LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Make way for manatees heading for warmer water.

November is Manatee Awareness Month, and for good reason.

Florida manatees are on the move, seeking warm-water sites to spend the winter.

That means boaters must be cautious and watch for Florida's official marine mammal and for changing speed zones on waterways.

Manatees generally start traveling to warm water when the air temperature drops below 50 degrees or when the water temperature dips to 68 degrees.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) changes seasonal speed zone signs in mid-November on many waterways to accommodate manatee migration.

Winter (manatee-related) boat-speed zone changes by county.

In Lee County speed zone changes are in effect from November 15- March 31.

During that time period no entry will be allowed at the discharge and intake canals of the Florida Power and Light Tice Power Plant.

Idle speed and slow speed will be required on portions of the Intracoastal Waterway channel on the Caloosahatchee River in the vicinity of the Tice Power Plant.

25 mph speed zone will be enforced on portions of Estero Bay, Hurricane Bay, Hell Peckney Bay and Hendry Creek.

Copies of complete individual county waterway rules are available at: www.flrules.org/ or visit MyFWC.com/Manatee, or call the FWC at 850-922-4330.

Zone Definitions:
Idle speed (No wake) - Lowest speed needed to maintain steering and make headway (speed used when docking a boat).

Slow speed (No excessive wake) - Fully off plane and completely settled in the water, not plowing.

Motorboats prohibited zone - Entry is prohibited for any vessel being propelled or powered by machinery.

No entry - No vessels or other human-related activities allowed.