Troubled waters for manatees? (dependence on warmth from power plants could prove disastrous)

Orlando Sentinel ^ | February 26, 2007 | Ludmilla Lelis

[Cincinatus' Wife]

TITUSVILLE -- Sea cows call the warm waters near energy facilities home. Scientists fear that if a plant closes, those animals might not head to springs or migrate to South Florida.

For manatees, the warm water that spills from power plants is addictive.

The plants have long provided the sea cows with an artificial refuge beyond their natural winter habitat near springs and in warmer southern waters.

Scientists estimate that six in every 10 manatees now winter near power plants that line Florida's waterways.

It is a dependency that someday could have grave consequences for the manatee.

State and federal officials expect many of these aging power plants to close eventually. As the state's human population grows, more efficient power production requires newer facilities. A 95-year-old plant in Fort Pierce that once attracted as many as 49 manatees will close next year. Two plants in Brevard are each more than 40 years old, and their age has manatee advocates worried.

Officials say they are unprepared for the potential death toll when plants shut down and leave manatees in the cold.

"With the potential for catastrophic losses, this is the single greatest threat on the horizon for manatees," said Pat Rose, a biologist and executive director of the Save the Manatee Club.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says potential power-plant closures are a key reason manatees still face a high risk of extinction, even though population gains have shifted manatees from "endangered" to the less ominous state classification of "threatened."

State wildlife officials and a federal task force of government biologists, environmentalists and power-company officials are looking at alternative ways to keep manatees warm while weaning them from power plants, but there are no easy or cheap fixes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Interesting blog about "Power Plant Manatees" - ***....The Tampa Electric Company is a power plant. It makes electricity from coal. In the process, water is heated so hot it makes steam. To cool the steam back down, the Tampa Electric Company pumps in cool sea water from the bay. After the sea water cools the steam back into water, the sea water has warmed up and is returned to the bay.

And the manatees like to swim in this warmed up water! This is the warm water discharge from the power plant. The warm water goes into a canal right next to the power plant. In 1986 the state of Florida declared this canal to be an official manatee sanctuary. It is a winter haven for migrating manatees.

Boats and people are not allowed in this canal. The manatees are safe here. They can't be hit by boats or disturbed by people in any way. They can rest in the canal and stay warm. They cannot eat here because there aren't any plants for them at the bottom of the canal. But the power company provides two water hoses for them. The hoses are hung out over the canal and the manatees will drink out of the hoses.....****

A good place to find manatees in Tampa is at the Tampa Electric Company power plant. The warm water coming from the power plant attracts manatees trying to warm up!

The manatee observation platform at TECO. School students and families can come here to see the manatees.

Manatee observation trip at the Florida Power and Lignt Indian River Lagoon Power plant. Joe's making friends with the native below.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This reminds me of the caribou that hang out at oilfields in Alaska.

And it reminds me of the bears walking on the pipeline in Alaska.

[Joe Boucher]

Manatees are not native but like cows were used for food.
Like many species placed on the "endangered list" keeping them safe by restricting habitat usage often is overdone and is a pain in the rear.

[sgtbono2002]

The Manatees found the warm water, when it goes they will look for something else.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

We get to read the same articles every year. Nothing new.

[Incorrigible]

 

[Roccus]

Bumper sticker material

"SAVE A MANATEE, BUILD A POWER PLANT"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And imagine! Kennedy Space Center is a wildlife refuge.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You got it!!

[MarkL]

We're worried about manatees? Heck, with the money they make as writers of "Family Guy," they can damn well afford to buy a place anywhere they want!

Mark

[sportutegrl]

Don't forget the offshore oil rigs becoming reefs.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don't forget the offshore oil rigs becoming reefs.

Yes!

---------More

[Elsie]

Al Gore: if what you want is implemented, the poor manatees will suffer!

[Elsie]

Don't these animals know that human built things are BAD for them??

...and their pristine environment?

[Varda]

Don't forget Whitetail deer in the suburbs!

[vigilante2]

but I thought the oceans were getting warmer?

[Jabba the Nutt]

Rush has a parody about Republicans caring more for the Caribou, because the caribou like the warmth provided by the Alaskan Oil Pipeline. So Republicans support the pipeline, because pubbies love the caribou. It's pretty funny.

You know Global Warming would help the manatees. Al Gore wants to kill off the manatees. Mr Gore, the Goracle, without Global Warming, for the manatees the End IS Nigh.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It would be interesting if a student would do a science project on how the environment benefits from humans.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don't forget Whitetail deer in the suburbs!

Humans are endangered by them. But I'm sure that's interpreted as, we took their land.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don't these animals know that human built things are BAD for them??

I guess the environmentalists haven't gotten through to them.

Natives in Alaska want more exploration and drilling because they know their lives will improve through the jobs that it will bring. But the environmentalists (and the congresscritters they support) shout them down.