MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 12 December 08 Turkey Plant a refuge for crocodiles (Priscilla Greear)
As Florida Power & Light began digging cooling canals at Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Homestead, crocodiles began swimming into the deep waters of the newly created refuge, generating their own electricity through rituals of courtship and mating.
Some three decades later, they've grown into a colony of about 400 teenage and adult crocodiles as part of what the National Wildlife Federation calls a ``crocodile Eden.''
Environmentalists and nuclear plants sometimes don't mix. But the National Wildlife Federation praises Turkey Point in its October/November magazine issue, crediting the heavily guarded nuclear plant for helping to save the once endangered reptiles.
Today, Turkey Point accounts for about a fifth of the entire nation's crocodile population, according to the Federation's article.
Its secret to a croc mating heaven: The 6,800-acre system of canals to cool the power plant -- which the crocodiles are only too happy to use.
After a nest discovery at Turkey Point in 1978, FPL realized the need to preserve this emerging habitat within their canal system that has access to Biscayne Bay.
Three years earlier, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had classified the species as endangered, citing development pressure and lack of protection of them and their habitats.
So FPL established a monitoring program and began studying the movements, nesting habits, genetic makeup and growth of this skittish, saltwater species.
For nearly the past two decades wildlife biologist Joe Wasilewski has led FPL's efforts. He's seen crocs reclaim their territory along Florida shores, their only home in the United States.
''This is a good story for a change'' as they were down-listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2007 to threatened from endangered, said Wasilewski in an interview at his laboratory.
``That means the species has rebounded enough that there's a chance for future generations to see them.''
Cindy Shulz, endangered species supervisor for the USFWS Vero Beach office, said that when they were endangered in 1975 there were only an estimated 10 to 20 reproducing females, while now there are an estimated 2,000 crocs in Florida.
Their population has grown from about 19 in 1985 to 400 at Turkey Point, which is now one of three primary nesting areas in South Florida, said Shulz.
The University of Florida monitors the remaining crocs, largely at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades National Park.
At Turkey Point, FPL has a proposed project to add additional nuclear reactors there.
But Wasilewski said his reptilian friends will remain protected.
For the proposed expansion FPL will next year make a mitigation plan based on an environmental review, said spokesperson Veronica Swanson.
She emphasized that the crocodile monitoring is part of its larger effort to use clean and renewable energy sources like nuclear.
She added that the U.S. Department of Energy ranked FPL as the top energy company for conservation; its recently constructed gas-burning plant is one of the cleanest fuel burners in the country.
And FPL participates in the Florida Everglades Mitigation Bank, returning nearly 13,500 acres of wetlands to their natural condition. The utility company also began earlier this year building a series of 44 culverts to restore the natural flow of fresh water to Biscayne Bay to bring back some plants that had disappeared.
FPL has no less than 22,000 acres of wildlife preserve where 17 endangered species find refuge; its nuclear plant at Port St. Lucie has a program to restore sea turtles, Swanson added.
''We believe nature and professional companies can coexist,'' she said. ``We have an obligation to protect the environment.''
While crocodiles have rebounded, the alligator population has exploded to more than one million.
Crocs can be distinguished by their slightly narrower snout and jaw that leaves a tooth exposed, and their color that is more brown and green than the gator's grayish black.
But crocs are also increasingly showing up in canals and water bodies along country clubs and golf courses.
However, about 95 percent of their habitat remains in federal, state or county territory -- or other protected areas such as Turkey Point.
''Turkey Point has greatly benefited crocodiles,'' said endangered species supervisor Shulz.
''The recovering of the crocodiles to a great degree is going to hinge on people in South Florida being willing to live with crocodiles,'' she added.
''A lot of the habitat is protected,'' she added. ``We need to ensure the remaining habitat is protected as they're recovering and there are more of them and they spread through their historic habitat.''
Turkey Plant a refuge for crocodiles