For the first time in nearly a year, the Suwannee River Water Management District is reporting a significant increase in rainfall, though officials say the region is still not out of the historic drought.
Suwannee River Water Management District Chief Communications and Outreach Officer Troy Roberts told The Sun on June 10 that the district’s latest Hydrologic Conditions Report — which tracks rainfall, surface water, groundwater levels and climate outlooks — found May 2026 was the rainiest May since 2018 and the first month with above-average rainfall since May 2025.
Stretched over 7,640 square miles and 13 river basins, the district serves a total population of 360,000 within 15 surrounding North-Central Florida counties, including parts of Alachua, Bradford and Levy counties, and all of Columbia, Gilchrist and Suwannee counties.
What was reported?
Headquartered in Live Oak, the district is one of five regional water management districts in Florida tasked with protecting water resources through science-based management of rivers and springs such as the Suwannee, Santa Fe, Steinhatchee and Ichetucknee…