They collect in the northern part of the lagoon, which is also warmed by the Gulf Stream, and they often forage in the southern part. Manatees are frequently found at Peanut Island, the Earman River near Northlake Boulevard, and the Lake Worth Lagoon. “Not only do they get warmth from the discharge of the plant, but the vicinity of Port of Palm Beach, in general, is warmed by the Gulf Stream.” “While FPL is often a stopover point for those on their way further south, it is also a destination for many,” Reid said. Geological Survey, said that the animals tend to congregate in large numbers around the FPL plant when it is very cold, and then spread out when it is warmer. The mammals, he says, have been going there to get warm “for more than 30 years.” Jim Reid, a biologist with the U.S. Petersburg, said that an aerial survey in February spotted about 400 manatees tightly collected in the output of the Florida Power and Light plant in Riviera Beach. Buddy Powell, a biologist at the Sea to Shore Alliance, an environmental organization based in St. The survey found 589 manatees in Palm Beach County. Some 3,807 manatees were counted in January by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, a record high number since it began the annual surveys in 1991.
