Manatees gathering near Florida power plants during winter storm chill

A polar vortex that has hit much of the U.S. with ice and snow has dealt a glancing blow to Florida, dropping coastal temperatures and causing the Sunshine State’s manatee population, still recovering from a mass starvation event several years ago, to seek warmer waters.

Besides inland natural springs, a popular destination for the docile aquatic mammals is the warm-water outflows of about a dozen power plants around Florida. Manatees have been attracted to the warm-water discharges for decades, following a watery travel route that mother manatees have taught to manatee calves. Public viewing areas are located near power plants in Riviera Beach, Fort Myers and Apollo Beach.

Ocean water is sucked in from the bay and used to cool the plants, but no chemicals or other substances are added to the water. The warm water discharged from the plant is the same ocean water, just warmer, and completely safe for wildlife.

Dozens of the sea cows, which can grow up to 10 feet long and 1,200 pounds, have been congregating for the past week near Florida Power & Light Company’s Riviera Beach plant, where the company opened the Manatee Lagoon attraction in 2016. The two-story, 16,000-square-foot complex is free and open to the public. They’re hosting a family-friendly ManateeFest on Feb. 1.

“Manatees are such a special species that we have in our waters here in Florida, because they are a sentinel species, which means that they’re an indicator for any water problems that we may have or any environmental issues we may have,” Manatee Lagoon education manager Rachel Shanker said. “They’re kind of the first animals to start to respond to any changes in the environment. And because they’re so charismatic, people really take note of that.”

The facility is open all year, but the best chance to see the animals is from Nov. 15 to March 31, when Florida water temperatures can drop below 68 degrees, which is deadly to manatees. While boating collisions are the top man-made threat to manatees, cold stress is the most common natural threat.



(AP Photo Rebecca Blackwell)