked ―will I live to see it [the commended her as ―a true giant in the Ocklawaha] run free or not? I don‘t know.‖ environmental community.‖ Senator Bob What she did know was that George Graham, who had met with Carr only weeks Kirkpatrick was now the source of all her before her death, said her ―name will always frustration. Characterizing his defense of be synonymous with conservation.‖ She Rodman as ―an obsession,‖ she added that ―served as the environmental conscience for the Senator‘s success stemmed from the fact Florida‘s leaders.‖ Closer to home, her that ―he is feared and I don‘t think he cares.‖ friends and allies within FDE sorrowfully Though no longer able to lead the battle for lamented their loss. Her longtime colleague restoration, she still showed signs of her David Anthony reflected on her legendary feistiness. She railed against commitment to the river. Considering she those who failed to see the wisdom of had dedicated nearly forty years of her life Rodman‘s removal. She complained that to the struggle, he lamented, ―it‘s sad to bass fishermen ―ought to be ashamed of realize that Marjorie has died without the themselves‖ for their unyielding support for Ocklawaha running free. It was our dream the reservoir. At the same time, Carr to have a celebration on its banks.‖ Alyson

Flournoy, current member of FDE‘s Board be a steward of the garden of God.‖ As of Trustees, took Carr‘s death as a call to pallbearers placed the casket in a hearse action. ―Just as she was an inspiration in life bound for Carr‘s final resting place in . . . [in death] she can only inspire us to Gainesville‘s Evergreen Cemetery, a green continue to work to see that restoration and white bumper sticker mysteriously happens. It‘s the best tribute we can pay to appeared on the back window of the big her‖ (Martin October 11, 1997; Arndorfer black Cadillac. It read, ―Free the October 17, 1997). Ocklawaha River,‖ a fitting legacy for Six days later, almost three hundred Marjorie Carr‘s remarkable life. Her people paid their respects to Marjorie Carr at daughter Mimi, who had cared for her in Gainesville‘s First Presbyterian Church. those last difficult years, could only smile as The service featured eulogies from, among she said, ―maybe mother put it there.‖ An others, Lieutenant Governor Buddy editor from the Gainesville Sun went a step MacKay. Reflecting on Carr‘s years of further. ―In death,‖ a headline announced, activism, MacKay commended her for ―she still had last word‖ (Arndorfer October establishing ―the prototype of modern 17, 1997). citizen advocacy groups in America.‖ She FDE members hoped Carr‘s demise ―redefined our relationship to the would signal a change of heart in environment,‖ he continued, ―causing Tallahassee. Their expectations were movement from development based on the buoyed in late May of 1998, when the cash register to an ethic of sustainability.‖ legislature commemorated Carr by naming FDE‘s David Godfrey reinforced the bond the Cross Florida Greenway after her. In between Marjorie Carr and the Ocklawaha many respects it marked the crowning with a reading of Sidney Lanier‘s prosaic achievement for a woman who had ode which had so inspired her to action. dedicated her life to environmental Pastor Robert Battles poignantly ended the protection. service by reminding mourners that However, if FDE‘s membership thought this ―Marjorie responded with passionate could provide the political momentum to devotion to the common good. . . . From finally restore the Ocklawaha, they were her, I caught a glimpse of what it means to sadly mistaken. Indeed, the day after the legislature honored Carr with the name there to champion the dam?