August rainfall was plentiful across central and north Florida

August brought above-average rainfall across much of the St. Johns River Water Management District and shrank a 12-month rainfall deficit in Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties. 

Alachua County received 8.7 inches inches of rainfall in August.

A full report outlining hydrological conditions was presented at the District’s September Governing Board meeting.

Highlights included:

Rainfall

• Districtwide, August rainfall was 0.9 inch above the long-term average of 7 inches.
• While Brevard and Indian River counties were in a drier zone, Indian River had the only countywide rainfall total that was below average, receiving 1.4 inches less than its long-term August average.
• Counties receiving the most rainfall in August were Duval and Marion, both of which exceeded 9 inches of rain.
• Districtwide, the cumulative rainfall total over the last 12 months is 49 inches, which is 2 inches below the long-term average.
• Putnam, Flagler and St. Johns counties benefited from above-average rain, but it did not erase their 12-month deficits.
• Counties with the greatest long-term deficits are Indian River, St. Johns and Putnam. Each have had less than 45 inches of rain over the last 12 months.

Groundwater

• Upper Floridan aquifer conditions (groundwater levels) at the end of August were in the normal or high range throughout most of the District.
• Groundwater levels are at the 69th percentile districtwide. This means that since 1980, aquifer levels have been higher than they are now about 31 percent of the time.

Surface water flows

• Surface water flow conditions in the St. Johns River’s headwaters were in the average range for this time of year.

• Flow in the headwaters at the Melbourne station was 771 million gallons per day (mgd) on Sept. 1, which is in the 65th percentile of flow conditions for this time of year.

• Orlando-area tributaries were in the average or slightly above average flow ranges.
• Flow conditions in central Florida were in the high range on Sept. 1, with the DeLand station reporting 3.56 billion gallons per day (bgd), or in the 79^th percentile, while the Satsuma station reported 6.9 bgd (81^st percentile).
• At the Wekiva River near Sanford, flows were 253 mgd (77^th percentile).
• Flows in the Ocklawaha River near Conner were 690 mgd (58^th percentile).
• Flows in the St. Marys River near Macclenny were 342 mgd (53^rd percentile).

Lake levels

• Lake Brooklyn water levels decreased 0.4 foot to 100.4 feet in August.
• Lake Weir increased 0.2 foot to 53 feet during August.
• Lake Apopka’s water level increased 0.2 foot to 66 feet, matching its regulation schedule for August.
• At 21. 7 feet, Blue Cypress Lake levels changed little during the month and remain consistent with its regulation schedule. Keeping water levels low in the Upper St. Johns River Basin helps the District prepare for greater rainfall during the tropical season.

Spring flows

• The mean monthly flow at Silver Springs decreased to 616 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 398 mgd. This represents a 29 cfs decrease compared to July.
• At the Blue Spring station in Volusia County, the mean monthly flow was recorded at 150 cfs, or 97 mgd, which is within the normal range for the time of year.
• At Rock Springs, the monthly mean flow was 61 cfs (39 mgd), an increase of 2 cfs compared to July.
• Mean monthly flow at Wekiwa Springs was 66 cfs (43 mgd), an increase of 2 cfs.

 Visit the District’s Water Less campaign webpage at WaterLessFlorida.com and follow the District on social media to learn ways to conserve water outdoors. Follow the conversation at #WaterLessFlorida #waterconservation #sjrwmd #WatchtheWeatherWaittoWater.

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.

To learn more about rainfall totals and other hydrologic data collected, visit sjrwmd.com.