against the construction of the canal. January 15, 1971 - The District Court granted a preliminary injunction halting any further construction activities pending the outcome of the litigation. January 19, 1971 - President Richard Nixon signed an executive order suspending further work on the Barge Canal. When halted, the project was one-third complete and approximately $74 million had been spent on land acquisition and construction. 1979 - Bills filed in Congress to deauthorize the Canal failed to pass. May 22, 1990 - A revised federal bill was filed in the U.S. Senate by Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack providing, among other things, for a minimum 300-yard wide greenway corridor to be maintained along the former Barge Canal route. This bill was agreed to by the entire Florida Congressional delegation. May 31, 1990 - The Florida Legislature enacted a deauthorization bill conforming to the consensus bill filed in the U.S. Senate. Most of the provisions were not effective until Congress deauthorized the project. October 27, 1990 - Senate Bill 2740 was passed by Congress and sent to the President for signature. The bill deauthorized the Cross Florida Barge Canal project upon acceptance by the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida. November 28, 1990 - President George Bush signed SB 2740 into law deauthorizing the Cross Florida Barge Canal project and changing the purpose of the lands to recreation and conservation. January 22, 1991 - The Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida signed a resolution agreeing to the terms of the Federal deauthorization bill thereby officially deauthorizing the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. This action ultimately led to the creation of the Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area. 1998 - The Cross Florida Greenway was officially renamed the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway in honor of Marjorie Harris Carr, who led the fight to stop the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. References External links Withlacoochee Bay Trail at 100 Florida Trails Canals in Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Citrus County, Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Levy County, Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Marion County, Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Putnam County, Florida Protected areas of Citrus County, Florida Protected areas of Levy County, Florida Protected areas of Marion County, Florida Protected areas of Putnam County, Florida