NO ROCK MINETELL PALM BEACH COUNTY TO REJECT BIG SUGAR'S ROCK MINE

Don’t let Big Sugar rewrite Florida’s future

Big Sugar is pushing a massive rock mine in the Everglades Agricultural Area, disguised as a water storage project. Called the Southland Water Resource Project, it’s headed for a Palm Beach County Commission vote on April 24—even though the South Florida Water Management District has not yet completed its evaluation of the project. If approved, it could undermine Everglades restoration and put Florida’s clean water at risk.

We need your voice

Email PBC Commissioners and urge them to stop this rock mine before it's too late!

Red flags With This Project

A rock mine disguised as a restoration reservoir, with zero treatment infrastructure to clean the water before it’s sent south through the Everglades.

Threatens the structural integrity and overall effectiveness of the Everglades Reservoir, a critical nearby restoration project.

Sets a dangerous precedent that opens the door for more rock mines, favoring industry profits over Florida’s clean water and restoration future.

The Situation:

Construction firm Phillips & Jordan, U.S. Sugar Corp., and Florida Crystals are proposing a massive excavation in the Everglades Agricultural Area, just south of Lake Okeechobee. Branded as a water storage project, the plan lacks any of the essential elements of true Everglades restoration. It’s not about moving water—it’s about moving rock.

Located right next to the critical Everglades Reservoir project—the one Big Sugar was just suing over—the land in question is critical for future restoration wetlands that are needed to clean water from Lake Okeechobee before it can flow south through the Everglades. Instead of restoring that land, this proposal would carve it up for mining, jeopardizing restoration efforts and public water supply in the process.

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FAQsWhat You Need to Know:

What exactly is being proposed?

The “Southland Water Resource Project” is a rock mine in disguise. It would excavate thousands of acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area under the false promise of water benefits.

Why should Floridians be concerned?

It jeopardizes the nearby Everglades Reservoir (a key restoration project under construction), threatens the Biscayne Aquifer, and uses potential restoration land for private mining profits.

Has this project been approved yet?

Not yet. The Palm Beach County zoning commission recommended approval—despite confusion and lack of clarity about the project. The final vote happens April 24.

Has it been reviewed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)?

No. SFWMD has not completed its evaluation, and commissioners at the last hearing admitted they weren’t sure about its status.

What happens if it gets approved?

It could open the floodgates for similar high-impact projects in areas that should be prioritized for future restoration—risking billions in taxpayer investment and the health of Florida’s water systems.

NO ROCK MINE!

This is our moment to speak up before it’s too late.
Floridians have fought too hard for clean water to let this happen behind closed doors. If this project is approved, it could define the future of the Everglades Agricultural Area—not with restored wetlands, but with rock mines and lost opportunities.

Tell Palm Beach County to hit pause and reject the Southland rock mine proposal.

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