MEMORANDUM. Governing Board. Megan Wetherington, P.E., Senior Professional Engineer

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1 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: THRU: Governin Board Mean Wetherinton, P.E., Senior Professional Enineer Ann B. Shortelle, Ph.D., Executive Director Erich Marzolf, Ph.D., Water Resources Division Director DATE: February 6, 213 RE: January 213 Hydroloic Conditions Report for the District RAINFALL Averae rainfall was.82, which is 22% of the lon-term January averae of This was the driest January since 19, and the fourth driest since Levy County had just % of normal rainfall (Table 1, Fiure 1). The month s total recorded at the Usher Tower ae near Chiefland was the lowest since The hihest accumulations occurred in a narrow band from Steinhatchee to Starke, with isolated totals up to 2.2 (Fiure 2). The lowest aed monthly total was.37 at Santa Fe Lake, and the hihest was 1.85 at O Leno State Park. The upper Withlacoochee and Alapaha basins in Georia were also abnormally dry, with most of the area receivin less than 25% of normal rainfall (Fiure 3). Averae rainfall for the 12 months endin January 31 was 3.87 hiher than the lonterm averae of 54.61". This surplus is the result of a wide rane of accumulation, with areas in the central part of the District seein 3-4 more than the northern and southern areas in the last year (Fiure 4). Northern Jefferson County had a deficit near 2. Total rainfall from November throuh January was 42% of the lon-term averae and the lowest since 19, based on records beinnin in Fiure 5 shows the history of rainfall deficits beinnin in SURFACEWATER Rivers: Levels at all aes fell throuhout January. Georia tributaries ended the month with conditions in the lowest percent of January records, considered much below normal. Suwannee, Santa Fe, and most coastal river aes were below normal. Statistics for a number of rivers are presented raphically in Fiure 6, and conditions relative to historic conditions for the time of year are in Fiure 7. Lakes: Levels at most monitored lakes remained stable with an averae drop of less than 1, althouh Alliator Lake in Lake City fell by nearly 6. Eiht of 14 lakes were lower than averae. Fiure 8 shows levels relative to the lon-term averae, minimum, and maximum levels for monitored lakes. SPRINGS Flows at monitored sprins fell in January. Flow at the Ichetucknee River fell slowly but was still the hihest seen in 7 years. A measurement made at the Alapaha Rise on the Suwannee River in mid-january was near its lon-term median. The flow on that day was 2% of the total flow of the upper Suwannee, as measured at Ellaville. Statistics for a representative sample of sprins are shown in Fiures 9a and 9b.

2 GROUNDWATER Levels in 75% percent of monitored upper Floridan aquifer wells dropped in January, fallin by an averae of 7. Levels remained stable in Baker County, and were stable or rose slihtly in Hamilton County. Levels district-wide fell from the 41 st percentile to the 37 th (based on records beinnin no earlier than 1978). Eihty-six percent of monitored levels were below median, up from 71% in December. Levels in two wells in northern Jefferson County that have been below the th percentile since summer of 211 continued to fall. Only two wells remained above the 75% percentile in an area in Lafayette County that received a typical year s worth of rain between June and Auust 212. Statistics for a representative sample of wells are shown in Fiure 11. Statistics for a number of reional lon-term wells are shown in Fiure 12 alon with a description of aquifer characteristics. HYDROLOGICAL/METEOROLOGICAL/WATER USE INFORMATION The Palmer Drouht Severity Index (PDSI), a climatoloical tool produced by the National Climatic Data Center, evaluates the severity and frequency of abnormally dry or wet weather usin precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture data. The PDSI value for the week endin February 2 indicated mild drouht in north Florida and moderate drouht in south central Georia. The U.S. Geoloical Survey cateorized all District rivers and Georia tributaries as below normal, based on a comparison of 7-day averae streamflow to historical streamflow for January 31. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center (CPC) three-month outlook indicated a probability of below-normal precipitation throuh April in north Florida. The U.S. Seasonal Drouht Outlook issued on January 17 showed persistent drouht in south Georia and development of drouht in north Florida throuh at least April 3. CONSERVATION A Phase I Water Shortae Advisory remains in effect. Users are ured to eliminate unnecessary uses. Landscape irriation is limited to once per week between November and March based on a water conservation rule that applies to residential landscapin, public or commercial recreation areas, and public and commercial businesses that aren t reulated by a District-issued permit. This report is compiled in compliance with Chapter 4B , Florida Administrative Code, usin rainfall (radar-derived estimate), roundwater (5 wells), surfacewater (35 stations), and eneral information such as drouht indices and forecasts. Data are provisional and are updated as revised data become available. Data are available at or by request. 2

