Stan Kroh–whose broad scope of duties at Tampa Electric Company includes overseeing the company’s Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, spanning the 26 years he’s worked there—describes the history of the Viewing Center, which is approaching its 40th anniversary.
Kroh charts the evolution of the Manatee Viewing Center, from the earliest days, when the Big Bend Power Station began discharging warm water—which attracted manatees, in turn attracting human viewers peering through the fence—right up through the lavish observatory deck and amenities that currently occupy that space.
He proudly notes that across the entire four decades of the Viewing Center’s existence, it’s been free to get in, and free to park. These serve as just one example of the myriad ways Tampa Electric Company has demonstrated a deep, longstanding commitment to manatees, and to the public who want to see and learn about these benign creatures. Kroh says they welcome some 500,000 visitors in a given season. (The Power Station’s discharge canal is a state and federally-designated sanctuary.)
In keeping with that ethos, Kroh is clearly a longtime manatee ally (I’m told he’s very popular in sea cow circles) and expert. Although, interestingly, as a native Floridian who grew up in West Palm Beach, he recalls that he didn’t have much awareness of manatees in those formative years—until he moved to the other coast for college.
Other examples of Tampa Electric Company unwavering devotion to manatees and their well-being, Kroh mentions, include additionally heating the water discharged from the Power Station when cold snaps hit, bringing chillier water and the risk of potentially lethal cold-stress syndrome.
Another notable example was the company planting multiple acres of seagrass, the primary manatee food—Kroh also explains they typically eat 10% of their bodyweight in seagrass each day—which can be destroyed by water pollution and other perils.
We also discuss that Kroh will be a speaker at The Florida Birding and Nature Festival, which runs April 9-12, in and around Apollo Beach, featuring field and boat trips, expert seminars, keynote speakers, a nature expo, and more.
Kroh’s talk, slated for April 10 at 11am, and entitled “Manatees and Mankind,” is expected to recount his experiences with manatees at the Viewing Center, review manatee biology and behaviors, and address population numbers and preferred habitats.
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