Center volunteers and staff . Nearly 1,000 manatees dead in Florida this year, wildlife officials asking for aid. In 1986, Florida Electric's Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach closed and something amazing happened. Manatee Protection - The refuge staff is in charge of setting up, monitoring and enforcing seven manatee sanctuaries. Normally closed to swimmers and kayakers from November 15th to March 15th when manatees are present in large numbers, Blue Spring State Park is a great place to see manatees. After being closed for 19 months, Tampa Electric's award-winning Manatee Viewing Center will open Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The spring is a "no boat needed" location for viewing manatees. Watch the manatees at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center. Oddly enough, it is. There are still plenty of places where you can view manatees living peacefully, like the Manatee Viewing Center at Tampa Electric in Apollo Beach. The park is located at 10901 State Road 80 in Fort Myerslocated right across from Florida Power and Lightand opens at dawn and closes at dusk. It's a place for manatee fans to see them in-person. Hours 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EST Ticket sales end at 3:30 pm EST. For now, it's not set to open until January 6 of next year; usually it opens in November. Parking and entry is free. Manatees are more apt to be in the park late December through February. This apartment community also offers amenities such as SALTWATER BEACH ENTRY POOL, GAME ROOM and 24/7 FITNESS & AEROBICS and is located . Manatees warm up near TECO power plant on cold morning. During cold weather, the TECO power plant attracts countless manatees, and other forms of wildlife. Manatee Lagoon opening hours and admission: Daily 9 am to 4 pm during manatee season (Nov. 15 - March 31) closed Mondays (April 1 - Nov. 14) Free admission and parking. Tampa Electric's viewing center is a man-made manatee sanctuary . Apollo Beach, FL 33572. TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach (south of Tampa) To see these enchanting gentle giants, check out the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, which is only about 45 minutes north of Sarasota. What's killing it is us: pollution from fertilizers and septic tanks feed the growth of toxic algae, which blocks sunlight and prevents the seagrass from . TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach It may seem an unlikely spot for manatee viewing, but the TECO viewing center is actually ideal. Many manatees and tarpons around the primary viewing area for viewing, even a tagged manatee near the viewing platform on the east side away from the plant. Tampa Electric Company (TECO) Manatee Viewing Center. Ellen Prager is a freelance writer, consultant, and Safina Center Fellow. msn back to msn home news. APOLLO BEACH, Fla. - Across Florida, residents are waking up to some of the coldest temperatures of the winter. The closure this season is "to help protect the. Florida wildlife officials said Friday that the test facility in the east coast's Indian River Lagoon had its first takers of romaine lettuce Thursday, leading more manatees to eat the food. Well, it's apparently shaped like a manatee. The center closed in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. What we realized was that people were thinking Florida was closed (and) we canceled several reservations and refunded pre-pays. The Blue Spring is one of the best places to view manatees in Florida. We will have to wait and see what the captain's excuses are next season. Wear water shoes for swimming in the water to keep your feet from being cold. Photo courtesy of Friends of Manatee Springs State Park. Manatees migrate to these warm waters in the winter and the power plant has created a sanctuary for them, including viewing . It is an official manatee sanctuary and it offers visitors a chance to spot manatees in the cold, Gulf water. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts The sea walls contain the warm water and allow the temperature in the canal to return to ambient temperature before the water returns to the bay. WHY YOU SHOULD GO. Tom(an employee) who works weekly on Wednesdays, stated that this was first time since November last year, that he has seen the sea cows on the east side of the viewing platform. Manatee Lagoon opening hours and admission: Daily 9 am to 4 pm during manatee season (Nov. 15 - March 31) closed Mondays (April 1 - Nov. 14) Free admission and parking. The popular viewing center in Apollo Beach closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic. 4. Day Tours, Florida Day Trips, South Florida. (FOX 13 / file) APOLLO BEACH, Fla. - Manatee fans will have to wait a bit longer to flock to Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center. Further north in Crystal River, it was in the 30s. 6) Other places to see manatees in Florida: Moore's Creek - Ft. Pierce Utilities Authority: Manatees can be viewed from the Manatee Observation and Education Center. Located in Orange City to the north of Orlando, the park is a designated refuge for manatees and perfect for viewing. To help protect the health and safety of visitors and the community, Tampa Electric's award-winning Manatee Viewing Center will remain closed this season. 