News Flash

LIVE OAK, FLA., MAY 16, 2024 – To help enhance public awareness of water levels and the impact rainfall has on current conditions in North Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) has released its Hydrologic Conditions Report for the month of April.  

This monthly report highlights rainfall, surface water and groundwater levels, a climate and drought outlook, as well as other scientific data that can be utilized to help educate the public about the impact rainfall has on North Florida.  

Notable highlights from the month of April include:  

• The District received an average rainfall of 4.17 inches of rain, which is approximately 23 percent higher than the 1932-2023 average of 3.39 inches of rain. 
• Most counties in the District received anywhere between 2 inches and 7 inches of rainfall on average, with some areas of Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison counties receiving more than 7 inches of rainfall.
• Most river basins saw a 12-month rainfall surplus except the Santa Fe Basin, which had neutral conditions at the end of April. Areas of a 12-month surplus of more than 14 inches were present in four of the basins. 
• Most river stations in the District finished the month in the normal (25^th to 75^th percentile) or above normal (75^th to 100^th percentile) flow ranges. However, the Ichetucknee River had some below normal (10^th to 25^th percentile) flows due to backwater effects of the Santa Fe River. 
• Upper Floridan Aquifer levels across the District reflected normal groundwater levels or higher in April. Groundwater levels increased by a median of half-a-foot since the end of March with a Districtwide average of around the 83^rd percentile at the end of April. 
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook suggests above-normal temperatures along with above-normal precipitation throughout the District from May through July. 
• The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on May 9 shows no areas of the District with any drought characteristics.    

The full report can be found on the District’s website under the Science & Data tab. It is typically updated the second week of each month, and reports from the previous five years are available for viewing.  

The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties. 

For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. 

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