Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index - March

Clearwater, Fla –(March 8, 2007) — Long-term drought conditions prevail in the Tampa Bay region, as surface water conditions continue to decline. February rainfall was about 1.1 inches below normal across the region. Surface water conditions varied in the Hillsborough River–from 70 percent to 100 percent below normal. Flows in the Alafia River were about 23 percent below normal. The C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir continues to supply the region with water, and it stands less than two-thirds full at 8.95 billion gallons. A Level II Water Shortage, issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, remains in effect for the entire 16-county area.

Above-normal rainfall will be necessary to assist in lowering demands in the region, and long-term above-normal rainfall throughout the region is needed to improve river flows and available supplies.