The Brief
- The Southwest Florida Water Management District has closed the Lake Hancock water control structure. About 15 miles of the Upper Peace River is expected to run dry.
- The region is currently facing a 13-inch rainfall deficit, from a lack of rainfall.
- Officials urge conserved water usage as the drought continues.
ARCADIA, Fla. – Rocks are exposed and a large portion of the bank of the Peace River in Arcadia is visible, serving as a clear sign of the extreme drought currently gripping the state.
The backstory:
As Florida waits for rain, the situation has become so dire that a section of the Upper Peace River in Polk County is expected to run dry. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) is now facing difficult decisions as the regional rainfall deficit hits 13 inches.…