News Flash

LIVE OAK, FLA., APRIL 10, 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 March.  

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 March include:  

• The District received an average rainfall of 4.77 inches, which is about 8 percent higher than the 1932-2023 average of 4.43 inches of rain.
• Most counties in the District received anywhere between 3 and 7 inches of rainfall on average, with areas of Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union receiving more than 7 inches of rainfall. 
• The 12-month period ending March 31 reflected a Districtwide rainfall surplus of 5.29 inches, which was a slight increase from the 4.57-inch surplus at the end of February.
• Most of the river stations across the District finished in the normal (25^th to 75^th percentile) or above normal (75^th to 100^th percentile) flow ranges. 
• Upper Floridan Aquifer levels across the District reflected normal groundwater levels or higher in March, with wells in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, and Taylor counties showing groundwater levels above the 90^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 April through June. 
• The U.S. Drought Monitor report released on April 4 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. 

###