2019 February Hydrological Report
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MEMORANDUM TO: Suwannee River 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 Aucilla River 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 Ichetucknee River 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 spring. 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 Florida 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 RIVERFLOW, FEETPERCUBIC SECOND Withlacoochee River near Pinetta Alapaha River 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 Steinhatchee River 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 RIVERFLOW, CUBIC FEETPER SECOND Econfina River 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.