County staff returned Oct. 28 with draft survey language for a proposed Manatee Protection Zone (MPZ) that would cover the Mud River and associated tributaries. Natural resources manager Carla Berman said the draft mailing list was generated from property‑appraiser records for the area inside a map boundary the board had previously discussed.

The proposed survey asks residents three questions: whether they favor restricting vessel speed and operations to protect manatees; whether they support placing an MPZ over the Mud River/tributaries shown on a map; and which type of restriction (no‑wake, slow‑speed, posted limit, or other) they would favor. Berman said the intent was to reach all property owners within the red boundary shown in the map that accompanies the draft survey.

Multiple residents from Palm Grove Colony, Island Drive and Weeki Wachee Gardens spoke during public comment, raising two recurring points: (1) they said many nearby property owners reported they were not on the county’s mailing list and asked staff to check the property‑appraiser export and mailing address fields; and (2) they asked that the Mud River and the larger Weeki Wachee River be treated separately because boat traffic patterns and navigability differ and because a single map and the phrase “Manatee Protection Zone” can be misunderstood. One speaker recommended removing the first question as drafted and replacing it with a definition of “Manatee Protection Zone” per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) so respondents know precisely what the county is asking them to endorse.

Commissioners asked staff to correct the mailing list where property owners were omitted, to consider narrowing the geographic scope and to revise survey wording to avoid leading language. Several commissioners also asked staff to confirm whether FWC is taking any parallel steps or has advice; staff said FWC and regional planning entities are reviewing manatee movements because of changing warm‑water discharge patterns and that staff will consult FWC on definitions and appropriate legal language for an MPZ.

No formal vote was taken; the board directed staff to revise the survey and mailing list and return with a corrected draft and a clear map showing the limited stretch of river under consideration.

Ending: County staff will verify and correct the property‑appraiser export for the mailing list, revise survey language (remove or clarify leading language, include FWC definition of MPZ), and return the revised survey and map for the board’s review before mailings are sent.