We continue with our report on the single largest destruction to our Florida wetlands, water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat, which is phosphate mining. Mine companies control over 400,000 acres in Florida mostly in the Myakka and Peace River basins. About 340,000 acres have been mined to date, and less than 70,000 have been reclaimed. These shots were taken over the Mosaic mine in Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee and Hardee Counties on Wednesday, July 27, 2017.
Florida law now says that all land must be reclaimed, but this takes years and it is never the same as before. The entire drainage system is altered, creeks are dug up and destroyed, and the residue, which is toxic, is stored in huge gypstacks which remain as toxic mountains in the Florida landscape. There are 25 gypstacks in Florida, and they cannot be used for any purpose. The can be 200 feet tall, and the tops collect acidic water which sometimes spills and pollutes.
The above image is the same as the top one, only it is a closeup showing the proximity of houses to the mine residue. In much of the reclaimed land we see no dwellings, but in some areas, such as above, they are very close to the mined area. Take another look in the top image and you will see the total devastation for miles and miles around these houses.
The image above shows the reclaimed land with no human habitation. The water is also often a strange green color, which indicates it is likely toxic to some degree.
Here again, is an image showing what appears to be human habitation very close to mined land. Notice here that the different ponds show three distinct colors. This is not normal water.
We see little agriculture on this reclaimed land. Here we see a citrus grove that certainly does not appear healthy.
In Bradford and Union Counties, a new company,HPS II Enterprises, is now acquiring permits to do this same type of destruction there, on the banks of New River and the Santa Fe River. If this happens, the river will be at risk from New River to the mouth of the Santa Fe where it reaches the Suwannee south of Branford.
Once again, OSFR is grateful to Ed Golly, pilot who donated his time and aircraft to this flight, and to Cody Phillips and Gina La Bruno who organized the trip and to Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson for making the flight available.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-