Southland Rock Mine

Southland Rock Mine plans to excavate more than 8,000 acres of land just north of the Everglades Agricultural Area. The EAA Reservoir is a crucial initiative within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. It is designed to store, purify, and direct additional water southward, thereby diminishing the adverse water quality effects in our estuaries.

There is significant confusion regarding the project, largely because its final purpose is not clearly stated. The project could either be a rock mine for extracting aggregate from the Everglades Agricultural Area, or it could be a water storage initiative to create additional storage south of the lake. The applicant seems to be trying to advance both options simultaneously, which is causing confusion among the governing bodies that will need to make zoning, siting, and permitting decisions. Whether a water resource project or a rock mine, both uses come with their own specific requirements for the project.

Although mining is generally prohibited in the EAA, there are specific allowances for public roadway projects. The issue is that the material mined must be entirely dedicated to public road projects, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has expressed no need or desire for the aggregate that would come from this mine. If Southland turns out to be a mining project and FDOT rejects the aggregate, then the project will not be able to proceed.

This is a well-established precedent based on a previous attempt to mine in the Everglades, in which the aggregate would have only partially served FDOT projects, while the rest would have been sold on the open market. 1000 Friends of Florida collaborated with the Everglades Law Center to legally contest that project, reinforcing that restrictions on mining in the EAA mandate the aggregate be exclusively used for public road projects. That ruling was upheld in 2018 during an appeal.

Because a mining project cannot move forward without the applicant ensuring that FDOT will utilize the aggregate, the applicant is seeking to position the mine as a water storage initiative. Specifically, their application dated July 1, 2024, is named “Southland Water Resource Project.”

Water storage projects are permitted in the EAA for ecosystem restoration purposes, but they necessitate a partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The SFWMD has not assessed the plan to determine whether it would be beneficial or harmful to the EAA Reservoir currently under construction. The SFWMD's evaluation is essential before any approval for the project can take place.

Following the SFWMD’s Letter of Project Identification, the applicant submitted a zoning change to the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission.

Despite some confusion from the commission regarding why they were discussing a project that seemed premature, the majority voted to forward it to the County Commissioners for an official vote.

The identification letter was a necessary first step in the review process, but it doesn’t clarify SFWMD’s perspective on the project. All the District has stated so far is that it will be reviewing the unsolicited proposal and that, if it meets specific criteria, it will be brought before the Governing Board.

At present, the project is caught in limbo, serving as both a rock mine and a water resources initiative. The applicant is attempting to navigate both processes simultaneously, achieving gradual progress.

Numerous questions remain unresolved, and several details still require clarification. However, one fact is clear: the future of America’s Everglades and Florida as a whole does not necessitate mining in the EAA.

The land in the EAA is currently sinking due to its historical use as farmland, stemming from it being underwater before extensive draining and ditching in the late 1800s. As this subsidence progresses and we approach the limit for viable farming, it’s essential to consider how we can restore this land for conservation. This would allow us to harness its true value, including storm buffering, water filtration, providing habitat, climate mitigation, and other ecosystem services linked to natural areas. Introducing mining activities may increase the risk of the EAA being developed into urban space instead of reverting to an environment more akin to the River of Grass.

The success of Everglades restoration hinges on one crucial factor: securing the land necessary to direct clean water southward. Currently, a troubling project illustrates the consequences of neglecting the protection of land south of Lake Okeechobee.

Contrary to the claims of the sugar company’s lobbyist, this isn't a water project; it’s a rock mine funded by taxpayers. Simply put, this isn't the future that Floridians desire or require, highlighting the urgency of our campaign to Rescue the River of Grass.

Failing to secure land for public, science-based restoration allows private, profit-oriented projects to harm the landscape and hinder genuine progress. The Rescue campaign aims to shut that door, ensuring the historic Everglades land fulfills its vital role: storing, cleaning, and directing water south.