From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
The St. Johns River Water Management District averaged 5.30 inches of rain in September, falling 1.44 inches below the monthly average. Rainfall over the preceding 12 months totaled 42.07 inches, nearly 9 inches below average, while the districtwide groundwater index remained very low. Rock Springs and Wekiwa Springs continued to record normal flows, while other parts of the district remained dry.
*****
Below-average rainfall across much of the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) in September prolonged dry conditions in several northern and western counties, limiting the seasonal recovery typically seen at this time of year. While scattered storms delivered significant rainfall to portions of the District, precipitation was highly variable, leaving many areas with rainfall totals below normal. As a result, dry conditions persisted in counties most affected by drought within the District.
Related: Fatal lightning strike offers warning for Apopka residents.
The District’s Governing Board meeting included a full report on September’s hydrologic conditions. Highlights include:
Rainfall
- Districtwide rainfall averaged 5.30 inches, 1.44 inches below the monthly average.
- Monthly rainfall averages ranged from 7.82 inches in Okeechobee County to 3.19 inches in Bradford County.
- Annual rainfall across the District was 42.07 inches, 8.94 inches below the 12-month average.
- Rainfall totals over the past year remained uneven across the District. However, through September, all 18 counties were below their 12-month averages, with ten counties recording deficits of more than 10 inches. Of those, Baker County recorded a deficit of more than 17 inches.
Groundwater
- Most monitoring stations across the Upper Floridan aquifer were below the normal range at the end of September, but nearly all sites recorded improvements.
- Districtwide groundwater levels, expressed as a single index, were in the 8th percentile for September, which is in the very low range.
Spring flows
- Silver Springs recorded a monthly mean flow of 400 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 258 million gallons per day (mgd), an increase of 18 cfs from August, which is in the very low range for this time of year.
- In Volusia County, the Blue Spring station reported flows within the high range.
- Rock Springs had a monthly mean flow of 59 cfs (38 mgd), which is in the normal range.
- Wekiwa Springs recorded a monthly mean flow of 63 cfs (41 mgd), continuing to be in the normal range.
For further insights into rainfall totals and other hydrologic data, visit www.sjrwmd.com.
For more information about the Phase III Extreme Water Shortage, visit www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.
Visit WaterLessFlorida.com for tips to help landscapes thrive while saving water and money. Follow the water conservation conversation at #sjrwmd #waterconservation #savewater.
Key Points:
- September rainfall averaged 5.30 inches districtwide, 1.44 inches below the monthly average.
- All 18 counties were below their 12-month rainfall averages, with 10 recording deficits exceeding 10 inches.
- The districtwide groundwater index ranked in the 8th percentile for September, considered very low, although nearly all monitoring sites showed improvement.
- Rock Springs averaged 38 million gallons of flow per day, while Wekiwa Springs averaged 41 million gallons per day; both remained in the normal range.
- Spring conditions varied across the district, with Silver Springs recording very low flows and Volusia County’s Blue Spring station reporting flows in the high range.
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 that manage the state's groundwater and surface water supplies. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
