While unattractive during active recovery, mining is a temporary land use and Mosaic is a leader in land reclamation, returning mined lands to productive uses for both wildlife and people using state of the art reclamation planning and technology. In fact, a number of our reclamation areas in Hardee, Hillsborough and Polk counties have been recognized as exceptional examples of post mining land reclamation and models for the entire phosphate industry.              

We do! The phosphate industry has been reclaiming every acre of land it mines since 1975 and contributes to a special tax fund designated for reclamation of lands mined prior to 1975. Successful reclamation projects have transformed formerly mined land into wetlands, lakes, uplands, wildlife habitat, pasture, agriculture, tree farms, parks, golf courses, hunting and fishing areas, neighborhoods and commercial development.

In fact, before any mining can begin a conceptual reclamation plan that shows exactly what the area will look like after mining must be approved. A site-specific environmental impact study (EIS) by the Army Corps of Engineers under the established procedures of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must be conducted for each proposed mine. The site-specific EIS analyzes in detail the cumulative impact of all past, current and probable future mining activities by the applicant and all others.

Reclamation is an evolving science and is designed to mimic pre-existing landforms and hydrology where possible. We conduct comprehensive surface water modeling to compare pre-mining and post reclamation conditions. Reclamation is monitored for years by independent/state agencies, which evaluate species and vegetation survival and water quality before declaring it as successful.              

Mosaic's award winning reclamation projects include Hookers Prairie Sawgrass Reclamation (Bureau of Mine Reclamation's Outstanding Wetland Project of 2000 and recognized by the National Association of State Land Reclamationists in 1996), Hardee Lakes and Hardee Park (Outstanding Ecosystem Project of 2000, Florida Department of Environmental Protection), West Noralyn Scrub (Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and National Mined Land Reclamation Award, National Association of State Land Reclamationists), Morrow Swamp (Environmental Achievement Award, Corporate Conservation Council of the National Wildlife Federation and National Mined Land Award, National Association of State Land Reclamationists) and Hal Scott Wildlife Conservation Area (National Mined Land Reclamation Award, National Association of State Land Reclamationists).

Mosaic's Morrow Swamp project, completed in 1982 is a beautiful, functioning 366-acre reclamation area in southwest Polk County that experts say set the standard for quality wetlands reclamation and proved that land mined for phosphate could be converted into viable wetlands. More information.