The Hillsborough River is more than just a scenic treasure—it's a vital home for manatees. These gentle, threatened mammals raise their young in its calm waters, graze along its banks, and find warmth in its springs year-round. For many of us who live, boat, or simply enjoy the beauty of the river, manatees are an irreplaceable part of our shared ecosystem.

But their safety is at risk.

Increased boat traffic and speeding vessels not only endanger manatees—they also threaten the safety of fellow boaters and cause costly damage to riverfront property. It's time for our community to come together in support of a solution.

We're calling on the City of Tampa to collaborate with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to designate the area from Lowry Park upriver to the Rowlett Park dam a Manatee Habitat Zone—an initiative that would enhance boating safety, protect our riverbanks, and provide essential safeguards for manatees.

By supporting this effort, you're advocating for:

• Stronger community education about safe boating practices
• Improved signage and enforcement to protect wildlife
• A safer, more enjoyable river experience for all

If you love the river, the wildlife that calls it home, or the safety of our community, we invite you to add your name in support.

Together, we can preserve the Hillsborough River as a place where manatees thrive, families feel safe, and nature is respected.

Sign the petition. Spread the word. Protect what matters.

Thank you for being a Friend of the Hillsborough River — where advocacy meets action for over 25 years.