FLORIDA – Northeast Florida’s extended rainfall shortage is placing increased pressure on groundwater supplies, freshwater springs, rivers and lakes across the region.
The St. Johns River Water Management District estimates the Floridan aquifer needs approximately 30 additional inches of rain to recover from prolonged dry conditions. Duval and St. Johns counties are each more than 15 inches below their normal rainfall totals for the past 12 months.
September rainfall provided some relief, but water officials said it was not enough to offset deficits accumulated during the previous 11 months. Several springs west of Duval County in Alachua County have started drying up as groundwater levels continue declining…