The Clay County Manatee Protection Plan

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a sub-species of the West Indian manatee,is commonly observed in Clay County waters during the warmer months of the year. ClubContinental and Doctor’s Lake in northern Clay County are important areas where manatees arefrequently observed. Currently, there are no more warm water outfalls in Duval, Clay or St.Johns Counties. Manatees used to frequent Jacksonville Electric Authority’s SouthsideGenerating Station (Duval County) that closed in October 2001 but little use was observed in2003/2004. Clay County does not have any power plants or other types of warm water sourcesthat would attract manatees in colder months. Three fresh water springs exist but are too small tofunction as attractants to manatees. As a result, small numbers of manatees remain in northeastFlorida during the winter months.

Publisher - Clay County Board of Commissioners, Clay County Planning Department

Subjects - Mammal, Manatee

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Citation: White AQ, Pinto GF. 2006. The Clay County Manatee Protection Plan. Green Cove Springs (FL): Clay County Board of Commissioners, Clay County Planning Department. 157 pp http://www.claycountygov.com/departments/Manatee.pdf/at_download/file