From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
August rainfall improved conditions in portions of the St. Johns River Water Management District, with eight counties receiving above-average totals. The District remained 9.60 inches below its 12-month rainfall average, while groundwater levels ranked in the ninth percentile for August. Rock Springs and Wekiwa Springs continued to record flows within the normal range.
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August brought a return to more typical summer rainfall across the St. Johns River Water Management District, but officials say groundwater levels and long-term rainfall totals remain well below normal.
Related: Fighting the Florida Grime: A Seasonal Guide to Keeping Your Apopka Home Exterior Clean.
The District received an average of 6.84 inches of rain during the month, just 0.16 inches below the long-term August average of 7 inches. Eight of the District’s 18 counties recorded above-average rainfall, providing some relief to inland areas that had experienced persistent dry conditions.
However, the improved monthly rainfall was not enough to erase deficits that have accumulated across northeast and east-central Florida.
Over the 12 months ending in August, the District received 41.41 inches of rain—9.60 inches below the long-term average. All 18 counties within the District remained below their 12-month averages, and 11 counties recorded deficits exceeding 10 inches.
Baker County had the largest deficit at more than 19 inches.
Monthly rainfall totals also varied significantly across the region. Alachua County received an average of 9.73 inches during August, while Flagler County recorded 4.71 inches.
The District noted that rainfall totals must be considered alongside evapotranspiration, the natural loss of water through evaporation and plant use. Evapotranspiration averaged nearly 5 inches across the District in August, compared with the 6.84-inch rainfall average.
Although rainfall exceeded those water losses during the month, officials said sustained surplus rainfall is needed to replenish groundwater, restore water levels and reduce long-term deficits.
Groundwater conditions remained especially concerning at the end of August. Most monitoring stations across the Upper Floridan aquifer were below the normal range.
The District’s groundwater index stood in the ninth percentile for August, placing conditions within the very low range.
Spring flows produced mixed results across the District.
Silver Springs recorded an average flow of 381 cubic feet per second, equivalent to approximately 246 million gallons per day. That represented an increase of 8 cubic feet per second from July, but the spring’s flow remained very low for the time of year.
Conditions were better at several springs in Central Florida. Blue Spring in Volusia County reported flows within the normal range.
Rock Springs recorded an average flow of 55 cubic feet per second, or approximately 36 million gallons per day. Wekiwa Springs averaged 61 cubic feet per second, or about 40 million gallons per day. Both remained within the normal range.
The District presented its full August hydrologic conditions report during a meeting of its Governing Board.
The St. Johns River Water Management District continues to operate under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration. Information about current watering restrictions is available through the District’s watering restrictions webpage.
Residents can review rainfall totals, groundwater measurements, and other hydrologic information at sjrwmd.com. Water conservation information and landscaping tips are also available at WaterLessFlorida.com.
The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of Florida’s five regional agencies responsible for managing groundwater and surface-water resources. It covers all or portions of 18 counties and operates its headquarters in Palatka, with service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
Key Points:
- The District averaged 6.84 inches of rain in August, slightly below the monthly average of 7 inches.
- All 18 counties remained below their 12-month rainfall averages.
- Eleven counties had annual rainfall deficits exceeding 10 inches.
- Districtwide groundwater levels were in the ninth percentile, classified as very low.
- Rock Springs and Wekiwa Springs recorded flows within their normal ranges.
