Cold weather creeping into South Florida this weekend has wildlife watchers eyeing Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach, where warm water discharged from a power plant turns into a cozy refuge for sea cows fleeing the chill. The facility sits along the Intracoastal Waterway as part of a Florida Power and Light site, and staff there say it typically takes a few consistent days of cold temperatures to get the manatees moving.
Manatee Lagoon attracts manatees seeking warmer waters during cold spells, according to WPBF. The nearby Florida Power and Light plant generates clean water that runs about six to ten degrees warmer than the surrounding waters, creating what the station described as a sanctuary for the animals. That warm-water plume is the draw for manatees looking to escape dropping temperatures in the open bay.
Why the Manatees Haven't Shown Up Yet
Rachel Shanker, Manatee Lagoon's Conservation and Education Manager, said the water needs a few consistent days of cold temperatures to really drop and pull the manatees in, the station's report noted. South Florida was expected to see chilly temperatures the following morning, but a few consistent days of cold temperatures are needed to draw manatees in. The animals can be spotted at the lagoon year-round, though sightings increase significantly once manatee season gets underway, per the same account.
Florida's manatee season officially spans November 15 through March 31, according to The Palm Beach Post. Manatees tend to gather in the plant's warm-water outflow once temperatures drop to 68 degrees or colder, the paper reported. FWC has said that more than half of Florida's manatees find shelter during the coldest stretches of the year in power plant-warmed waters, according to a separate Palm Beach Post report.
A Season of Big — and Disputed — Numbers
Last winter offered a glimpse of how dramatic the gatherings can get. Workers counted 34 manatees at the lagoon on a cold morning in mid-January, according to CBS12, after an earlier cold snap that same month had brought 66. By early February, the totals climbed much higher. The Palm Beach Post reported more than 240 manatees gathered on February 3, calling it the highest number counted in recent years, with the count dropping to 180 the next day. A Palm Beach Post picture gallery put the February 3 count at 249, consistent with the report, while another Palm Beach Post report referenced more than 240 manatees counted at the lagoon in early February.
Seagrass loss, the manatees' main food source, remains an ongoing threat to the species, according to FPL. That backdrop adds some weight to why a safe, warm gathering spot like the lagoon matters for the animals during winter months.
Education Center Marks a Decade of Public Outreach
FPL built Manatee Lagoon in 2016 as part of its environmental mission to teach the public about manatees, according to visitmanateelagoon.com. The facility offers education programs and hands-on experiences for visitors year-round, not just during the coldest stretches of the season. In 2024, the lagoon's season kickoff celebration included free activities such as face painting and cornhole for families, per the same site.
This year's festivities are set for November 21, when Manatee Lagoon is scheduled to host its migration celebration to officially kick off manatee season, per WPBF's report. With the season running through the end of March, the coming months will determine whether this year's counts rival the crowds seen at the lagoon during previous cold snaps.
