Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index - January 2007

Clearwater, Fla –(January 10, 2007) — Despite recent sporadic rainfall, drought conditions have not improved in the Tampa Bay region. While some areas received moderate amounts of rainfall in December, significant longer term deficits continue in the Hillsborough and Alafia River watersheds. River flows in those basins are more than 50 percent lower than normal, affecting the amount of drinking water available to the region. In addition, the continuing rainfall deficit helped to increase water use regionally, as demand in December 2006 was 10 percent higher than it was in December 2005.

Long-term above normal rainfall throughout the region will be necessary to improve river flows and available supplies.

For more information contact Dave Bracciano or Alison Adams at 727-796-2355