Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index - June 2007

CLEARWATER (June 4, 2007) — Rainfall from Tropical Storm Barry provided short-term reductions in regional water use, but surface water flows continue to be well below normal. Due to regional rainfall deficits between 8 and 11 inches during the period from October 2006 through May 2007, water withdrawals from the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers for use in the Tampa Bay regional water system ceased in March. Withdrawals from the Hillsborough River by the City of Tampa have been severely curtailed, leading to increased use of regional supplies in the City.

Regional water facts for May:

• Flows in the Hillsborough River averaged 62 percent below normal.
• Flows in the Alafia River were about 79 percent below normal.
• The 15 billion gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir continues to supply the region with water. The reservoir is less than one third-full at 4.4 billion gallons and production from the facility wil decline due to low levels.
• May demands averaged nearly 300 million gallons per day due to increases in outdoor water use.

River flows will need to be above normal for seven of the next 12 months to bring reservoir and river supplies back to pre-drought conditions. Currently, a Level II Water Shortage, issued by both Tampa Bay Water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, remains in effect for the entire area.