Protect and Safeguard Our Shared Waters for Future Generations: Act Now and Join the Movement to Stop the Limestone Mine in Waterford Township, MN No De-Watering

Recognizing the need for industrial minerals, we advocate for responsible sourcing and believe there are better, less environmentally damaging alternatives.  We Champion Innovation Solutions for Responsible Mineral Needs.

To: Waterford Township Board, Dakota/Rice/Goodhue County Commissioners, MPCA, MN DNR

We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens, stand united in strong opposition to the proposed large limestone mine operation in Waterford Township. This massive 300-acre undertaking, projected to operate for approximately 50 years, will involve extensive excavation, the daily extraction of 4-10 million gallons of water, frequent blasting, industrial processing, and heavy hauling. This poses a direct and unacceptable threat to the very fabric of our community and the surrounding region, risking irreversible damage to our environment, our shared and vital water resources (including those crucial for Dakota, Rice, and Goodhue Counties), the viability of private and business wells, the health and safety of our residents, the integrity of our infrastructure, the stability of our agricultural economy, and the fundamental quality of life we cherish. We implore you to reject any and all permits, conditional use permits, zoning changes, or other approvals required for this destructive project to move forward.

The Grave Threats Posed by the Proposed Mine

Devastating Impact on Water Resources: "The mine's operation will involve large-scale dewatering, extracting up to 4 to 10 million gallons of water daily, a massive and prolonged removal that poses a severe threat to the Prairie du Chien and Jordan aquifers. These aquifers, lying beneath the proposed mine site's sensitive Karst geology, are the primary source of drinking water ( in Dakota County) for thousands of residents in Dakota/Rice/Goodhue Counties, and surrounding areas, and are essential for agriculture. 

The massive projected dewatering (potentially 4 billion gallons annually ) threatens to drastically lower the regional water table.  The drastic drawdown of these aquifers could jeopardize the entire interconnected water system, leading to the drying up of private residential and farm wells and the damage of surface waters. This disruption will inflict significant hardship, emotional distress, and economic burden upon families, farmers, and the community.

 Precedents like the Kraemer Quarry serve as a stark warning of the potential for significant and long-lasting aquifer depletion." Since the operators began limestone extraction in 1959, this mine has lowered the level of the local Prairie du Chien aquifer by 70 feet as of 2015. The dewatering of this mine continues.

No Dewatering! We explicitly oppose any mining operation that involves dewatering, given the catastrophic risks to our water resources, especially the potential to leave the homes and farms of our communities without a viable water supply. Increased groundwater withdrawals have significantly lowered Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer levels, as evidenced by the decline in White Bear Lake.

Destruction of Our Karst Landscape and Threats to the Cannon River: "Waterford Township sits atop a fragile Karst landscape, characterized by soluble bedrock, sinkholes, caves, and interconnected fractures, making it highly vulnerable to disruption. Mining activities, including blasting and dewatering, could destabilize this terrain, leading to the increased formation of sinkholes, unpredictable and potentially contaminated groundwater flow, and the depletion of surface waters. In this fragile Karst environment, these mining activities can also alter groundwater flow paths, increase the risk of sinkhole formation, and create direct pathways for surface contaminants to enter the aquifers, jeopardizing water quality across county lines. Blasting can further increase water turbidity and release contaminants. The Cannon River, a vital waterway that flows through Waterford Township, is particularly vulnerable, as dewatering can reduce its base flow, threatening aquatic life and the river's overall health.

No Limestone Mine! The unique Karst geology of our region is too precious and vulnerable to risk the destruction of a limestone mine.

Threats to Community Health, Safety, and Quality of Life in Waterford Township: The proposed mine will generate a dramatic increase in heavy truck traffic on local roads, causing accelerated wear and tear, and creating significant safety hazards for residents, school buses, cyclists, and farm equipment. Residents of Waterford Township have expressed deep concerns about the noise pollution, dust pollution (including carcinogenic crystalline silica), and air pollution from diesel emissions that will accompany the mine, negatively impacting their respiratory health, quality of life, and the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, community and Wildlife.
Damage to Agriculture and Threat to the Rural Character of Waterford Township: Waterford Township is a community with a strong agricultural heritage. The proposed mine threatens the viability of family farms through the depletion of water resources needed for irrigation and livestock, the contamination of crops and soil by dust, the disruption of farming operations by heavy truck traffic, and the direct loss of productive farmland. Residents deeply value the rural, agricultural, and residential character of Waterford Township, and they fear that the introduction of a large-scale industrial mining operation will destroy this way of life and depress property values.
Irreversible Environmental Harm: The mining operation could destroy valuable wildlife habitat, damage wetlands, and disrupt the delicate ecological balance of the region. The long-term consequences of this destruction are unacceptable. 
Contamination of Waterways: The proposed mine also poses a threat of contaminating the region's waterways. Water contamination can result from various sources, including blasting, sediment runoff, and chemical spills, all of which can have detrimental effects on aquatic life and human health.   
Lack of Adequate Restoration Plans: The promise of a post-mine lake does not mitigate the long-term damage caused by the mining operation. The creation of an artificial lake cannot replicate the complex and vital functions of the existing aquifers and natural ecosystems. Furthermore, the long-term stability and water quality of such a lake are uncertain, and the process of restoration may prove to be inadequate and ineffective.
Incompatibility with Community Character & Land Use:
An industrial mining operation is fundamentally incompatible with the rural, agricultural, and residential character of Waterford Township and surrounding areas. We ask the Boards to rigorously scrutinize this proposal against current zoning ordinances and land use plans.

Call To Action:

Protecting our shared water resources, land, environment, and communities across Dakota, Rice, and Goodhue Counties must be the priority. The potential short-term economic benefits of this proposed mine are vastly outweighed by the long-term environmental, social, and economic costs and risks it imposes. The lack of adequate restoration plans for the extensive damage is also a major concern.

Prioritize the long-term sustainability of our shared water resources and the health of our environment over the interests of the mining company. Mining operations are often long-term endeavors. We must consider the possibility that, like many quarry operators, this mining company may seek future permits to expand the scope or duration of this mine beyond the initial proposal, potentially increasing the long-term impacts on our community and resources.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, implore the Waterford Township Board of Supervisors, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, the Rice County Board of Commissioners, and the Goodhue County Board of Commissioners, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to:

DENY all permits, zoning changes, variances, and any other approvals requested for the proposed limestone mine project in Waterford Township. This is especially critical as our township is a small community of under 600 people, and the overwhelming majority of residents have expressed strong opposition to the mine and dewatering. Despite this widespread opposition, the Township Board and the company have moved forward with the proposal.

REJECT any proposal that involves dewatering or poses a threat to the Karst geology of our region.

DEMAND a comprehensive and independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that fully investigates all potential consequences of the mine, especially concerning groundwater, surface water, air quality, noise, traffic, and the health of our communities and environment. 

PROTECT our precious water resources, our farms, our communities, and the unique natural heritage of Waterford Township and the surrounding region.

Uphold zoning ordinances and land use plans that protect the agricultural and rural character of the region and safeguard its vital natural resources.

Prioritize the long-term sustainability of our shared water resources and the health of our environment over the interests of the mining company.

We urge our elected officials to stand with the community in protecting the long-term health, safety, and sustainability of our region, including the vital water resources shared between Dakota, Rice, and Goodhue Counties.

The future of our water, our environment, our health, and our communities is at stake. We urge everyone who values these fundamental necessities to stand with us, sign this petition, and raise your voice! We are a small community facing a large threat, and your support is crucial to protect what we all cherish. Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Concerned Citizens: