Palatka, Fla. -- Supporters of the Rodman Reservoir are on the offensive taking exception to suggestions that the 9,000 acre reservoir that has been around for decades is expendable to compliment Jacksonville's push to deepening and dredge the St. Johns River to support super cargo ships.
On Monday, an accord was reached among city, port, business and environmental leaders in Jacksonville to show support for deepening the river channel to 47 feet. The Riverkeeper organization has agreed not sue to block the dredging effort providing the alliance help in tearing down the Rodman Dam which the group says would restore the flow of the Ocklawaha River.
"We did not ask for it to be here, just here. Now that it is here here kind of enjoy it," said Richard Jones who comes as often as he can to fish at the dam.
"You don't want to lose what you have? There you go," said Jones on what the reservoir of 21 billion gallons of water means to Putnam County. The reservoir has been around for decades and supports fishing tournaments year around and has become an important part of the economy.
"This is our house we don't want to be told by other people what we need to do here," said Larry Harvey who is a Putnam County commissioner and President of Save Rodman.
"They (Jackonville) are trying to make decisions for us. We should have been brought to the table. And you were not? No," said Harvey while overlooking the landscape of Rodman while people were fishing.
