News Flash

LIVE OAK, FLA., SEPTEMBER 11, 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 August.  

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 August include:  

• The District received an average rainfall of 11.72 inches of rain, which is 54 percent higher than the 1932-2023 average of 7.6 inches. This 12-month period ending on August 31 reflected a Districtwide surplus of 4.79 inches, which was an increase from the slight surplus seen at the end of July. 
• Most District counties in the District received between 5 and 14 inches of rain, though parts of Dixie, Levy, Madison, and Suwannee counties received more than 18 inches of rainfall. 
• River stations finished the month in either the normal (25^th to 75^th percentile) or above normal (75^th to 100^th percentile) flow ranges for  most of August. River gages at Fort White, Statenville, White Springs, and Worthington Springs set new record maximum daily values at various times throughout the month. 
• Upper Floridan Aquifer levels across the District reflected mostly high (75^th to 90^th percentile) and extremely high (above the 90^th percentile) for the month. Overall, groundwater levels increased by a median of 2.8 feet since the end of July and ended August with a Districtwide average around the 86^th percentile. 
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) three-month seasonal outlook suggests above-normal temperatures along with above-normal precipitation throughout the District from September through November. 
• The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on September 5 shows portions of Jefferson and Taylor counties with abnormally dry conditions.     

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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