The endangered American Crocodile may owe its future to conservation measures taken near a nuclear power plant. The Turkey Point plant in south Florida was designed to preserve the habitat of crocodiles, manatees, and other local animals. Florida Power and Light designed unique cooling ponds that regulate the reactor's temperature. It built a series of canals around the plant, similar to natural canals that had been destroyed for development. Development is the main reason for the crocs? endangered status. The power company says that the canals are responsible for dramatic increases in crocodile populations. In 2003, the company?s monitoring program observed 17 nests and more than 300 hatchlings in the canals, up from just 30 hatchlings in the late 1970s. Though crocodiles have always been rare in the state, they're still important predators in the ecosystem of South Florida. Habitat restoration initiatives like Turkey Point provide vital habitat for the endangered American crocodile.

The endangered American Crocodile may owe its future to conservation measures taken near a nuclear power plant. The Turkey Point plant in south Florida was designed to preserve the habitat of crocodiles, manatees, and other local animals. Florida Power and Light designed unique cooling ponds that regulate the reactor's temperature. It built a series of canals around the plant, similar to natural canals that had been destroyed for development. Development is the main reason for the crocs? endangered status. The power company says that the canals are responsible for dramatic increases in crocodile populations. In 2003, the company?s monitoring program observed 17 nests and more than 300 hatchlings in the canals, up from just 30 hatchlings in the late 1970s. Though crocodiles have always been rare in the state, they're still important predators in the ecosystem of South Florida. Habitat restoration initiatives like Turkey Point provide vital habitat for the endangered American crocodile.