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The consequences of human-induced pollution are forcing manatees, an aquatic mammal with rounded tail flippers to seek refuge in alternative warm waters nourished by power plants in Florida.
Unfortunately, with the transition to renewable energy sources, the artificial warm water habitat provided by the power plants is disappearing. This is possibly threatening the survival of the mammals during colder months.
A statement by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that those power plants identified as providing critical manatee habitat are required to create and implement an approved manatee protection plan (not to be confused with county-based manatee protection plans).
Assessing the impact of the discharge
“These plans will address issues such as consistency of warm water discharges, disruptions to warm water outflows during the cold season, outfall water temperatures, and timely communication and coordination with state and federal agencies.”
Typically, the Imperiled Species Management Section (ISM) of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), are primarily responsible for managing and determining the impact of artificial warm water refuges on manatees.
These artificial power plants, which discharge warm water into Florida’s coastal waters are also responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of the discharge. They ensure that by guaranteeing the effective implementation of manatee protection plans.
To conserve the mammals the Florida power plants’ discharge which has been operational for 30 years made the manatees accustomed to the artificial warm waters. According to the statement, “the number of manatees using power plant discharges has also increased during this time frame.”
However, now the challenge faced is the potential loss of artificial warm water refuges for manatees, primarily due to the transition to renewable energy sources in Florida.
Surprisingly the mammals “have become dependent on the coal and gas power plants, because their historic feeding grounds, the natural springs along the Atlantic coast, have been all but destroyed through development,” Elizabeth Fleming explained to the BBC, a conservationist and manatee expert at the non-profit Defenders of Wildlife.
She added, “It is one of the most unbelievable human-wildlife conundrums I’ve ever seen in my life. We have totally reengineered their whole habitat.”
Manatees may not adapt or migrate to alternative warm waters
However, research has shown that manatees may not easily adapt or migrate to alternative warm water sources if their current refuges disappear, further stressing the importance of maintaining these habitats for manatee conservation.
“Without that assurance, the combination of a severe cold front and the temporary loss of a high-use artificial warm water site could cause catastrophic losses to a regional manatee population,” emphasized the statement,
“In most instances, the NPDES required manatee protection plans (developed in cooperation with the power companies) should help reduce the risk of this from happening.”
The department also said that research currently in the planning phase by recovery team members. It will revolve around the long-term ramifications of power plant discharges on manatees.
“As these issues unfold we will inform interested parties of all new information and actions,” the statement added.
