(We need lots and lots
of letters - please, share this message
widely. Apologies in advance for cross-postings!)
Ocklawaha
Restoration opponents are at it again. The St. Johns River Water
Management
District is currently reviewing a permit application to build
a 400 slip
marina in Rodman pool. Yes, you heard me right, a FOUR HUNDRED SLIP MARINA
in Rodman pool!
Could it not be a ploy to hamper restoration???
The
project site is adjacent to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida
Greenway and
the Ocala National Forest and currently consists of an existing RV
park,
forest, and portions of Rodman pool. The permit application proposes a
10-foot
wide, 3,757-foot long, perimeter boardwalk along the entire property as
well as
construction of four floating dock structures with a total of 400 boat
slips.
The complete permit application can be found on the SJRWMD website
e-permitting section by searching the
project name, Lake Oklawaha RV Park (Docks), or permit number
40-083-26668-6.
Gov.
Crist and DEP Secretary Michael Sole have publicly committed to
restoring the
Ocklawaha by removing Rodman Dam. The River restoration plans involve
removal
of the dam which will substantially reduce water levels at the proposed
site,
making operation of a marina untenable.
Other
state agencies, including FDEP’s Office of
Greenways and Trails,
have pointed out that DEP is pursuing permit applications to restore
the
pre-Rodman dam flows to the Ocklawaha system. The proposed marina
project would
be totally incompatible with permits issued to DEP for the planned
restoration.
The
Florida Division of Historical Resources
(DHR) says that plans
filed with the SJRWMD indicate that the dock structure will most likely
be
located directly above a submerged prehistoric canoe. Furthermore, the
project
site is close to other identified archeological resources and other
potentially
significant historic sites, including human remains.
The
project site is located within the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s (FWC) designated primary
range for the Florida black
bear. The forest within the project site occurs on a very
steep slope
ranging from 1:1 to 3:1 (elevation 120’ to 18’
NGVD) and has
several trails, indicated that this area is likely being utilized as a
wildlife
corridor. Bear scat was observed within the forest during site
reviews.
To date, the FWC has not received a response from the applicant to
their
Request for Additional Information dated July 15, 2008.
The
US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has recommended
denial of the permit application after determining that the
proposed
project does not comply with guidelines of the Clean Water Act for
dredge and
fill operations. EPA has also expressed concern that the proposed
project
impacts have not been adequately described, including the proposed
effects on
the governmental resources expended over the last 25+ years of funding,
plan
development, coordination, and legal actions to restore the Ocklawaha
River.
Please:
·write
a letter addressed to the SJRWMD and the Army Corps of Engineers (to
receive
legal notice as an official objector you must include your full name,
mailing
address, and phone number);
·state
clearly the permit numbers as listed below;
·the
applicants name (also below);
·that
you are formally filing an objection to issuance of a permit for this
project
based upon adverse ecological and historical resource impacts;
·and,
it is not compatible with state and federal positions to restore the
Ocklawaha
River.
Address
one letter to both the SJRWMD and the Army Corps of Engineers as
indicated
below (email is fine). BE SURE TO SEND YOUR LETTER TO BOTH
AGENCIES.
Don’t forget to copy the EPA and me at PCEC!
Send your letters to:
Mike
Dinardo
Brian
Abrams -
SJRWMD
PO
Box 1429
Palatka,
FL 32177
RE:
ERP Application #40-083-26668-6, Lake Oklawaha RV Park (Docks);
Applicant -
Minor’s Marine Construction, Inc.
and
Colonel
Paul L. Grosskruger, District Engineer
Jacksonville
District Corps of Engineers
Attention:
Norma Fouraker, Regulatory Division - mil
