The Manatee River is a 36mi river in Manatee County, Florida. The river forms in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay.Wildlife in and around the river includes alligators, herons, manatees, dolphins, and fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, and gar. Bull sharks are occasionally found in the brackish water near its low-lying outlet. The river includes the Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail for paddlers.OverviewThe Manatee River has a watershed that is approximately 360sqmi. Lake Manatee, an artificial reservoir, is located about midway in the river's course. The lower part of the river below the dam is an estuary, with Bradenton and smaller settlements located along its banks. The river's main tributary is the Braden River, which runs through the communities of River Club and Lakewood Ranch.WatershedThe Manatee River watershed lies in the Tampa Bay sector of Manatee County. The watershed covers approximately 360sqmi. The Manatee River headwaters flow 45mi in a westerly direction towards the Gulf of Mexico and southern Tampa Bay. Two major river systems make up the Manatee River Watershed — Braden River and Manatee River. These two rivers have been impounded to create two reservoirs for potable supply — Ward Lake (also known as Bill Evers Reservoir) and Lake Manatee Reservoir. Ward Lake is located upstream on the narrow, winding Braden River. This reservoir, built in the 1930s, covers 255 acres and is responsible for the majority of the water for the city of Bradenton. The Lake Manatee Reservoir is located upstream on the Manatee River. This reservoir, built in 1967, is a 1,174 acre artificial reservoir used as Manatee County’s primary water supply.
