An open letter to Gov. DeSantis on the EAA rock mine proposal

Dear Gov. DeSantis:

You’ve been called “America’s Everglades Governor.”

Since you took office in 2019, Florida has allocated record funding for Everglades restoration projects. This spending has generated significant momentum, spurring progress on key CERP components, including what you’ve called the “Crown Jewel of Everglades restoration”: the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and stormwater treatment area.

That reservoir, and the commitment to restoration it symbolizes, may be your legacy, Governor.

But what if it leaks?

Gov. DeSantis, you are surely aware of a proposal to mine limestone right next to the reservoir complex, on some 8,600 acres owned by U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals. The Southland rock mine is being touted as a “water resource project” that will provide additional water storage south of Lake Okeechobee — after decades of blasting and digging.

But what might all that blasting and digging do to the adjacent “Crown Jewel of Everglades Restoration?”

And what might that do to your legacy, Governor?

Tell Palm Beach County Commissioners

to vote 'no' on the Southland rock mine

On Thursday, May 22, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners will hear a presentation on the Southland rock mine proposal — and they could vote to approve it.

So now is the time to make your voice heard on this issue: First, you can email the county commissioners and ask them to vote "no" on this risky and irresponsible proposal by clicking here, or clicking the image at right; and you can come to the meeting on May 22.

The meeting time/agenda is not yet available, but meetings are held in the Palm Beach County Robert Weisman Governmental Center, 6th floor Commission Chambers, 301 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach. We'll keep you updated if things change!

NEWS FLASH: Sugarcane burning not harmful when sugarcane not being burned

DATELINE SUGAR COUNTRY: Earlier this month a landmark new study was released showing that burning the sugarcane fields prior to harvest has no effect on surrounding air quality when sugarcane is not being burned.

The totally unbiased study, funded by a $100,000 grant from U.S. Sugar (you’re kidding, right?), tracked air quality in the Glades region. Researchers found that during the study period, overall air quality remained within acceptable limits, and air quality during the study period was some of the best in the state.

Only one problem: while the study was conducted between April 12 and September 6, 2024, sugarcane burn season runs from October through May.

In other words, they studied sugarcane burning outside of burn season.

What’s next — a study pondering the lack of snow in July?

The study’s authors say sugarcane is burned all year; and there were indeed a few burns in May and June during the study period. But as Steve Messam, a Belle Glade resident and Senior Pastor First Church of God South Bay, told the Sierra Club: “One would think a ‘Pre-Harvest Burning of Sugarcane and Air Quality’ study would have focused on the eight months of the year when pre-harvest sugarcane field burning takes place… The majority of air quality readings took place when no sugar burning took place! When you focus on the wrong months, you are bound to come to wrong conclusions.”

Nonetheless, those behind the study are touting its conclusions as authoritative and intend for the findings to influence public policy. And maybe they figure it’ll make us forget all the other studies showing health and economic impacts on Glades residents.

The study also included an assessment of the sugarcane industry’s importance to the Glades economy and determined it was indeed important.

So in sum: a sugar industry-funded study found burning by the sugar industry is not harmful and that the sugar industry is important to the region.

Who could have seen that coming?

Friday: Recap the 2025 legislative session

It's not over yet; as of this writing the Florida House and Senate have yet to reach a budget agreement. But with this and the exception of a few budget-related bills, the 2025 Legislative session is in the books; and a special Friends of the Everglades livestream this Friday with Friends' Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director (and VoteWater Executive Director) Gil Smart will break down the wins, losses and issues yet to be resolved. Click the button below to register.

Buy the land, save the Everglades

The petition urging the state of Florida to "buy the land" and complete the job of Everglades restoration has topped 20,000 signatures — is yours on the list?

If not click here; and find out more about the "Rescue the River of Grass" campaign via our friends at Friends of the Everglades.

VoteWater's 2024 Annual Report now available

The year 2024 was a big one for VoteWater. We published our landmark Dirty Money Project, helped stop plans to develop Florida's state parks, fought Lake O discharges, backed clean-water candidates and more.

You can read all about our achievements, and the road ahead, in our 2024 Annual Report — click the link, or if you've prefer a hard copy, email [email protected] and we'll get you one!

With your help, we can turn the toxic tide

At VoteWater we advocate. Investigate. Agitate. Educate. We track "dirty money" and work to make your voice is heard in the halls of power.

But we can't do this without you! Please support our work for better water policy and policy-makers, and the clean-water future all Floridians deserve.

JOIN WAVEMAKERS!