‖ The answer change, it also saw fit to memorialize her was a bi-partisan coalition of north Florida leading adversary by renaming Rodman politicians led by Republicans Jim Pickens Dam after Senator George Kirkpatrick. of Palatka and Jim King of Jacksonville, and Calling the Senator ―an avid bass fisherman, Democrat Rod Smith of Gainesville. Smith naturalist, and outdoorsman‖ with a ―keen had not only taken Kirkpatrick‘s seat, but his interest in the final disposition of Rodman passion for the reservoir. Not only would he Dam,‖ the legislature complimented him for block restoration efforts, he would even leading ―the opposition to the removal of the introduce legislation protecting the reservoir dam throughout his Senate career.‖ It was as the George Kirkpatrick State Reserve. If the worst form of tit-for-tat in an already such a measure became law, it would make rancorous debate it nearly impossible to remove the dam. (http://election.dos.state.fl.us/laws/98laws/c Though the legislation was vetoed by h_98-398.pdf). Governor Bush in 2003, it remained a With the turn of a new century, the legislative perennial, introduced session future of the Ocklawaha still remained after session, which demanded FDE‘s unresolved. Even with such federal constant vigilance. Even seemingly agencies as the U.S. Forest Service pushing insignificant issues placed environmental for Rodman‘s removal, nothing changed. activists on the defensive. Every tax dollar Even with Jeb Bush, the popular new spent on the reservoir‘s recreational Republican Governor, publicly committed to facilities reinforced Rodman‘s permanence. restoring the river, nothing changed. Even Reservoir supporters argued that after nearly with Kirkpatrick‘s forced retirement in 2000 forty years of existence, the artificial lake due to term limits, nothing changed. With had become part of the natural environment their nemesis now removed by state- itself. As one explained, ―it‘s got its own mandated term limits, FDE mistakenly ecology. It‘s got its own value.‖ thought they had a chance for success. Newspaper headlines as late as the spring of ―Especially with George Kirkpatrick gone,‖ 2010 observed with a hint of frustration that one member asked, ―who else is going to be ―Year after Year, it‘s the Same Dam

Debate,‖ and that the ―Ocklawaha George Kirkpatrick was no doubt a Restoration Remains in Limbo;‖ the larger than life figure; much like his long reservoir remained alive (Pfankuch March time adversary Marjorie Carr. Considering 13, 2000; Dunkelberger April 26, 2007; how much they were singularly associated Dunkelberger April 26, 2007). with the struggle over the river and the The dam, now renamed after its reservoir, they were equally associated with staunchest defender, may have endured, but each other. Both were doggedly determined its namesake, former Senator George and willing to do whatever necessary to Kirkpatrick, died suddenly on February 5, advance their cause. Thus it was only fitting 2003 at the age of 64. His love of fishing, of that Kirkpatrick‘s funeral eerily paralleled course, closely identified him with the long- Carr‘s. His service was not only held in the standing struggle to keep the reservoir same downtown Gainesville church, but intact. Ordinary citizens and politicians officiated by the very same pastor. What alike took a moment at his passing to must Reverend Robert Battles have thought express just what Kirkpatrick meant to their knowing he had performed the same cause. Ed Taylor, a Palatka resident and ceremony for Marjorie Carr just five years President of Save Rodman Reservoir, called earlier? What did the mourners think when the Senator ―the greatest warrior for the they caught a glimpse of another bumper survival of Rodman Reservoir I have ever sticker–this time a blue and white ―Save known.