3 Table 1: Estimated Rainfall Totals January Month % Last Annual % County Jan 213 Averae of Normal 12 Months of Normal Alachua % % Baker % % Bradford % % Columbia % % Dixie % % Gilchrist % % Hamilton % % Jefferson % % Lafayette % % Levy % % Madison % % Suwannee % % Taylor % % Union % % January 213 Averae: January Averae ( ): Historical 12-month Averae ( ): Past 12-Month Total: 12-Month Rainfall Surplus: Fiure 1: Comparison of District Monthly Rainfall (Rainfall reported in inches) Rainfall (inches) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Past 13 Months Averae Maximum Minimum

4 Fiure 2: January 213 Rainfall Estimate Fiure 3: January 213 Percent of Normal Rainfall

5 Fiure 4: 12-Month Rainfall Surplus/Deficit by River Basin Throuh January 31, 213 Fiure 5: 12-Month Rollin Rainfall Deficit Since 1932

6 Fiure 6: Daily River Flow Statistics February 1, 212 throuh January 31, 213 Percentile Past 12 Months Flow, Suwannee River at Faro, Ga Suwannee River at White Sprins 1, W, CUBIC FEET PER SECOND RIVER FLO 1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Suwannee River at Ellaville Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Withlacoochee River near Pinetta 1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Suwannee River at Branford Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Alapaha River near Statenville Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

7 Fiure 6, cont: Daily River Flow Statistics February 1, 212 throuh January 31, 213 Percentile Past 12 Months Flow Santa Fe River at Worthinton Sprins 4 Santa Fe River near Fort White on 47 Bride 4 RIVER FLO OW, CUBIC FEET PER SECOND New River near Lake Butler on SR 1 1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb.1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Econfina River on Salt Road above US 98 4 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Steinhatchee River near US19 1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Fenholloway River at US Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb.1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

8 Altamaha Appalachicola Alapaha Ochlocknee/ Thomasville Fiure 7: Streamflow Conditions January 213 St.Mark's Aucilla/ Lamont Little Little River Econfina Alapaha/ Alapaha Withlacoochee/ Quitman Withlacoochee/ Pinetta Aucilla Fenholloway The Suwannee River basin encompasses 9973 square miles, 59% of which lies in Georia. Gae records in the Suwannee basin o back as far as 196 in the case of White Sprins. Many aes have continuous records back to the 192's. This fiure compares streamflow on the first and last day of the month with past flows on the same dates. Ellaville Coastal Steinhatchee Alapaha/ Statenville Lower Suwannee Alapaha/ Jennins White Sprins Branford Rock Bluff Upper Suwannee Faro Ft.White Santa Fe Satilla Satilla/ Waycross North Pron St. Marys St.Marys/ Macclenny Waccasassa Withlacoochee Withlacoochee Worthinton Sprins New River Graham St.M S Jan 1 Jan 31 Much Below Normal (<th Percentile) Below Normal ( - 24) Normal (25-75) Above Normal (>76th Percentile) SRWMD Boundary Basin Boundary Aucilla River Basin Coastal Rivers Basin Waccasassa River Basin Suwannee River Basin These aes are operated by the USGS and funded by a number of private and public entities, includin the SRWMD, SJRWMD, FDEP, Nestle Waters North America, Packain Corporation of America, Withlacoochee and the Georia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protecion Division (EPD).

9 Fiure 8: January 213 Lake Levels SRWMD lakes react differently to climatic chanes dependin 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 accordin to local rainfall and surface runoff. They retain water durin severe drouhts 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 roundwater levels to stay hih. If aquifer levels are low, these lakes o dry even if rainfall is normal. The District monitors 15 lakes with much of the data provided by volunteer observers. Most records o back to the 197s, althouh the Sampson Lake record starts in 1957.

10 2 Fiure 9a: Monthly Sprinflow Statistics Flows February 1, 212 throuh January 31, 213 Sprinflow data are iven in cubic feet per second. Statistics based on data. Data are provisional. 3 Historical monthly max. Observed monthly averae Historical monthly min N / A - -1 Fannin Sprins F M A M J J A S O N D J Manatee Sprins (based on measured flow) F M A M J J A S O N D J Madison Blue Sprins F M A M J J A S O N D J Ichetucknee River at US27 F M A M J J A S O N D J Wacissa River F M A M J J A S O N D J Blue Hole on Ichetucknee River F M A M J J A S O N D J Note: Risin river levels caused by hih tides or floodin can cause sprinflow to slow or reverse. Sprinflow for months marked by an asterisk (*) was stronly affected by river conditions. Data will be revised once approved and published by the U.S. Geoloical Survey.

