MEMORANDUM

TO: Water Management District Governing Board

FROM: Fay Baird, Senior Hydrologist, Division of Water and Land Resources

THRU: Hugh Thomas, Executive Director

DATE: March 11, 2019

RE: February 2019 Hydrologic Conditions Report for the SRWMD

RAINFALL

• District-wide total rainfall for the month of February was 1.41 inches, much lower than the long-term average February rainfall of 3.82” (Table 1, Figures 1 and 2). All counties within the District received less than half of the average rainfall in February. Northeast Jefferson County received much higher rainfall for the month than the rest of the District due to an isolated rainstorm on February 2nd; the District rain gage at Sneads Smokehouse Lake recorded 4.74” that day.

• Average rainfall across the District for the 12-month period ending February 28th was 64.37” (Table 1), which translates to an annual rainfall surplus of 9.64”. All river basins within the District ended the month with 12-month surplus rainfall (Figure 3), although the surpluses have diminished compared to January except in the Waccasassa basin. Three-month total rainfall surpluses declined substantially during the month of February in all five river basins within the District (Figure 4). The highest three- month surplus is in the basin, continuing the pattern of the past several months.

SURFACEWATER

• Rivers: Low rainfall in February resulted in a continued decline in flows and water levels on District rivers that began in January 2019. At the end of February all but the at Highway 27 were flowing within normal ranges (25th – 75th percentiles, Figures 5a and 5b). On the Santa Fe River flows at all monitoring points have declined from above the 90th percentile at the end of January to below the 75th percentile at the end of February (Figure 6).

• Lakes: Water levels at the 12 lakes in the District with long-term records declined in February except at Cherry Lake in Madison County (Figure 7). At Andrews Lake in Taylor County, water levels remain very high but declined slightly in February. At Cherry Lake water levels have been below the long-term average since March 2017 but are now only slightly below average. Lakes levels are below average at Sampson and Crosby Lakes in addition to Cherry Lake.

• Springs: Field measurements of flow were made at 10 springs in the District by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), District staff, and contractors in February. Flow conditions at springs in the District vary according to aquifer and rainfall conditions in the areas that contribute water to each . Of the field measurements made in February, the highest (578 CFS) was on the Ichetucknee River at Highway 27, where flows from the Ichetucknee Springs group have rebounded as flooding recedes on the lower Santa Fe River (Figure 8). This is also evident at Fanning Springs, where spring flow can be blocked by high water levels on the Suwannee River (Figure 9).

GROUNDWATER

Water levels in the Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA) remain high but fell in most areas of the District (Figure 10). Of the 120 UFA wells in the District’s monthly monitoring network 65% had levels above the 90th percentile at the end of February, compared to 81% at the end of January. At the end of February the GRU/Deerhaven well in Alachua County again exceeded its former maximum level, and the well on the campus of the University of also reached a new maximum level.

On a District-wide basis, UFA levels declined by 0.7 feet in February, ending the month at the 89th percentile. As was the case in January, all twelve UFA wells with records that extend back to the mid- 1970’s ended the month of February at or above long-term average levels (Figure 11). Wells in Bradford, Columbia, Levy, Taylor, and Union counties broke records for the month of February.

Long-term UFA wells throughout north Florida continue to show levels above the 90th percentile in many areas (Figure 12a), and water levels at five District wells with records that extend back at least to the 1960s continue to show recovery from the 2011 -12 drought (Figure 12b).

HYDROLOGICAL/METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

• The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center revised its El Nino watch to an El Nino advisory in February 2019. Weak El Nino conditions are expected to continue throughout the spring of 2019. El Nino conditions during this time of year favor above average rainfall in Florida.

• The U.S. Drought Monitor report for the week ending February 5, 2019 showed no drought conditions anywhere in the District. The Palmer Drought Index for northern and central Peninsular Florida shows neutral/mid-range moisture conditions in soils as of the first week of March.

