Florida - Wednesday December 14, 2022: The supplemental manatee feeding program could begin again as soon as this weekend. This will be the feeding program’s second year, and it probably won’t be the last.
This week, water temperatures in the Indian River Lagoon were still ranging between 70 and 74 degrees, warm enough for manatees to continue to roam. But a cold front is expected this weekend and that may drop water temperatures to 68 or below, which may drive the animals back to FP&L’s Port St. John warm-water site just off the Lagoon.
If that happens, FWC’s Ron Mezich says the romaine and butterleaf lettuce is on hand, and his team is on standby, ready to resume the feeding program. “We think water temperatures will drop low enough, at least for a couple of days, to bring some manatees into the warm water site," he said. "And so, we will be prepared and have produce on site if they present themselves for feeding.”
The death rate has eased, said Mezich. As of December 9th, seven-hundred sixty-five manatees had died in Florida waters since the start of this year, 287 less than all of last year. But many are still dying from hunger.
READ the FWC's manatee mortality report for 2022 HERE
“We do know that there are animals that are still out there that are not in the best of health," said Mezich, "and we expect those mortalities to increase as the winter goes on, and the weather gets colder. So, it’s a good sign that we’re less than last year, (but) this UME (Unusual Mortality Event) is not over and we’re still expecting to do both rescue response and supplement feeding throughout the winter.”
When winter ends Mezich says they’ll assess ongoing efforts to re-grow sea-grass in the Lagoon, the primary food source for manatees, the lack of which has caused so many of them to starve to death.
"We'll look at all the information where sea-grass habitat is, and we monitor the condition of the animals. And so, I think they’ll be several factors that go into a determination of when there’s enough forage for the animals. But that’s going to have to be an annual determination, I don’t think we can project how many years that might be.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife website is still taking donations to help support the supplemental feeding program, as well as to help restore seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon.
Read the proposed rule to change the FP&L warm water refuge zone temporary to permanent in full below:
Notice of Proposed Rule
FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Manatees
RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
68C-22.029 Cape Canaveral Energy Center Interim Warm-water Refuge Zone
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule is to establish a seasonal manatee protection zone at the Florida Power & Light (FPL) Cape Canaveral Energy Center Interim Warm-water Refuge (IWWR) in Brevard County. The effect of the action would be to provide seasonal protection for a concentration of manatees utilizing this IWWR and support continued manatee Unusual Mortality Event (UME) response. Additional information is available at: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/manatee/rulemaking/.
SUMMARY: In late December 2021, under emergency rule authority, a 90-day No Entry Zone was established at the IWWR at the Cape Canaveral Energy Center (CCEC) in Brevard County. This location served as the Temporary Field Response Station (TFRS) for the joint Unified Command UME response throughout the winter, and the temporary No Entry Zone provided protections to manatees and the public during response actions. Most manatees had dispersed to spring and summer habitats by late March and the Zone was removed. The FWC and USFWS expect to continue the UME response at the TFRS this winter (2022-2023). In support of these actions and future manatee use of the IWWR, the FWC intends to establish a permanent, Seasonal No Entry Zone to restrict access to the FPL-CCEC intake canal and the IWWR from November 15 through March 31. Currently, the FPL-CCEC intake canal area is regulated as a Seasonal Idle Speed Zone. The proposed action is intended to restrict human and vessel entry to the area and will reduce disturbance to concentrations of manatees using the IWWR during the winter season.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: the nature of the rule and the preliminary information and analysis conducted to date.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 379.2431(2), F.S.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 379.2431(2), F.S.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: the FWC at (850)488-6411. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Ms. Michelle Pasawicz, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Imperiled Species Management Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to ManateeRuleComments@MyFWC.com (please reference CCEC Interim Warm-water Refuge in the subject line).
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
68C-22.029 Cape Canaveral Energy Center Interim Warm-water Refuge Zone.
(1) This rule creates a seasonal “No Entry Zone” as defined in 68C-22.002(11) to protect manatees at the Florida Power & Light (FPL) Cape Canaveral Energy Center Interim-Warm Water Refuge. The No Entry Zone will protect manatees from harm and disturbance by regulating access to and operation within this designated warm-water area. The No Entry Zone will also protect manatees from harmful collisions and harassment during response operations associated with a manatee Unusual Mortality Event. The No Entry Zone shall be in place each year from November 15 to March 31. This No Entry Zone is established in areas south of the FPL Cape Canaveral Energy Center jetty as follows:
(a) All waters south of the FPL Cape Canaveral Energy Center jetty, west of a line beginning at the southeasternmost point of the jetty (latitude 28º 28' 07" N, longitude 80 45' 18" W) and running 180º of said jetty point south by 200 meters (latitude 28º 28' 01" N, longitude 80º 45' 18" W), those waters north of an east-west 709 meter line, ending at the shoreline terminus at Mullet Court Road (latitude 28º 28' 01" North, longitude 80º 45' 02" West), and those waters east of the general westernmost shoreline of the Indian River, excluding those waters west of the north-south over-water foot bridge structure of the FPL intake canal.
(b) The Coordinates used in the description of the zone boundaries are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83_2011) using the Florida GDL Albers projection. Access to the No Entry Zone designated in paragraph (2)(a) will be provided in accordance with procedures set forth in subsection (3).
(2) Access to the No Entry Zone designated in paragraph (1) is permitted by the following:
(a) FPL employees or designees with current company identification or authorization, provided entry into, and activities conducted within the zone are under the discretion and consideration of the company.
(b) FPL authorized agents and contractors, provided that entry into the zone is necessary to conduct activities associated with power plant operation and maintenance, construction emergency response or environmental monitoring.
(c) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, designees, or their authorized agents for activities associated with manatee response or monitoring. Rulemaking Authority 379.2431(2) F.S. Law Implemented 379.2431(2) F.S. History—New
NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Ms. Michelle Pasawicz, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Imperiled Species Management Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600.
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: November 30, 2022
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 22, 2022