Ocklawaha River Restoration
The Ocklawaha River, once a free-flowing waterway connecting Silver Springs to the St. Johns River, was dammed in 1968 to create Rodman Reservoir. This action drowned more than twenty freshwater springs, submerged ancient cypress forests, and severed a critical aquatic wildlife corridor, permanently altering the river’s ecosystem and disrupting the species and communities that depended on it.
Wildpath documented a rare drawdown of the reservoir, when water levels were lowered and the river channel, drowned springs, and ghost forest became visible for the first time in decades. This glimpse beneath the reservoir revealed the ecological and cultural significance of what had been lost—and what could be restored.
We partnered with Jason Gulley, a National Geographic Society Explorer and photographer, whose images captured the river, wildlife, and ghost forest, and connected this work with environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett to create a feature digital story in National Geographic.
To bring the story directly to decision-makers, Wildpath produced a photography booklet that was distributed to lawmakers ahead of the Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs and Community Investment Act. The images were also exhibited at the Florida State Capitol, shared through social media campaigns, and incorporated into a short video reel to expand public awareness.
By making the hidden river visible, Wildpath helped policymakers and the public see the stakes, demonstrating how visual storytelling can inspire action to restore critical wildlife corridors, reconnect freshwater ecosystems, and revive a river that remains alive beneath the reservoir.
