In what environmentalists are calling a historic breakthrough, legislation to restore the Ocklawaha River by removing the Kirkpatrick Dam advanced through the Florida Legislature during the 2026 Regular Session. CS/CS/CS/SB 1066, the "Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act," cleared all Senate committee stops with overwhelming bipartisan support, marking the most significant progress on this issue in decades of advocacy.
A Dam Built for a Canal That Never Was
The Kirkpatrick Dam, originally built in 1968 as part of the now-defunct Cross Florida Barge Canal project, flooded approximately 7,500 acres of the Ocklawaha River floodplain to create the Rodman Reservoir. President Nixon halted the canal project in 1971 amid growing environmental opposition, and Congress formally deauthorized it in 1990. But the dam remained -- and with it, a decades-long battle between those who wanted the river restored and those who valued the reservoir for bass fishing and recreation.
The 2026 legislation represents a decisive shift in that political calculus. Sponsored by Senator Jason Brodeur, CS/CS/CS/SB 1066 provides a comprehensive framework for restoration, economic development, and community investment that addresses the concerns of both environmental advocates and local communities dependent on the reservoir.
What the Bill Does
The legislation creates Section 373.464, Florida Statutes, establishing a multi-pronged approach to river restoration. The Department of Environmental Protection must hire a full-time project lead with expertise in conservation and recreation planning by August 31, 2026. That project lead will oversee development of a restoration plan designed to return the Ocklawaha River's natural flow, hydrology, and floodplain function to approximate pre-canal conditions -- including breaching the Kirkpatrick Dam and decommissioning the Buckman Lock.
Critically, the bill designates the restoration as an environmental enhancement project eligible for a general permit from DEP and water management districts, streamlining a regulatory process that might otherwise take years. The project plan must incorporate best available science, engineering and design updates, bathymetric surveys, and precise dredging estimates. It must also include road and bridge recommendations to ensure continued access for communities west of the project.
Key Provisions
- Project Lead: DEP must hire a conservation/recreation planning expert by August 31, 2026
- Restoration Plan: Comprehensive plan due by July 1, 2027, with completion target of December 31, 2032
- Advisory Council: 16-member Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council established by October 31, 2026
- Outdoor Recreation Plan: Collaborative plan for enhanced river access implemented by January 1, 2028
- Grant Program: Funding for river communities in Clay, Marion, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties
- Economic Development: Department of Commerce program for Marion and Putnam Counties by January 1, 2028
Committee Votes: Broad Bipartisan Support
The bill's committee journey demonstrated remarkable bipartisan consensus. In the Senate, SB 1066 passed the Environment and Natural Resources Committee 8-0, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government 10-1, and the full Appropriations Committee 17-1. Senator McClain cast the lone dissenting vote at both appropriations stops.
The House companion, CS/CS/HB 981, followed a similar trajectory: unanimous approval in the Natural Resources and Disasters Subcommittee (16-0), the Budget Committee (28-0), and the State Affairs Committee (23-0). On the House floor, the bill passed 107-3 with only three members voting against.
The Opposition: Reservoir Defenders
Opponents, primarily residents who use the Rodman Reservoir for bass fishing, argued that the impoundment has developed its own ecological value over nearly six decades and provides significant recreational and economic benefits to surrounding communities. Bass tournament organizers and fishing guide services expressed concern that the reservoir's elimination would devastate a recreation economy that has grown up around it.
The legislation attempts to address these concerns through its advisory council structure, which includes representatives of outdoor recreation user groups and fishing interests local to Marion and Putnam Counties. The council must submit recommendations for measures to minimize the restoration's impact on affected property owners and businesses by February 1, 2027.
The legislation designates the restoration as an environmental enhancement project eligible for a general permit from DEP and water management districts, streamlining the regulatory path in what supporters called a pragmatic recognition that the science overwhelmingly supports restoration.
Silver Springs Connection
Supporters emphasized that the restoration would benefit far more than the Ocklawaha River itself. Silver Springs, one of Florida's most iconic first-magnitude spring complexes, feeds into the Ocklawaha. Scientists have documented significant declines in flow and water clarity at Silver Springs, and many attribute these problems in part to the altered hydrology caused by the dam. Restoring the river's natural flow, proponents argue, would help revitalize Silver Springs and strengthen the broader St. Johns River system.
What Comes Next
As of mid-March 2026, CS/CS/CS/SB 1066 was retained on the Senate calendar for potential floor consideration, while the House companion had already passed the chamber. The bill's ultimate fate may depend on whether lawmakers can reach agreement on the broader budget -- restoration funding will require appropriations, and the session's fiscal dysfunction has delayed action on many spending-dependent measures.
For environmental advocates, the 2026 session represents the closest Florida has come to formally committing to Ocklawaha restoration. The legislative support is overwhelming and bipartisan. The remaining question is whether the political will can survive the budget negotiations that will determine whether funding follows the authorization.