11 Fiure 9b: Quarterly Sprinflow Measurements The SRWMD monitors water quality at 3 sprins. Flow is measured at the time of the samplin. The sprins below were sampled in January 213. Flow is iven in cubic feet per second. Sprin flow is reatly affected by river levels. Risin river levels or hih tides can slow sprin flow or even reverse it. Some low flows in this data may not be representative of drouht conditions. 12 Alapaha Rise on Suwannee River Suwannee Sprins on Suwannee River Holton Creek on Suwannee River 6 Rock Bluff Sprins on Suwannee River Columbia Sprins on Santa Fe River Treehouse Sprins on Santa Fe River

12 JEFFERSON _ MADISON _ TAYLOR Fiure : January 213 Upper Floridan Aquifer Conditions Statistics for wells compared to historical records _ LAFAYETTE DIXIE SUWANNEE _ GILCHRIST ALACHUA HAM ILTON COLUMBIA LEVY UNION BAKER BRADFORD MARION Inset: December 212 Groundwater Levels & & Hih (Greater than 75th Percentile) Normal (25th to 75th Percentile) Low (th to 25th Percentile) Extremely Low (Less than th Percentile) Increase/decrease in level since last month Increase/decrease since last month less than one percent of historic rane District Boundary

13 Fiure 11: Monthly Groundwater Level Statistics Levels February 1, 212 throuh January 31, 213 Period of Record Beinnin 1978 Datum is NGVD 1929 Maximum Averae Since 1978 Minimum Past 12 Months 85 Madison County N7191 near Greenville 6 Suwannee County S21331 near Live Oak Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 3 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 6 Columbia County S4171 Lake City 7 Hamilton County N near Jasper Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 35 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 75 Lafayette County S near Mayo 41 Taylor County S71 near Perry Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 26 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

14 Fiure 11, cont.: Groundwater Level Statistics Levels February 1, 212 throuh January 31, 213 Period of Record Beinnin 1978 Datum is NGVD 1929 Maximum Averae Since 1978 Minimum Past 12 Months 65 Union County S near Lake Butler 42 Alachua County S81731 at Hih Sprins Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 28 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Gilchrist County S91671 near Trenton 7 Bradford County S near Graham Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 55 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Dixie County S121 at Cross City 55 Levy County S near Bronson Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan 35 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

15 Fiure 12a: Reional Lon Term Upper Floridan Monitor Wells (December January 213) The Floridan aquifer system underlies Florida and parts of Alabama, Georia, and South Carolina. It is one of the most productive aquifers in the world. In the SRWMD and surroundin areas,it is the primary source of irriation and domestic drinkin water, as well as the source of sprins that sustain river flow durin drouhts. Rechare to the Floridan occurs naturally as rainfall filters beneath the root zone of plants in uplands, wetlands, and some lakes and rivers. The rechare rate depends on the soils and deree of confinement of the underlyin eoloy. Unconfined areas frequently consist of porous sands and limerock that permit hih rechare from rainfall and surfacewater. Rechare 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 chane in response to climatic conditions and pumpin. A number of aencies in addition to the SRWMD monitor water levels in the Floridan. Of hundreds of monitor wells across Florida and Georia only a few have continuous records that predate the 198's. The wells on this map and a selection in fiure 12b are the wells in and near the SRWMD with the lonest continuous records. Map and confinement data source: Bellino, J.C., 211, Diital surfaces and hydroeoloic data for the Floridan aquifer system in Florida and in parts of Georia, Alabama, and South Carolina: U.S. Geoloical Survey Data Series 584 Inset: Extent of Floridan Aquifer Occurence of Confined and Unconfined Conditions in the Upper Floridan Aquifer Confined: Upper confinin unit is enerally reater than feet thick and unbreached. Rechare is low. Semi-confined: Upper confinin unit is enerally less than feet thick, breached, or both. Rechare is moderate. Unconfined: Upper confinin unit is absent or very thin. Rechare is hih. Percentile of Most Recent Water Level Relative to Entire Record Hih (Greater than 75th Percentile) Normal (25th to 75th Percentile) Low (th to 25th Percentile) Extremely Low (Less than th Percentile) Not Available SRWMD Boundary

16 Fiure 12b: Reional Lon Term Upper Floridan Levels January 213 Upper Floridan Aquifer levels in feet above mean sea level Taylor and Sanderson wells courtesy of SJRWMD Poucher Well Suwannee County USGS Taylor Well Baker County USGS Sanderson Well Baker County DOT Lake City Well Columbia County USGS Raiford Well Bradford County