Manatee Appreciation Day Spotlights Hillsborough County Conservation Efforts

March 25 marks National Manatee Appreciation Day, a day when communities across Florida celebrate one of the state's most iconic marine mammals. Behind the animal that draws national interest is a dedicated network of Hillsborough County staff, environmental experts, conservationists, and volunteers safeguarding the manatees that call the Tampa Bay area home.

For Jaime Woodley, administrator of operations at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Hillsborough County, manatees have a special place in the region.

"Manatees are tied to Florida," said Jaime. "People are so attracted to them because they are so prehistoric looking. They are such an old, delicate, and easy-going animal. It really makes you wonder how they have survived this long."

Their survival is in part thanks to the hard work of Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management (CELM). Manatees do not stay in one place at a time. Instead, they move through connected waters in what's known as a watershed network. A key part of this network in Hillsborough County is the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP). ELAPP plays a critical role in protecting endangered and environmentally sensitive lands in Hillsborough County, many of which are where manatees call home.

Having clean water is the number one thing that allows manatees to flourish here, according to experts with CELM. Clean water means better intertidal and fresh water mixing where seagrass grows, which is what manatees eat.

Manatees thrive in warm, shallow waters and need abundant seagrass to survive. At the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Hillsborough County, a power station pulls in cold water for cooling and returns it warm to the discharge canal. This creates the perfect sanctuary for manatees during cold weather, when Florida's coastal waters become too cold for their survival.

"It turns into a spa for the manatees during the colder months," said Jaime. "When you start letting people see how neat it is, then more people care."

Preserving a critical habitat close to home

Bringing attention to manatees also brings attention to the health of Tampa Bay, something CELM takes pride in. Protecting manatees means protecting water quality, natural shorelines, and the larger coastal systems that support wildlife. Hillsborough County is dedicated to preserving and managing environmentally sensitive lands through habitat restoration, invasive species control, and shoreline protection. It's a responsibility that not only helps animals, but also benefits humans.

"It's important to have natural spaces to help wild animals flourish," says officials with CELM. "It also provides areas for people to get away."

Using education to protect manatees

Manatees were reclassified from endangered to threatened in 2017 due to population growth, but they still face severe threats. Through the work of Hillsborough County and efforts statewide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) estimates the manatee population has grown to a minimum of 8,350. For Jaime, who has spent decades working with manatees, excitement surrounding the gentle giant never fades.

"It still brings a smile to my face when I see how excited kids and even adults get when they see a manatee," said Jaime. "It's cool to see someone learn about something they have never seen before."

Best locations to see manatees in Hillsborough County

• Apollo Beach Nature Preserve
• Pebble Park
• E.G. Simmons Conservation Park
• Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park
• Manatee Viewing Center

Learn more about conservation efforts in Hillsborough County at hcfl.gov/conservation.