SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

MEMORANDUM

TO: Governing Board

FROM: Darlene Velez, Chief, Office of Water Resources

THRU: Tom Mirti, Deputy Executive Director, Water and Land Resources

DATE: January 11, 2021

RE: December 2020 Hydrologic Conditions Report

RAINFALL

• District-wide total rainfall for the month was 2.77” which is 13% lower than the 1932-2019 average of 3.19” (Table 1, Figure 1). The 12-month period ending December 31st reflected a Districtwide rainfall deficit of 2.05”, slightly widening the deficit of 1.57” at the end of November. Central District counties (Taylor and Lafayette) received the most amount of rain this month while the southern part of the District received the least, less than 1.5 inches in Levy and Alachua (Figure 2).

• The 12-month rainfall deficits continued in the Santa Fe, Suwannee, and Waccasassa river basins (Figure 3). Both the Aucilla and Coastal river basin surpluses decreased from November. The Santa Fe, Suwannee and Waccasassa river basins stayed in a 3-month deficit from November to December (Figure 4). The Aucilla and Coastal river basins both entered deficits, from previous surpluses in November.

SURFACEWATER

• Rivers: Most rivers flows were in the normal range (25 – 75th percentiles) during the month of December (Figure 5). In the coastal area, the Fenholloway River stayed above the 75th percentile but the Econfina moved below the 75th percentile. The Little River and the Withlacoochee River at Quitman rose above the 75th percentile after beginning the month in the normal range (Figure 6).

• Lakes: Water levels did not dramatically change at any lakes from November to December (Figure 7). At Andrews Lake the water level remained near its long-term recorded maximum level but started to fall. Alligator Lake and Lake Sampson continue to fluctuate around the historic average levels. Water levels are at or above long-term averages except at Palestine, Cherry, Sneads Smokehouse, and Santa Fe lakes.

• Springs: Field measurements of flow were made during December at 12 springs by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), District staff, and contractors. At Blue Hole on the Ichetucknee River, flows continued to decline below the 25th percentile (Figure 8), although the Ichetucknee River itself was in the normal range. For Madison Blue Spring, flow dipped below the 10th percentile in December (Figure 9) due to backwater effects from the Withlacoochee River.

GROUNDWATER

Parts of Taylor, Lafayette, Alachua, and Bradford counties remained above the 75th percentile for December but the rest of the District stayed in the normal 25th to 75th percentile range (Figure 10). Districtwide Upper Floridan aquifer levels stayed relatively stable from the end of November and ended the month at the 58th percentile.

Most county index wells ended the month at higher than historic monthly average levels but all levels fell since November except at the Lafayette County well near Mayo (Figure 11). Most District UFA wells with records extending back to the 1960’s ended the month within normal ranges with a few exceptions – both wells in Lafayette County and the DOF Perry Well in Taylor County were above the 75th percentile. Several long-term wells in southern Georgia stayed below normal (Figure 12a). Water levels at five wells with records that extend at least back to 1962 have fallen or stayed static this month (Figure 12b).

CLIMATE AND DROUGHT OUTLOOK

A La Niña Advisory is currently in effect. The Climate Prediction Center predicts an 95% chance that La Niña conditions will continue January through March 2021 and a potential transition spring 2021 (~50% chance of Neutral during April through June).

The NOAA three-month seasonal outlook predicts below normal rainfall and relatively warm temperatures throughout the southeastern United States for January through March. The U.S. Drought Monitor report for the week ending January 5, 2021 indicated that the District area is at an abnormally dry intensity and drought conditions may develop within the next 3 months.

