Below-average rainfall in February for the District

In February, the St. Johns River Water Management District region witnessed below-average rainfall, with the majority of precipitation concentrated in the middle of the month, driven by a frontal boundary traversing the central counties. Out of the 18 counties comprising the District, 12 received less than their typical monthly rainfall, while six counties experienced above-average precipitation.

A comprehensive report outlining February’s hydrologic conditions was presented at the District’s Governing Board meeting, featuring the following highlights:

Rainfall

• Districtwide, February’s rainfall averaged 2.81 inches, just 0.13 below the monthly average.
• County-wide monthly rainfall totals ranged from a high of 3.79 inches in Lake County to a low of 2 inches in Okeechobee County.
• Over the past 12 months, most of the District received average to above-average rainfall, with a cumulative total of 57.60 inches, surpassing the long-term average by 6.59 inches.
• County-wide totals varied between 52.84 inches in Lake County to 62.91 inches in Volusia County.

Groundwater 

• Upper Floridan aquifer conditions varied but generally fell within the high or normal range by the end of February.
• Districtwide groundwater levels, expressed as a single index, fall within the 84th percentile, which is in the high range for this time of year.

Spring flows

• Silver Springs recorded a mean monthly flow of 701 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 453 million gallons per day (mgd), a 13 cfs decrease from January, falling within the normal range for this time of year.
• Blue Spring station in Volusia County reported a mean monthly flow of 158 cfs, or 102 mgd, within the normal range.
• Rock Springs experienced a slight increase in mean monthly flow, just within the high range at 61 cfs (40 mgd).
• Wekiwa Springs exhibited a slight decrease, recording a mean monthly flow of 66 cfs (43 mgd), consistent with the seasonal norm.

For further insights into rainfall totals and other hydrologic data, visit www.sjrwmd.com.

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About the St. Johns River Water Management District 

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff are also available to serve the public at Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay service centers.