CONSERVATION

Water conservation continues to be necessary to sustain healthy groundwater levels and flows in District springs and rivers. All users are urged to eliminate unnecessary uses. Landscape irrigation during Daylight Savings Time (March 10 until November 3, 2019) is limited to twice per week based on a District water conservation rule that applies to residential landscaping, public or commercial recreation areas, and businesses that are not regulated by a District-issued water use permit. Information about SRWMD’s year- round conservation measures is available at http://www.srwmd.org/index.aspx?NID=337.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Hydrologic Conditions Report is a monthly effort of the Water and Land Resources Division’s Data Collection Program. Acknowledgement is made to the following staff for their contributions to the timely production of this report: Data Collection: Kevin Jones, Henry Richardson, and Vince Robinson QA/QC and Reporting: Fay Baird, Ross Davis, Connie Woodward, Alexandra Blankenship Administrative Support/Document Preparation: Pennie Flickinger

This report is compiled in compliance with Chapter 40B-21.211, Florida Administrative Code, using rainfall (gage-adjusted radar- derived estimates), groundwater (97 wells), surfacewater (35 stations), and general information such as drought indices and forecasts. Data are provisional and are updated as revised data become available. Data are available at www.mysuwanneeriver.com or upon request.

2 Table 1: Estimated Monthly Rainfall Totals by County (inches)

County February February Month % Total Last Annual % 2019 Average of Normal 12 Months of Normal Alachua 1.16 3.59 32% 61.07 120% Baker 1.01 3.44 29% 52.43 105% Bradford 1.13 3.64 31% 55.80 108% Columbia 1.11 3.72 30% 55.48 108% Dixie 1.57 3.98 39% 72.14 122% Gilchrist 1.34 4.18 32% 64.72 113% Hamilton 1.41 4.01 35% 58.48 112% Jefferson 1.27 4.65 27% 67.30 111% Lafayette 1.61 3.98 41% 67.07 119% Levy 1.37 3.63 38% 71.38 120% Madison 1.41 4.36 32% 62.42 111% Suwannee 1.57 3.73 42% 60.56 114% Taylor 1.50 3.94 38% 73.99 124% Union 1.06 3.63 29% 57.56 107%

February 2019 District Average: 1.41 February Long-Term Average (1932-2018): 3.82 Historical 12-month Average (1932-2018): 54.73 Past 12-Month Total: 64.37 12-Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit: 9.64

Figure 1: Comparison of District-wide Monthly Rainfall (Rainfall reported in inches)

20

18

16

14

12

10

8 Rainfall (inches)

6

4

2

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Past 13 Months Average Maximum Minimum Figure 2: February 2019 SRWMD Gage-adjusted Radar Rainfall Estimate

Figure 3: 12 - Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit by River Basin through February 28, 2019

Figure 4: 3 - Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit by River Basin through February 28, 2019

Figure 5: Daily River Flow Statistics March 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019 75 - 100 25 - 75 10 - 25 Percentile 0 - 10 Past 12 Months Flow Suwannee River at Fargo, GA 10,000

10000

1,000

1000

100

100 10

10 1

Suwannee River at White Springs 0 1 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

100000 100000 Suwannee River at Branford

10000

10000

1000

Suwannee River at Ellaville 100 1000 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

100000 RIVER FLOW, SECOND CUBICPER FEET RIVER FLOW, Withlacoochee River near Pinetta near Statenville, GA 50000

10000

5000

1000

500 100

50 10 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Figure 5, cont: Daily River Flow Statistics March 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019 75 - 100 25 - 75 10 - 25 Percentile 0 - 10 Past 12 Months Flow Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs 30000 Santa Fe River near Fort White above SR47 Bridge 10,000

1,000

100 3000

10

1

0 300 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

800 16000 Ichetucknee River at US 27 above US19

700

1600 600

500

160

400

300 16

200

100 1.6 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

RIVER FLOW, SECOND PER FEET CUBIC RIVER FLOW, on Salt Road above US 98 10,000 Aucilla River at Lamont 1,000