‖ It was a fitting tribute for such a Rodman Reservoir‖ one–attached to the combative man. Representative Joe Pickens Senator‘s casket? The similarities continued recognized both the importance of even after the service was completed. Upon Kirkpatrick‘s legislative chicanery and the leaving the church, Kirkpatrick‘s funeral necessity to continue that struggle. ―We all procession ended its journey in Gainesville‘s know,‖ he said, ―that I would have no Evergreen Cemetery, where the Senator was Rodman to protect, no torch to carry, if it laid to rest only yards from the grave of were not for Senator Kirkpatrick‘s lifelong Marjorie Carr. commitment to its preservation‖ In the years since the death of both (Kirkpatrick Hailed for Work on Putnam‘s Carr & Kirkpatrick, little has changed. The Behalf February 7, 2003). dam and reservoir still remain and the Florida legislature still annually debates central Florida local issue. The Ocklawaha whether they should be removed. In 2003 River is a glorious part of Florida‘s natural both houses of the Florida legislature passed heritage. Floridians should be aware that if a bill creating the George Kirkpatrick State they can‘t save the Ocklawaha they have Reserve around the reservoir, virtually little chance of saving any of the remaining assuring the dam would remain. A veto by lovely wild places in Florida. The twenty- Governor Jeb Bush defeated the measure, five year delay in the restoration of the insuring the controversy would continue. Ocklawaha River is indeed a major scandal. Similar bills were filed for the next four The Ocklawaha must now run free.‖ 3 legislative sessions with no success for the supporters of the reserve idea. That did not mean, however, that pro-restoration forces were any more successful in removing the dam. The latest iteration of the on-going battle occurred in 2009 when developers proposed building a $2 million 400 slip marina on the reservoir, which would have essentially preserved the reservoir for the foreseeable future. Though supported by those in favor of keeping the dam intact, a coalition of government agencies and pro- restoration forces managed to defeat the measure in the Florida legislature. In spite of the continuous (and so far successful) efforts to retain Kirkpatrick Dam, Marjorie Carr‘s vision of a free-flowing Ocklawaha remains as a viable alternative. In 1996, a year before her death, she wrote that the effort to save the Ocklawaha ―is not a north

References Environmental Protection. 1994. Environmental Studies Concerning Arndorfer, Bob. October 17, 1997. ―‗Steward Four Alternatives for Rodman of God‘s Garden‘ Laid to Rest.‖ Reservoir and the Lower Ocklawaha Gainesville Sun. River: Executive Summary, Volume Beebe, Lucy. December 16, 1992. ―Cabinet 1. St. Johns River Water Votes to Restore River.‖ Ocala Star Management District: Florida. Banner. Hamaker, Elaine. September 18, 1992. ―Cabinet Urges End to Dam.‖ December 16, ―Rodman‘s Fate Put on Hold.‖ Ocala 1992. Gainesville Sun. Star-Banner. ―Cabinet: Pull Rodman Plug.‖ December 16, Joseph, Patrick. November 28, 1998. ―The 1992. Florida Times Union. Battle of the Dams.‖ Smithsonian. 52. Canfield, Daniel R., Eric J. Schulz, and ―Kirkpatrick Hailed for Work on Putnam‘s Mark V. Hoyer. 1993. “To Be or not Behalf.‖ February 7, 2003. Palatka To Be”—The Rodman Reservoir Daily News. Controversy: A Review of Available Kirkpatrick, George. ―Letter to Virginia Data. University of Florida: Wetherell.‖ April 4, 1995. George Department of Fisheries and Kirkpatrick Papers, Mike Murtha Aquaculture, Center for Aquatic Collection. Gainesville, FL. Plants. —. ―Memorandum to Members of the Board Castor, Betty. December 15, 1992. ―Motion of Trustees of the Internal by Commissioner: Historic Improvement Trust Fund.‖ n.d. Documents Pertaining to Ocklawaha George Kirkpatrick Papers, Mike River Restoration.‖ FDE Murtha Collection. Gainesville, FL. Headquarters, Gainesville, Florida. 11. Dewar, Heather. February 4, 1990. ―Barge —. ―Musings on Rodman.‖ n.d. George Canal's Nemesis Still Fighting Kirkpatrick Papers, Mike Murtha Victory in Sight after 28-Year Battle Collection. Gainesville. FL. 5. to Save Wild Florida River.‖ Miami —. ―Musings on Rodman.‖ n.d. George Herald. Kirkpatrick Papers, Mike Murtha Dunkelberger, Lloyd, Gary Fineout, and Collection. Gainesville, FL. 3, 4, 6. Janine Young Sikes. February 6, —. ―Musings on Rodman.