GEMINI SPRINGS PARK PHOTO VIA ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Drought conditions persisted across most of the St. Johns River Water Management District (Website) in June, with rainfall coming in well below average for the month and the year, according to a report presented at the District’s Governing Board meeting.
Districtwide rainfall averaged 5.11 inches in June, 1.63 inches below the monthly average, and every inch counts. Seminole County received the most rain at 6.89 inches, while Alachua County was the driest at 3.67 inches. Over the past 12 months, the District recorded 43.52 inches of rainfall, 7.49 inches below average. Sixteen of the District’s 18 counties remained below normal for the year, with Baker County recording a deficit of more than 20 inches. Volusia and Brevard counties were the only two counties above normal for the previous 12 months.
Groundwater levels remained stressed. The District’s districtwide groundwater index came in at the 21st percentile for June, placing it in the low range, though some individual areas saw increases while others continued to decline. Silver Springs, one of the state’s most closely watched hydrological indicators, recorded a monthly mean flow of 384 cubic feet per second in June, which is down 52 cubic feet per second from May and at the bottom of the low range for this time of year. Blue Spring in Volusia County, Rock Springs, and Wekiwa Springs were all in the normal range.
The District remains under a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration.
