Environment Studies

• Letter: Manatees & Personal Watercraft (2007) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  R. Kipp Frhlich, Section Leader, Imperiled Species Management Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  
  Letter to Hopping Green & Sams stating that there have been no manatee deaths attributed to personal watercraft.
  
  
• Buffer Zone Distances to Protect Foraging and Loafing Waterbirds from Disturbance by Personal Watercraft in Florida (2000) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Thirty-nine species of waterbirds were exposed to the rapid approach of personal watercraft (PWC) and an outboard powered boat to determine the flushing distances to these two watercraft. Only one species exhibited significantly larger flush distances to the approach of a PWC, whereas five species exhibited significantly larger flush distances to the approach of the outboard powered boat. Eleven species exhibited no difference in flush distance between PWC and the outboard powered boat. This data suggests that a uniform buffer zone should be established for both PWC and outboard-powered vessels.
  
  
• Letter: Manatees & Personal Watercraft (1999) David Arnold, Bureau of Protected Species Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  
  Letter to Congressman Weldon stating that there have been no manatee deaths attributed to personal watercraft.
  
  
• Sworn Affidavit of Dr. James Rodgers, Wildlife Biologist for the Sate of Florida (1998)
  
  Dr. Rodgers concludes that buffer zones are sufficient to protect wading bird colonies from human disturbance, whether it be on foot, vehicle, or boat.
  
  
• Effects of Motorboats and Personal Watercraft on Flight Behavior Over a Colony of Common Terns (1998)
  Joanna Burger, Rutgers University
  
  
• Effects of Personal Watercraft Operation on Shallow-Water Seagrass Communities in the Florida Keys (1997) Continental Shelf Associates
  
  Study shows that personal watercraft have no effect on sea grass when operated in depths of 2 feet or more, as recommended by the manufacturers.