For millions of years, the Florida Everglades maintained a natural, balanced system. Water from Lake Okeechobee overflowed naturally, creating a 60-mile wide sheet flow called “The River of Grass.” As the water slowly moved south, grasses filtered it on its journey to Florida Bay. This flow was essential for maintaining the freshwater-saltwater balance needed for the health of the Everglades and Florida Bay.
What's Going On
In the early 20th century, this balance was disrupted when 700,000 acres of land south of the lake were drained to create the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The fertile soil, created by millennia of dying grasses, was perfect for growing sugar. A massive dike was built around Lake Okeechobee to prevent overflow, but as water levels rose, canals were dug to redirect the flow, drastically altering the natural system.
Today, polluted water from the lake is discharged into coastal rivers, causing damage to marine life, triggering harmful red tides, and reducing water flow to the Everglades. Only about 30% of the original flow reaches Everglades National Park, contributing to significant seagrass die-offs in Florida Bay.
Abusing the Land
In less than 75 years, sugar farming has drained the land’s nutrients, leaving behind a depleted landscape. Now, the sugar industry is pushing for a limestone rock mine disguised as a water resources project. The Southland Water Resources Project would dig an 8,000-acre site 15 feet deep, under the pretense of creating a water storage reservoir while selling the limestone.
This rock would be worth around $800 million, and there’s concern that the state might fund part of the project, despite its lack of clear benefits to Everglades restoration. Unlike the EAA Reservoir, which filters water before sending it south, the Southland project could harm the aquifer and create seepage issues.
The proposal faces strict zoning laws in Palm Beach County, but with the sugar industry’s political influence, there are concerns that the project could be approved as a “beneficial water project” by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). On December 31st, SFWMD’s Executive Director, Drew Bartlett, submitted a letter seemingly endorsing the project, bypassing the normal approval process.
The letter’s origins raise further concerns. It was created by an executive from U.S. Sugar, which owns the land for the proposed mine. U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals would stand to benefit from the sale of the limestone and sand extracted from the mine. If approved, this project could permanently alter the Everglades ecosystem, shifting it from a vital natural system to a commercial mining operation.
The Future of the Everglades
The Southland Water Resources Project is still under evaluation, and its future remains uncertain. Despite the endorsement letter, it has sparked debate about the project’s true purpose and potential impact. Conservation groups worry about the political influence behind the proposal, which could set a dangerous precedent for the future of the Everglades Agricultural Area.
The EAA Reservoir, part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, aims to restore natural water flow by storing, treating, and conveying water from Lake Okeechobee, reducing harmful discharges to the coast. The Southland Water Project, however, offers no benefits for Everglades restoration and would not be ready to store water for another 20-30 years.
This controversy highlights how powerful interests can push through harmful projects under the guise of restoration, all while profiting from the destruction of the land. The future of the Everglades depends on making the right choices for long-term restoration, not short-term profits disguised as conservation.
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