1,000

100

100

10

10

1 1

0 0 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Figure 6: The Cody Scarp (or Escarpment) is an area of relatively steep Streamflow Conditions topographical change that runs across north Florida. The geology above the Scarp consists of sandy soils over thick layers of mostly impermeable February 2019 sediments such as clay. Streams are well-developed with dendritic (tree- like) drainage patterns. Because of the impermeable sediments, rainfall is collected in ever-growing surface streams as the land elevation falls. Below the Scarp, sandy soils overlay porous limestone. These areas are internally drained, meaning rainfall runs directly into the ground or into sinkholes instead of forming Alapaha streams. In these areas, rainfall directly recharges the aquifer, which in turn discharges into rivers via springs and river bed seepage. The Scarp is important to the area's Alapaha/ hydrology because it demarcates areas where streamflow Little Alapaha =t! is dependent almost entirely on recent rainfall and areas where streamflow is heavily influenced by groundwater.

Little River =t(! Withla- coochee

Ochlocknee/ Withla- Upper Thomasville coochee Suwannee =t(! Withlacoochee/ Alapaha/ Quitman =t(! Statenville Fargo =t(! Withlacoochee/ =t(! North Prong St. Marys St.Mark's Pinetta =t(! Alapaha/ Aucilla =t(! Jennings =t(! St.Marys White Springs Aucilla/ =t! =t(! St.Marys/ =t! Lamont Ellaville =t(! Macclenny

Lower =t(! Suwannee Econfina =t(! The Suwannee River Branford Santa Fe basin encompasses 9,973 Fenholloway =t!New River square miles, 59 percent of which =t(! Ft.White lies in Georgia. Gage records in the Coastal =t! Steinhatchee Suwannee basin go back as far as =t! Worth- =t! 1906 in the case of White Springs. Many Graham gages have continuous records back to =t(! =t! ington the 1920s. This figure compares streamflow Rock Bluff Springs at long-term monitoring gages on the first and last day of the month with past flows on the same dates. February 1 February 28 Much Below Normal St.Johns (<10th Percentile) Below Normal Cody Scarp (10 - 25) Wacca- Basin Boundary sassa Normal (25 - 75) Aucilla River Basin These gages are operated by the USGS Coastal Rivers Basin and funded by a number of private and public Above Normal entities, including the SRWMD, SJRWMD, (75 - 90) FDEP, Nestle Waters North America, Basin Packaging Corporation of America, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, High Suwannee River Basin Environmental Protecion Division (EPD). (>90th Percentile) Withla- coochee Figure 7: February 2019 Lake Levels

SRWMD lakes react differently to climatic changes depending on their location in the landscape. Some lakes, in particular ones in the eastern part of the District, are embedded in a surficial or intermediate aquifer over relatively impermeable clay deposits. These lakes rise and fall according to local rainfall and surface runoff. They retain water during severe droughts since most losses occur from evaporation. Other lakes, such as Governor Hill and Waters Lake, have porous or “leaky” bottoms that interact with the Floridan aquifer. These lakes depend on groundwater levels to stay high. If aquifer levels are low, these lakes go dry even if rainfall is normal.

The District currently monitors 14 lakes on a long-term basis; much of the data was originally provided by volunteer observers. Monitoring records began in the

1970s, except for Lakes Butler, Sampson, and Santa Fe, which started in 1957.

Feet Above or Below Historic Average or Below Feet Above

Figure 8: Discharge Over Past 12 Months, Ichetucknee River at US 27 (cubic feet per second)

Figure 9: Discharge Over Past 12 Months, Fanning Springs (cubic feet per second)

Figure 11: Monthly Groundwater Level Statistics Maximum 1976-2016 Levels March 2018 through February 2019 Period of Record Beginning 1976 Average Since 1976 Minimum 1976-2016

Past 12 Months

Madison County N010719001 Suwannee County S021335001 near Greenville near Live Oak 86 56

52 81 48

76 44

40 71 36

66 32 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Columbia County S041705001 Hamilton County N011422007 Lake City near Jasper 56 68

