You can comment on the
Oklawaha Restoration

At the beginning of May, 2001, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service took the first step toward restoration of the Oklawaha River. A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was released to the public evaluating whether Kirkpatrick dam on the Oklawaha River should continue to occupy national forest lands.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) currently has a special use permit for Kirkpatrick Dam and Eureka Lock and Dam. This permit authorizes "operating and maintaining portions of Kirkpatrick Dam, Rodman Reservoir, and Eureka Lock on National Forest land in conjunction with the implementation of the partial restoration of the Oklawaha River..." Approximately a third of Kirkpatrick Dam is on National Forest System land.

Alternatives considered in the EIS range from full retention or no action, to full restoration  or  complete  removal of the structures. The preferred alternative is partial restoration.  Under that alternative, the Kirkpatrick Dam would be breached, but not completely removed.  The Forest Service will base its final decision on the EIS once it is finalized.

During the public comment period that ends on June 29, 2001, comments on any aspect of the project may be submitted to project coordinator George Hemingway by any of the following ways:

• Mail: U.S. Forest Service, Attention: George Hemingway, 325 John Knox Road, Suite F100, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
• Fax: (850) 9429305.

Copies of the draft EIS are being mailed to those involved in the process this week. For those not on the mailing list, copies are available at many local county courthouses and libraries.  Limited individual copies are available and can be obtained by contacting George Hemingway.

Kirkpatrick Dam and the Eureka Lock and Dam were originally built as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project.  President Nixon decommissioned the Barge Canal project in 1971.

.

Lake County,
FL