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Stephenson Creek advocates ask Clearwater advisory board to back manatee protection zone, oppose dock permit
Summary
Stephenson Creek advocates told the Clearwater Marine Advisory Board they completed a manatee-count study and asked the board to endorse protections and oppose a pending multi-slip dock permit; the board asked for documentation and agreed to consider an emailed draft letter before its March meeting.
Sherry Day, president of the Stephenson Creek advocacy group, and Mike Foley told the Clearwater Marine Advisory Board on Dec. 10 that they have completed a formal manatee-count study and provided it to Michael McDonald, and asked the board to consider supporting a local manatee protection zone.
"We've completed that study and provided it to Michael McDonald," Sherry Day said, and the group asked to appear at the board's next meeting to present findings. Mike Foley said, "we believe that the manatee situation there is bigger than we imagine," and urged quicker action because counts typically increase during cooler months.
Advocates said the study includes a captain's survey that recorded five to 10 manatees near the proposed dock site and that photographs and videos posted by the group show manatees in as little as three feet of water at that location. Foley and Day asked the board for a letter outlining concerns about a pending multi-slip dock permit that they believe is still under county review.
Board members and staff outlined the likely procedural path if the board were to act: the matter would go before Pinellas County and, depending on the county decision, could involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or state Fish and Wildlife authorities. A board member asked for specific additional data — including vertical clearance (air draft) under the bridge and water depth at high and low tide — that staff and the advocates said should be provided with any draft letter.
The board agreed it could accept an emailed draft of a letter for consideration before the next scheduled meeting in March and asked advocates to supply supporting evidence, such as the captain's report and photographs. The advocates also requested signs notifying boaters of manatees and slower speed areas, which several board members said would require coordination with county or state agencies.
The board did not take a formal vote on the dock permit or the manatee-zone request during the meeting; members instructed staff to review the information and to include the item on a future agenda for formal consideration.
