MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. – After rescuers saved a 400 lb. manatee that was stuck in a storm drain, Melbourne Beach is now considering how to stop cold sea cows from swimming into drains.
Monday was actually the new town manager’s first day, so your Melbourne Beach Community Correspondent, James Sparvero, asked Marie Smith what the early plan was to prevent something like this, which has happened before in Brevard County, from happening again.
[WATCH: Manatee finally freed from storm drain in Brevard County]
“We wanna make sure that we have the appropriate protections in place, whether it be grates, or bollards, pilings, or whatever it may be,” Smith said.
Sparvero asked the town manager if she’s getting any inspiration from Satellite Beach.
Nineteen manatees were rescued from a storm drain in 2015.
“I briefly talked to the public works manager over there, and he had told me that they had put some grates in place,” Smith said. “Again, really, we’re gonna follow the wildlife officials who would have the best handle on what kind of protection, manatee protection, we should use.”
Sparvero then asked Smith for her personal opinion and if she thinks grates, bollards, or pilings are needed.
[WATCH: Rescued Brevard County manatee taken to SeaWorld Orlando]
“Well, somehow that manatee got into the stormwater drain, so we wanna just make sure that doesn’t happen again,” she answered.
Smith said a downside of grates is that they trap debris in them.
Bollards or pilings don’t have the same problem.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com to let you know exactly when a project could get started.