Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index (December 13, 2007)

CLEARWATER (Dec. 13, 2007)—Despite increasing drought conditions throughout the state, surface water availability and long-term regional drinking water storage conditions remained steady in the Tampa Bay region in November. Flows in the Hillsborough River declined and required the City of Tampa to begin buying water from the Tampa Bay Water system.  Executive Orders provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District to Tampa Bay Water in late July, allowed for marginal amounts of river water withdrawals in November.

Regional water facts for November:

• Rainfall averaged between 0 and 0.30 inches in November - about 2 inches below normal.
• 24-month rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough and Alafia River watersheds increased over two inches to 20.34 and 16.1 inches from October.
• Flow in the Hillsborough River was about 45% below normal.
• Alafia River flow diminished to 54% below normal in November (average flow conditions provide little regional water during the fall and spring months).
• Regional water demand in November was about 263 million gallons per day (mgd), which increased over 9 mgd from October 2007.
• As of December 10, 2007, more than 11 billion gallons of water remain in the C.W. Bill Young Regional reservoir, approximately the same as the end of October.

La Niña conditions continue to reduce available river flows and may continue through the spring months keeping the reservoir and river supplies from returning to pre-drought conditions.

Tampa Bay Water is in Level II Water Shortage, and continues to request the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco to reduce demand and increase enforcement of water restrictions.  The entire 16 county Southwest Florida Water Management District area remains in a Level II Water Shortage.