The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a year-round inhabitant of the coastal waters and rivers of Volusia County. Listed as an endangered species and designated the marine mammal of Florida, the average adult measures 8–9 feet in length and weighs approximately 1,000 pounds. Manatees are herbivores, feeding primarily on aquatic plants, and are generally found in water 3–6 feet deep.

Manatees cannot tolerate water temperatures below 20°C (68°F) for extended periods. When temperatures drop, animals inhabiting Volusia County waters migrate to warm water refuges — most notably Blue Spring State Park, identified as the single most important natural warm water refuge on the central east coast of Florida.

The historic range of the West Indian manatee extends from northern Brazil through Mexico, the southeastern U.S., and the Caribbean. During summer months, animals have been reported as far north as Chesapeake Bay. Gestation is approximately 13 months; most females give birth to a single calf. Newborns range 4.0–4.5 feet in length and weigh about 66 pounds, remaining dependent on their mothers for up to two years.

The purpose of this plan is to provide county-wide protection for the Florida manatee and its habitat. This plan contains recommendations for vessel speed zones, marina/boat facility development, shoreline and submerged land development, habitat protection, law enforcement, educational programs, human-manatee interaction, and inter-governmental coordination.

The goal of county manatee protection plans is to ensure the long-range protection of manatees and their habitat. Objectives for Volusia County's Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) include:

• Reducing the number of boat-related manatee mortalities
• Achieving an optimal sustainable manatee population
• Protecting manatee habitat
• Promoting boating safety
• Developing public education keyed to the need to protect manatees and their environment
• Taking into consideration the rights of citizens to use Volusia County waters for recreational and commercial purposes

Manatees are found in Volusia County year-round on both the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and St. Johns River (SJR) systems, with distinct summer and winter distribution patterns. Human activities — including boating, netting, and improper disposal of monofilament line — pose ongoing threats. Five manatee deaths in the county since 1974 are attributed to drowning in nets and ingestion of monofilament line.

On the ICW, manatees use the channel primarily as a travel corridor during warm months. Significant congregation areas include the Tomoka River, Manatee Cove (Mosquito Lagoon), the sewage outfall near the New Smyrna Beach city library, the outfall near the Seabreeze Bridge, and the canal by English Jim's Marina.

On the SJR, manatees congregate at Blue Spring during winter months. Blue Spring is the only natural warm water refuge in the county. During warm months, manatees travel throughout the river system. Radio-tracking data documents manatee use from the Lake George/SJR confluence to Lake Monroe.

Volusia County's perinatal mortality rate (44.1%) is notably higher than the statewide figure (21.2%). The Tomoka River/Basin, downtown Daytona Beach area, and Ponce Inlet backwaters are the primary concentrations of perinatal deaths, reflecting their importance as calving areas. The ICW system recorded 116 manatee mortalities; the SJR system (including portions of Lake and Seminole counties) recorded 42.

A comprehensive boating study of the SJR and ICW systems collected data via aerial surveys, ramp intercept interviews, boat ramp trailer census, shoreline dock surveys, marina surveys, and a mail survey to 2,050 registered boaters.

• Main activities: traveling and fishing (86% of all boating activity)
• Primary boat type: outboard engine powerboats averaging 100 horsepower; Class 1 (16–25 ft) and Class A (<16 ft) accounted for 88% of boats observed
• 50% more boats on water in summer vs. winter
• 51% of boaters were Volusia County residents; 46% from other Florida counties; 3% out-of-state
• Marine facilities in county: 100 boat ramps, 77 marinas with 5,346 slips, and ~4,100 shoreline docks
• Ratio: 1 boat per 20.2 residents

Volusia County's Environmental Management Service Center maintains a water quality monitoring program on both the ICW and SJR, implemented in late 1989. Both water bodies are sampled quarterly with data uploaded to the USEPA STORET system. Overall water quality appears good with no major pollution point sources identified.

Stormwater runoff has been identified as a major habitat quality concern, particularly along the Tomoka River and its tributaries. The County contracted comprehensive stormwater studies resulting in recommendations for projects totaling over $98 million in capital expenditures and $4 million in annual O&M expenses. Non-point surface water runoff — estimated to account for up to 80% of pollution in some water bodies — is the primary challenge.

ICW System: Seagrass beds (primarily Cuban Shoal Grass and Manatee Grass) are located throughout Mosquito Lagoon from the Brevard County line to Edgewater, with scattered beds up to Ponce Inlet. North of Ponce Inlet, tannin-darkened water restricts seagrass growth; the predominant SAV is marine algae. Manatees in the Tomoka River area feed on smooth cordgrass. Exotic/nuisance species of concern: Brazilian Pepper and Elephant Ear.

SJR System: Diverse plant communities include submerged, emergent, and floating vegetation. Preferred manatee food plants identified by Bengtson (1981): Water Hyacinth, Pickerelweed, Alligatorweed, Paragrass, Giant Reed, and Cattail. Primary exotic problem: water hyacinths (double mass in 6–14 days under optimal conditions), water lettuce, and hydrilla. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is responsible for maintenance spraying.

Volusia County addresses manatee habitat protection through its Comprehensive Plan (Ch. 11 Coastal Management Element and Ch. 12 Conservation Element), a county-wide surface water monitoring program, extensive public lands ownership, and an active land acquisition program.

• Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
• Blue Spring State Park
• Tomoka State Park & Tomoka Marsh
• Canaveral National Seashore
• Mosquito Lagoon
• Spruce Creek and named tributaries
• Tomoka River and tributaries (Little Tomoka River, Groover Branch, Priest Branch, Misner's Branch, Thompson Creek, Strickland Creek)
• Bulow Creek State Park; DeLeon Springs State Recreation Area; Murray Creek (including Rose Bay)

Several existing education programs support manatee protection in Volusia County. Blue Spring State Park offers the most comprehensive program, including K–12 VCR presentations (4x daily, 400+ children/day), field observation classes, weekend adult programs, and summer camper programs. Additional programs are operated by Canaveral National Seashore, Save the Manatee Club (SMC), Florida Power and Light, Sea World, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM).

Permit and development review for marine facilities potentially affecting manatees may involve: the municipality (if applicable), Volusia County, FDEP, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The ACOE and FDEP maintain a joint application for dredge-and-fill projects including boat docking facilities.

Speed zones were established in 1991 for both the SJR and ICW systems under Rule 68C-22.012, F.A.C. Volusia County is currently divided into 26 speed zones with 11 classifications on the SJR, and 29 zones with 10 classifications on the ICW. Zone types include idle speed, slow speed, 25 mph, 30 mph, 35 mph, seasonal idle/slow, shoreline buffer zones, and nighttime slower speeds.

From 1974–1998, a total of 37 manatees were killed by watercraft in Volusia County (25 on the ICW, 16 on the SJR). There were 15 mortalities in the nine years prior to the 1991 speed zones, and 22 in the nine years after. The lack of major congregation areas outside Blue Spring suggests that location-specific speed zones may need reassessment.

Education initiatives are categorized by implementation timeline:

A full-time County Manatee Program Coordinator position should be created and funded to manage the MPP program.