‖ n.d. George 2003. ―Ex-Senator Kirkpatrick Dead Kirkpatrick Papers, Mike Murtha at 64.‖ Gainesville Sun. Collection. Gainesville, FL. 3. Dunkelberger, Lloyd. April 26, 2007. Martin, Doug. October 11, 1997. ―Ocklawaha Restoration Remains in ―Gainesville‘s Marjorie Carr, Limbo.‖ Gainesville Sun. Environmentalist, Dies at 82.‖ —. April 26, 2007. ―Year after Year, it‘s the Gainesville Sun. Same Dam Debate,‖ Ocala Star ―Panel: Study Rodman 3 Years.‖ September Banner. 18, 1982. Gainesville Sun. ―Fishermen Worried About Another One ―Panel: Study Rodman 3 Years.‖ September Getting Away.‖ December 16, 1992. 18, 1982. Gainesville Sun. Florida Times Union. Pfankuch, Thomas, B. March 13, 2000 Galantowicz, Richard E., John R. Shuman, ―Should the River Run Free?‖ and Florida Department of Florida Times Union. Ritchie, Bruce. June 13, 1997. ―Activist Recalls Fight to Let the River Run Florida, 1998), 333-335, 362-364; Charles Activist Recalls Fight to Free the Bennett, ―Early History of the Cross-Florida Ocklawaha Restoring the Ocklawaha a Barge Canal,‖ Florida Historical Quarterly Restoration Effort.‖ Gainesville Sun. (45, 2, October 1966) 132-144; Alexander ―Rodman Decision Relayed.‖ September 18, Stoesen, ―Claude Pepper and the Florida 1992 .Palatka Daily News. Canal Controversy,1939-1943,‖ Florida Swirko, Cindy. February 6, 2003. Historical Quarterly (50, 3, January 1972) ―Kirkpatrick Created Legacy of 235-251. Action, Controversy.‖ Gainesville 2. For an examination of the broader Sun. environmental issues discussed in this article, see Christopher Morris, ―A More Southern Environmental History,‖ Journal Endnotes of Southern History (75, 3, August 2009),

1 581-598. For work on the history of modern . For more on the broader history of the Florida in a political and social context, see canal, see Steven Noll and David Tegeder, David Colburn, From Yellow Dog Ditch of Dreams: The Cross Florida Barge Democrats to Red State Republicans: Canal and the Struggle for Florida’s Future Florida and its Politics since 1940 (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida, 2009); Preston Blake, Land into Florida, 2007) and Gary Mormino, Land of Water- Water into Land: A History of Water nd Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History Management in Florida, 2 Edition of Modern Florida (Gainesville, Florida: (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of University Press of Florida, 2005. Florida, 2010), 199-215; Lee Irby, ―‘The 3 . For the story on the 2003-2007 Big Ditch‘: The Rise and Fall of the Cross- Kirkpatrick Reserve battle, see ―State Florida Barge Canal,‖ in Jack Davis and Reserve Could Save Dam,‖ Orlando Raymond Arseneault, editors, Paradise Sentinel, April 25, 2003; ―Year after Year, Lost: The Environmental History of Florida it‘s the Same Dam Debate,‖ Ocala Star (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Banner, April 26, 2007. For information on Florida, 2005); Frederick Davis, ―‘Get the the 2009 marina controversy, see ―Rodman Facts-and Then Act‘: How Marjorie H. Carr Dam Removal Faces a New Twist: A and the Florida Proposed Marina,‖ St. Petersburg Times, Defenders of the Environment Fought to February 8, 2009; ―River or Reservoir,‖ Save the Ocklawaha River,‖ Florida Gainesville Sun, March 6, 2009; Historical Quarterly (83,1, Summer 2004) ―Ocklawaha River: Insult Upon Injury,‖ 46-69; Luther Carter, The Florida Lakeland Ledger, March 24, 2009. For the Experience: Land and Water Policy in a Carr quote see Marjorie Carr, ―A Florida Growth State (Baltimore : Published for Scandal,‖ written November 1996, Resources for the Future by the Johns http://www.fladefenders.org/marjorie_carr.p Hopkins University Press,1974), 265-312; hp?page=floridascandal (Accessed Mark Derr, Some Kind of Paradise: A November 21, 2001), Emphasis in original. Chronicle of Man and the Land in Florida (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of