What is the projected growth rate of the manatee population that uses Blue Spring as a winter, warm-water refuge?
Based on 28 years of observed manatee season maximum daily counts, the manatee population using Blue Spring as a winter, warm-water refuge grew at a rate of 6.6 percent per season. However, the District’s model used to project maximum daily manatee growth rate in future manatee seasons uses a 7.02 percent growth rate. The use of this higher growth rate recognizes the potential increase in the number of manatees using Blue Spring as a winter, warm-water refuge that may result from the future closure of artificial warm-water refuges (e.g., electrical energy power plants) in the St. Johns River and along Florida’s east coast. Using this higher growth rate, the manatee season maximum daily count is projected to increase from 158 manatees in the 2006 season, to 558 manatees by the 2024 season.