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 Eastern Standard Time (November 1st to March 14th 2021) is limited to once 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: Tom Mirti, Alexandria Blankenship, Darlene Velez, and Tara Rodgers Administrative Support/Document Preparation/IT: Pennie Flickinger, Tyler Jordan, Paul Buchanan, Andrew Neel, Kelly Wooley, and Alejandro Garcia

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 updated as revised data become available. Data are available at http://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/507/Water-Data-Portal or upon request. 2 Table 1: Nexrad Monthly Rainfall Totals by County (inches)

County December December Month % Total Last Annual % 2020 Average of Normal 12 Months of Normal Alachua 1.93 2.77 70% 45.92 88% Baker 2.81 2.77 101% 50.91 101% Bradford 2.13 2.95 72% 42.14 82% Columbia 2.96 3.08 96% 49.09 95% Dixie 2.26 3.17 71% 51.54 87% Gilchrist 2.31 3.07 75% 43.89 77% Hamilton 2.31 2.98 77% 52.73 100% Jefferson 2.31 4.25 54% 48.60 82% Lafayette 3.79 3.33 114% 51.09 91% Levy 1.63 3.18 51% 47.71 80% Madison 2.36 3.79 62% 50.88 90% Suwannee 3.03 2.79 108% 53.22 100% Taylor 3.19 3.39 94% 52.16 88% Union 2.45 2.86 86% 44.07 82%

December 2020 District Average 2.77 December Long-Term Average (1932-2019) 3.19 Historical 12-month Average (1932-2019) 54.68 Past 12-Month Total 52.63 12-Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit -2.05

Figure 1: Comparison of District-wide Monthly Rainfall (Rainfall reported in inches) 20

18

16

14

12

10

8 Rainfall (inches) Rainfall 6

4

2

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

Past 13 Months Average Maximum Minimum Figure 2: December 2020 SRWMD Gage-adjusted Radar Rainfall

Figure 3: 12 - Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit by River Basin through December 31, 2020

Figure 4: 3 - Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit by River Basin through December 31, 2020

Figure 5: Daily River Flow Statistics January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 75 - 100 25 - 75

10 - 25

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

100000 100000 Suwannee River at Branford

10000

10000

1000

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

100000 RIVER FLOW,RIVERCUBICPERFEET SECOND Withlacoochee River near Pinetta Alapaha River near Statenville, GA 50000

10000

5000

1000

500 100

50 10 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 5, cont.: Daily River Flow Statistics January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 75 - 100 25 - 75

10 - 25 Percentile 0 - 10 Past 12 Months Flow 30000 Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs Santa Fe River near Fort White above SR47 Bridge 10,000

1,000

100 3000

10

1

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

800 16000 Ichetucknee River at US 27 Steinhatchee River above US19

700

1600 600

500

160

400

300 16

200

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

RIVER FLOW, CUBIC FEET PERSECOND FLOW,FEET CUBIC RIVER Econfina River on Salt Road above US 98 Aucilla River at Lamont 10,000

1,000

1,000

100

100

10 10

1 1

0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 6: The Cody Scarp (or Escarpment) is an area of relatively steep topographical change that runs across north Florida. The geology above Streamflow Conditions the Scarp consists of sandy soils over thick layers of mostly impermeable December 2020 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 Alapaha directly into the ground or into sinkholes instead of forming streams. In these areas, rainfall directly recharges the aquifer, which in turn discharges into rivers via springs and Alapaha/ river bed seepage. The Scarp is important to the area's 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(! Branford Santa Fe The Suwannee River Fenholloway =t(! New River basin encompasses 9,973 t! square miles, 59 percent of which Coastal =( Ft.White =t(! lies in Georgia. Gage records in the Steinhatchee Suwannee basin go back as far as =t(! Worth-=t(! 1906 in the case of White Springs. Many =t(! ington Graham gages have continuous records back to =t(! Springs the 1920s. This figure compares streamflow Rock Bluff at long-term monitoring gages on the first and last day of the month with past flows on the same dates. December 1 December 31 St.Johns Much Below Normal (<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, Waccasassa River 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: December 2020 Lake Levels

SRWMD lakes react differently to climatic changes depending on their location in the landscape. Some lakes, in particular 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

Feet Above or Below Historic Average

Figure 8: Flow Over the Past 12 Months, Blue Hole on the Ichetucknee River (cubic feet per second)