3. Watch the manatees of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This spring is a bit of a drive (about 2.5 hours from Orlando), but lives up to its name, with manatees traveling from the Suwannee River into the spring area during cold months. Manatees will only be at the park when the Gulf temperature is below 68 degrees, so the best bet is to go . During the winter, hordes of manatees are present, foraging on sea grass, traveling or sleeping. Manatees are attracted to the location of the viewing area because of the warmth given off by the Big Bend Power Station. Manatee Viewing Center To Remain Closed Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center, where people can watch manatees gather each year, will remain closed until at least fall as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 9. Press J to jump to the feed. It is off of the Big Bend Power Plant. The center closed in March 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic but has since undergone renovations that are expected to be complete by the end of the year. of Big Ben power station. Check-out the beautiful mural inside the Manatee Lagoon Education Center. Have a bathing suit to wear beneath your wetsuit. And while the designated sanctuaries are closed to visitors during the winter, the Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay allows manatee viewing from the water and, new for winter 2014-15, from an . This produces warm salt water which is then released into in the discharge canal where the manatee seek refuge from the cold. The link will take you to the full program page where you can see the above water camera and watch highlight reels. Since Florida manatees are a protected species, the discharge canal became a state and federally designated . You can see these sirens of the springs from above and below with two different camera views. Avid Traveler and Master Scuba Diver. Wildlife is attracted to the pool of warm water, which is discharged from the power plant's water cooling system. While the center remains closed, manatees will continue to gather in the federal and state-protected sanctuary. The Manatee Viewing Center is only open from November 1st until April 15th. Manatee Park, Fort Myers. There are still plenty of places where you can view manatees living peacefully, like the Manatee Viewing Center at Tampa Electric in Apollo Beach. . The Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center is one of the best things to do for any visitor to Tampa Bay. Back in December, the viewing center remained closed "to help protect the health and safety of visitors and the. Apartments at The Oasis at Manatee River are equipped with 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms, Washer & Dryer and Modern Floor Plans and have rental rates ranging from $1,984 to $3,150. People started seeing large numbers of manatees in the station's discharge canal. The Shark Rider will be released on May 1 and is available for pre-order. Still, boardwalks and overlooks line the pathway, and it's exceptionally easy to spy manatees in the water. Day Tours, Florida Day Trips, South Florida. After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, the TECO Manatee Viewing Center is opening back up on Nov. 1. I know, I know you're questioning if an electric company located an hour and a half away is really date night spot. New features will greet visitors as cooler temperatures prevail with the countdown to the 2017/2018 manatee season, Nov. 15 . RIVIERA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With less than a week before the Sunshine State heralds the season that brings Florida's favorite marine mammal migrating through state waterways, Manatee Lagoon - An FPL Eco-Discovery Center is set to make a splash. The Bairs Cove boat launch also offers another viewing option. Starting Monday, Tampa Electric will once again welcome visitors to its Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. After being closed for 19 months, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center will open Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Tips for Swimming with Manatees. Here are 5 places to find them. The Plantation Adventure Center & Dive Shop is headquarters for some of Florida's best spring dives, offering manatee tours year-round. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park - Wakulla Springs: Daily boat tours provide a closer look at wildlife. After being closed for 19 months, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center will open Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The aptly named Manatee Springs State Park offers great viewing possibilities. ; Visitor Services - In addition to managing over 400,000 visitors on the water, the refuge also provides land-based activities. The refuge Manatee Observation Deck is located on SR 3 at Haulover Canal. (Photo: Alamy) . Refuge closes promptly at 4:30 PM daily D2) The manatees come to the warm water discharge canal. (Featured image (top): Manatee resting at Three Sisters . The prime viewing season, however, usually runs from Nov. 15 . The Manatee Viewing Center's mission is to educate the public about the Florida manatee and its habitat. Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center is a designated manatee sanctuary to which large numbers of manatees in Florida return annually to the warm discharge waters of the Big Bend Power Station. The listing was posted to the Facebook Marketplace by Melinda Britt Disbrow, who bought the tender from a Culvers near the Manatee Viewing Center at . Report Add Reply . Entrance and boat fee are required. After being closed for 19 months, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center will open Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is sending out a reminder to people to "slow down and look out for migrating manatees" during Florida cold months. In Tampa alone, it was in the 40s before sunrise. Manatee Lagoon is an optimal location for seeing sea cows, although you should understand that they won't always be there and there is no guarantee that they'll be present. APOLLO BEACH, Fla. Some sad news for manatee fans: The popular viewing center in Apollo Beach will remain closed to the public through fall 2021. View manatees from the observation deck or go into the center to check out the touch tanks, interactive displays and aquaria to learn more about the area's ecosystems and inhabitants.