64

52 60

56

48 52

48

44 44

40

40 36 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Lafayette County S061114001 Taylor County S040736005 near Mayo Perry 73 Upper Floridan Aquifer Elevation above NGVD1929, Feet

40

69

37

65 34

61 31

57 28 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Figure 11, cont.: Groundwater Level Statistics Maximum 1976-2016 Levels March 2018 through February 2019 Period of Record Beginning 1976 Average Since 1976 Minimum 1976-2016

Past 12 Months

Union County S051933001 Alachua County S081703001 near Lake Butler at High Springs 63.0 43.0

60.5

39.5 58.0

55.5 36.0

53.0

32.5 50.5

48.0 29.0 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Gilchrist County S091607001 Bradford County S072132001 near Trenton near Graham 78 70.0

74 67.5 70

66 65.0 62

58 62.5

54 60.0 50

46 57.5 42

38 55.0 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Dixie County S101210001 Levy County S131736001 at Cross City near Bronson 40 55 Upper Floridan Aquifer Elevation above NGVD1929, Feet

37 50

34 45

31 40

28 35 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb (! (!

(! (!

(! (!

(! (! (! ( (! (! (! (! (! ( (! (! (! (! (! Figure 12a: (! (! Regional Long Term Upper Floridan Monitor Wells (end of February 2019) The Floridan aquifer system underlies Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It is one of the most productive aquifers in the world. (! ( In the SRWMD and surrounding areas,it is the primary source of irrigation and domestic drinking water, as well as the source of springs (! that sustain river flow during droughts. (! ( Recharge to the Floridan occurs naturally as rainfall filters beneath the root zone of plants in (! uplands, wetlands, and some lakes and rivers. The recharge rate depends on the soils and degree of confinement of the underlying geology. Unconfined areas frequently consist of porous sands and (! limerock that permit high recharge from rainfall and surfacewater. Recharge to confined areas is restricted by nearly impermeable deposits, such as clay, that bound the top of the aquifer. Semi-confined areas are bounded at the top by thinner or breached impermeable deposits. Water levels in the Floridan change in response to climatic conditions and pumping. A number of agencies in addition to the SRWMD monitor water levels in the Floridan. Of the hundreds of monitor wells across Florida and Georgia, relatively few have continuous records that predate the 1980s. The wells on this map and a selection in figure 12b are some of the wells in and near the SRWMD with the longest continuous records. Map and confinement data source: Bellino, J.C., 2011, Digital surfaces and hydrogeologic data for the Floridan aquifer system in Florida and in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 584

Occurrence of Confined and Percentile of Most Recent Unconfined Conditions in the Water Level Relative to Entire Record Upper Floridan Aquifer Very High (Greater than 90th Percentile) Confined: Upper confining unit is High generally greater than 100 feet (Greater than 75th Percentile) thick and unbreached. Recharge is low. Normal (25th to 75th Percentile) Semi-confined: Upper confining unit is Low generally less than 100 feet (10th to 25th Percentile) thick, breached, or both. Recharge is moderate. Very Low (Less than 10th Percentile)

Unconfined: Upper confining unit is Data Not Available absent or very thin. Recharge is high. Inset: Extent of Floridan Aquifer SRWMD Boundary Figure 12b: Regional Long Term Upper Floridan Aquifer Levels

Data through February 2019

57 Newberry Well Alachua County 1958 Taylor 53

Sanderson 49 Lake City DOT

Raiford 45

41 Newberry

37

33

Taylor and Sanderson wells courtesy of SJRWMD

66 USGS Taylor Well 64 USGS Sanderson Well 64 Baker County Baker County 62 1963 62 1963 60 60 58 58 56 56 54 54 52 50 52 48 50 46 48 44 46 42 40 44

70 DOT Lake City Well 64 USGS Raiford Well Upper Floridan AquiferElevation above 1929,NGVD Feet Columbia County 68 Bradford County 62 1948 1959 60 66 58 64 56 54 62 52 60 50 58 48 46 56 44 54 42 52 40 38 50