In March 2021, the eyes of the world turned to a shuttered phosphate plant in Manatee County, Florida. A leak from a wastewater storage pond at the Piney Point phosphate plant threatened to rupture and flood local neighborhoods and Tampa Bay with hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic fertilizer wastewater. After government intervention, much of the water was ultimately drained into the bay, thereby narrowly avoiding a catastrophic flooding event but also simultaneously opening debates about the long-term impacts of this decision.

The events at Piney Point have underscored the importance of studying historical documents and both past and present environmental impacts of the phosphate industry. As part of USF Libraries' Florida Environment and Natural History (FLENH) initiative, this exhibit serves as an introduction to phosphate mining in Florida and a launching point to discover related archival, scholarly, and news resources.

This exhibit highlights the history of Florida phosphate mining and Piney Point through historic maps and photographs, as well as government documents related to the management of the facility prior to 2021. An interactive map tours you through the major areas and locations involved with the Piney Point crisis. Archival materials from the IMC-Agrico Phosphate Company, Skip Gandy Aerial Photography, and Jan Platt collections are also featured to provide supplemental information. USF Libraries tracks local and national news coverage on this event and tries to update resources and links on a monthly basis.