Figure 9: Flow Over the Past 12 Months, Madison Blue Spring (cubic feet per second)

g g ` ` HAMILTON JEFFERSON ` _ _ g _ ` ` MADISON g ` ` ` g g ` ` ` _ _ ` BAKER g g _ _ _ _ g ` ` _ g SUWANNEE COLUMBIA g _ _ ` ` g ` g g ` TAYLOR ` g g ` g _ ` ` ` ` UNION ` _ ` g g _ ` ` _ BRADFORD LAFAYETTE ` _ ` ` g _ ` ` ` ALACHUA g _ ` GILCHRIST ` _ g ` ` ` ` ` Figure 10 ` ` ` ` ` ` _ ` DIXIE ` End of December 2020 _ Upper Floridan Aquifer ` ` ` Conditions _

Statistics for wells LEVY ` compared to historical records _ g beginning no earlier than 1976 ` ` ` ` `

Additional wells courtesy of SJRWMD, SWFWMD and USGS

High (Greater than 75th Percentile) Normal (25th to 75th Percentile) Low (10th to 25th Percentile) Extremely Low

(Less than 10th Percentile) & & Increase/decrease in level since last month Increase/decrease since last month g less than one percent of historic range

Inset: November Groundwater Percentiles District Boundary Figure 11: Monthly Groundwater Level Statistics Maximum 1976-2016 Levels January 2020 through December 2020 Average Since 1976 Period of Record Beginning 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 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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

64

52 60

56

48 52

48

44 44

40

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

Lafayette County S061114001 Taylor County S040736005 near Mayo Perry

73 Upper Floridan Aquifer Elevation above NGVD 1929, Feet 1929, NGVD above Elevation Aquifer Floridan Upper 40

69

37

65 34

61 31

57 28 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 11, cont.: Groundwater Level Statistics Maximum 1976-2016 Levels January 2020 through December 2020 Average Since 1976 Period of Record Beginning 1976 Minimum 1976-2016

Past 12 Months

Union County S051933001 Alachua County S081703001 near Lake Butler at High Springs 63 43

61 41

59 39 57 37 55 35 53

33 51

49 31

47 29 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Gilchrist County S091607001 Bradford County S072132001 near Trenton near Graham 80 72

75 70

70 68 66 65 64 60 62 55 60 50 58 45 56

40 54

35 52 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dixie County S101210001 Levy County S131736001 at Cross City near Bronson 40

59 Upper Floridan Aquifer Elevation above NGVD 1929, Feet 1929, NGVD above Elevation AquiferFloridan Upper 57 38 55 53 36 51 49 34 47 45 32 43 41 30 39 37 28 35 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec (! (!

(! (!

(! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! (! Figure 12a: (! (! Upper Floridan Aquifer (! (! Long Term Monitor Wells (! (! end of December 2020 (! (! Many agencies in addition to the SRWMD monitor water levels in the Floridan aquifer. However, among the hundreds of monitor wells across Florida and Georgia relatively few have continuous records earlier (! than the 1980s. Most of the wells shown here have records (! that begin before the 1960's. (! Soil characteristics and underlying geology are important (! indicators of recharge to the Floridan aquifer. High recharge areas (! shown on this map are associated with unconfined conditions, generally porous sands and limerock. Recharge in confined areas is restricted by nearly impermeable deposits such as clay. 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 freshwater springs that sustain river flow during droughts. 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 Unconfined Conditions Percentile of Most Recent in the Upper Floridan Aquifer Water Level Relative to Entire Record

Confined: Upper confining unit is generally greater than 100 feet Very High thick and unbreached. Recharge is low. (Greater than 90th Percentile) High (75th to 90th Percentile) Semi-confined: Upper confining unit is generally less than 100 feet Normal thick, breached, or both. Recharge is moderate. (25th to 75th Percentile) Low (10th to 25th Percentile) Unconfined: Upper confining unit is absent or very thin. Very Low Recharge is high. (Less than 10th Percentile)

SRWMD Boundary Data Not Available Figure 12b: Regional Long Term Upper Floridan Aquifer Levels

Data through December 2020

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 Aquifer Elevation above NGVD 1929, Feet 1929, NGVD above Elevation AquiferFloridan Upper 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