Reclamation has been required since the mid-1970s in Florida and many other states that mine land for phosphate. While often controversial, land reclamation has involved a variety of technologies and regulations which often reflect the complexity of economical ecological and political forces involved in the decision-making process. Most often reclamation procedures are dictated by economic constraints and less often by environmental concerns.

In 1982, Borden, inc. donated a 6.040 7 acre abandoned phosphate mine, located within Polk County In Central Florida, to the State of Florida. In 1989, the site was designated by the State of Florida as a state recreation area known today as Tenoroc State Recreation Area. The Area currently provides facilities for hiking, picnicking, and horseback riding with a particular emphasis on quality fishing within its manmade lakes. lt is the intent of the state to integrate land reclamation functions with the recreational potentials of the site thus providing a public use area that will generate support revenue (Scruggs 1992).

The primary difference between the reclamation activities at Tenoroc and those reclamation activities of today is the lack of a conceptual plan. For the most part reclamation at Tenoroc has been planned as stand-alone projects with minimal foresight of the needs for future recreational uses, drainage patterns, or continuing reclamation activities. At this point a conceptual master plan is needed to integrate hydrological and land reclamation functions with the recreational potentials of the site into a framework for future management and development of Tenoroc.

The goals and objectives of this study are as follows

1 To produce a plan for the restoration of Tenoroc State Recreation Area which will address the reclamation of natural systems with an emphasis on wildlife habitat and landscape diversity.

2 To provide for safety and recreation of visitors and staff, and

1. To develop a plan for a unique, educational and recreational experience that will fulfill the objectives of the Florida Department of Natural Resources.

The process of reclamation starts the moment man begins to explore the earth for its minerals. Since mining is here to stay reclamation should be looked upon as a continuation of succession of the landscape, rather than repair of a damaged landscape. By approaching reclamation holistically, as just another step in the mining process; through proper planning, management and program, the strife for achieving a balance between our quality of life and our sustainability become that much more of a reality.