South Florida is home to some of the most important limestone operations in the country, making thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment possible. Our work is essential to the economy of the Sunshine State and it’s also an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to restoring and safeguarding the Everglades.
Since 1999, the limestone products industry has contributed over $126 million to protect, preserve and restore the Florida Everglades. It’s part of the historic Lake Belt Plan—developed by a group of civic, business and environmental leaders—which established a long-term approach to permitting that secures jobs, provides operating certainty, and protects the environment.
As part of the Lake Belt Plan, limestone operations helped fund the acquisition and restoration of over 20,000 acres of wetlands. The industry also makes vital contributions that help safeguard Miami-Dade’s water supply, including almost $20 million to fund water treatment plant upgrades. Our limestone operations also create an ecosystem around local wells, keeping the pumps online and furnishing our region with a unique water storage system that makes plentiful, clean and low-cost water available to millions of South Floridians. When limestone operations finish, the land is reclaimed and transformed into reservoirs, wellfield protection zones or even recreational areas.
The Lake Belt Plan offers certainty for the limestone products industry and the thousands of jobs that depend on it. It offers protection and restoration for natural Florida treasures, like the Everglades. And it offers meaningful contributions to the water resources of millions of Miami-Dade residents.
