Ocklawaha River drawdown is a major attraction

Aerial view of the Ocklawaha River during the current drawdown. [Photo by Michael Warren]

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Posted December 10, 2025 | By Margaret Spontak, Special to the Gazette

When the Ocklawaha River drawdown happens every three to four years, people come from far and wide to see what the Rodman Reservoir from Eureka to the Kirkpatrick Dam near Palatka looks like closer to natural river water level.

During the drawdown, the water is drawn down from 18 to 11 feet above mean sea level for approximately three months to manage invasive aquatic vegetation and sediments. The current drawdown is scheduled to continue through March 2026.

Shore and boat fishermen come in mass to reap the fishing benefits of the drawdown. Hikers, paddlers and wildlife photographers come to see some of the re-opened springs, giant cypress trees and abundant wildlife.

Birders like Ocala’s Michael and Louanne Warren and Seminole Audubon Society members Leslie Martin and Marguerite Terwillegar like to visit by land and water to catch a glimpse of birds flocking in to partake in the fish feast. These outdoors lovers were invited to a recent media and community leader tour to share their excitement and help identify the variety of species discovered that day. Although the group had a windy day on the water, resulting in fewer avian treasures, Martin identified 22 species including 130 great egrets, 53 white ibis and a group of six limpkins on a single tree.

Martin revealed that, “The species of the day was an American bittern, a species that is often hard to spot as it forages head down around aquatic vegetation.”

Michael and Louanne Warren were enthralled by the magical stump forest that has become almost petrified over its 50 years of existence. Everyone was asked by tour guides Erika Ritter and Karen Chadwick to envision how that forest graveyard would look like decades from now if it was transformed into a restored river with 7,500 acres of cypress forest on both sides of the river.

“Once restored, this area will attract birders and other nature lovers from across the state and country,” Terwillegar said.

The birders and local Putnam County leaders, Palatka Mayor Robbi Correa, former Putnam County Tax Collector and County Commissioner Linda Myers and former Palatka mayor Vern Myers, discussed the importance of nature tourism, including wildlife viewing, to the region’s economy. Myers, president-elect of the Great Florida Riverway Trust, shared with the group how added recreation improvements at the Kirkpatrick Dam and Buckman Lock and along the St. Johns River could bolster outdoor recreation area in the region.

“Trips like this help show people what they can gain from river restoration,” she said.

An April 25 press release by the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation stated that the corridor, which includes the Ocklawaha River restoration area, supports at least 114,000 jobs and $30 billion in annual value from tourism, agriculture, forestry and related industries. Strengthening the corridor through more diverse outdoor recreation generated by improving the health of the Ocklawaha and St. Johns rivers and Silver Springs will add to this return on investment.

Marion County leaders like Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano, City Councilman Jim Hilty and major hoteliers, including Navros Saju, of the Hotel and Development Management Group, support Ocklawaha River restoration projected to generate a net economic benefit of approximately $200 million long-term.

“Ocklawaha River restoration is an investment in our world-famous Silver Springs and rivers that will generate substantial commercial, environmental and community benefits,” Saju said.

Saju has already seen a rise in visitors, particularly international visitors, with the current manatee viewing in Silver Springs, which is expected to grow with a restored Ocklawaha River.

Margaret Spontak is president and CEO of Great Florida Riverway Trust. For more information about the drawdown, go to floridastateparks.org/learn/rodman-reservoir-drawdown-faq

eBird Checklist

Kenwood Recreational Area, Putnam, Florida
Dec 5, 2025, 9:40 a.m. – 10:52 a.m.
Protocol: Traveling
3.679 mile(s)
22 species

Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  1
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)  6
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  3
Lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  2
Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  2
Wood stork (Mycteria americana)  5
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)  11
Double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)  53
American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)  1
Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)  4
Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor)  1
Snowy egret (Egretta thula)  4
Great egret (Ardea alba)  130
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)  9
Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)  5
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  2
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
American kestrel (Falco sparverius)  1
Boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major)  11

View this checklist online at ebird.org/checklist/S287440157

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (ebird.org/home)