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OCKLAWAHA RIVER

River Levels • Streamflow • Hydrology

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Total streamflow across the Ocklawaha River was last observed at 4,338 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 8,604 acre-ft of water today; about 129% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 3,365 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2017-09-14 when daily discharge volume was observed at 22,010 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Ocklawaha River At Eureka reporting a streamflow rate of 1,230 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Ocklawaha R At Moss Bluff with a gauge stage of 38.65 ft. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Ocklawaha River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 62 ft, the Ocklawaha R At Moss Bluff.

The Ocklawaha River, located in Florida, is approximately 74 miles long and is a tributary of the St. Johns River. The river has a rich history, with evidence of Native American settlements dating back 12,000 years. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the river was used extensively for transportation and logging. Today, the river is a popular spot for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The river's hydrology is influenced by several dams and reservoirs, including the Rodman Reservoir, which was created in the 1960s for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. The construction of this dam led to the flooding of large areas of forest and wetland habitats, sparking controversy and ongoing debate about the trade-offs between conservation and development. The Ocklawaha River also supports agricultural activities in the surrounding areas, including citrus groves and ranching.

December 21, 2024

Last Updated	2024-12-21
Discharge Volume	8,604 ACRE-FT
Streamflow	4,338.0 cfs +325.0 cfs (+8.1%)
Percent of Normal	128.91%
Maximum	22,010.0 cfs 2017-09-14
Seasonal Avg	3,365 cfs

History of the River

The 74-mile-long (119 km) Ocklawaha River flows north from central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka. Its name is a corruption of ak-lowahe, Creek for "muddy".The historical and original source of the Ocklawaha River is Lake Griffin, part of the Harris chain of lakes in Lake County, Florida. The river now receives discharge from the entire Harris Chain of Lakes, including Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair and Lake Apopka, via a series of man-made canals and natural waterways including Haynes Creek, the Dead River, the Dora Canal, and the Apopka-Beauclair Canal. The addition of the man-made canals has increased both the discharge flow and amount of runoff pollution carried into the river. The Ocklawaha River watershed includes parts of the Green Swamp, most of Lake County, and portions of Marion, Alachua and Putnam counties. The largest of several large lakes in the Ocklawaha's watershed is the badly polluted Lake Apopka near Orlando.
The Ocklawaha River is the principal tributary of the St. Johns River. The most important and well-known tributary of the Ocklawaha is the Silver River, which carries the discharge from Silver Springs. Another important tributary of the Ocklawaha is Orange Creek, which originates from Orange Lake, which is fed by Lochloosa Lake via Cross Creek and by Newnans Lake, via the Prairie Creek. From Prairie Creek, only half of its water is artificially diverted towards Orange Lake via the Camps Canal, the rest flows to its historic destination, Paynes Prairie.The river was used extensively in the 19th century and early 20th century for steamboat transportation, most famously the Hart Line operated by Hubbard L. Hart. Narrow steamboats were used to navigate the constrictive and winding river. In the 1870s, the route between Palatka and Silver Springs became very popular, and was travelled by prominent figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas A. Edison and Mary Todd Lincoln to visit Silver Springs. The scenic trip up the river added a sense of adventure to a visit to Silver Springs. The popularity of the river route to Silver Springs declined after the arrival of railroad service to Ocala in 1881.
The river and its source tributaries are navigable for most of their length. The Silver River is easily accessible and very popular with boaters. Orange Creek is navigable for most of its length by canoe. Aids to navigation along the main river and its source tributaries include:

Rodman Reservoir, where the river is impounded at Rodman Dam (later renamed the George Kirkpatrick Dam). The Cross Florida Barge Canal is navigable through the Buckman Lock with elevation changes of 19.2 feet.
The Burrell Lock and Dam on Haynes Creek.
The Dora Canal.
The Apopka-Beauclair Canal.Most non-canoe navigation ends with Lake Apopka.
The river has suffered severe ecological damage in the 20th century from impoundment, fertilizer runoff, dredging, pollution and rerouting. In the 1960s and 1970s, Marjorie Harris Carr led the successful campaign to stop construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which would have dammed the river at two points and created two artificial reservoirs to facilitate navigation along the canal; however, the river is still blocked by Rodman Dam. Florida Defenders of the Environment (FDE), which Carr co-founded in 1969, continues to push for the preservation and restoration of the Ocklawaha River.
The river is a popular place to canoe, kayak and fish. The river forms the western boundary of the Ocala National Forest. Portions of the river remain mostly undisturbed by man. The natural landscapes and lush wildlife and growth of the outlying area are mostly hydric hammocks and flatwoods, with scrub pine ridges and sugar sandy soils. Wildlife is abundant, including wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and wading birds in this area. Outdoor recreational activities include hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, horseback riding, and paddling, although there are few established trails.
The Gores Landing unit of Ocklawaha River WMA consists of almost 3,000 acres (12 km²) along the Ocklawaha River in eastern Marion County. The Ocklawaha River basin is a primary tributary of the St. Johns River Water Management District.