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John,

In the balmy coastal waters of Indian Lagoon, manatees once drifted through lush, swirling meadows of seagrass, eating their fill and raising their young calves.

But those meadows are turning into vast underwater deserts -- and manatees are withering away as a result. In just two years, 20% of all manatees off the coast of Florida died, many due to starvation.[1]

If we're going to save the manatees, we have to save the seagrass, and that means keeping runoff pollution out of essential manatee habitat like the Indian Lagoon.

Tell Congress: Protect manatees from starvation by funding projects that keep pollution out of our coastal waters.
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Manatees have no natural predators.[2] In a healthy ecosystem, these gentle giants spend their days moseying through warm water looking for snacks, living up to their nickname "sea cows." And they need a lot of snacks -- up to 9% of their body weight a day.[3]

So why are these peaceful creatures vanishing?

Sewage spills, leaking septic tanks and stormwater runoff bring excess nutrients into our coastal waters, where they contribute to gigantic algal blooms.[4] These blooms block sunlight from reaching the ocean floor, killing the seagrass and leaving manatees searching desperately for food that just isn't there.[5]

If we're going to save the manatees, we have to go to the source. That means funding water infrastructure projects that keep sewage and runoff pollution out of our coastal waters.

Take action to protect manatees: Send your message to Congress today.
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Unfortunately, it looks like Congress is headed in the wrong direction. Recently, a key U.S. House committee voted to slash water infrastructure funding.[6]

We now have just a few weeks to show massive public support before the spending bill reaches the House floor later this summer. And that's exactly what we're doing -- rallying people like you to send a message to Congress, urging your representatives to allocate funds that will protect manatees and our coasts from runoff pollution.

Will you join us in defending manatees by sending a message today?
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Thank you for standing with all of our vulnerable wildlife,

Lisa Frank
Executive Director

1. "Manatees Move Toward Restored Endangered Species Safeguards," Harvard Law School, October 11, 2023.
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2. "Manatees 101," NOAA, last accessed July 23, 2025.
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3. "Florida Manatee Facts and Information," Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, last accessed July 23, 2025.
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4. Jim Waymer, "Environmental group wins landmark manatee protection case forcing state to scrutinize Brevard sewage," Florida Today, April 17, 2025.
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5. Zachary T. Sampson, et al, "Wasting Away," Tampa Bay Times, April 2, 2025.
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6. John Rumpler, "STATEMENT: House committee slashes water infrastructure funding," Environment America, July 22, 2025.
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