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Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index (February 8, 2008)

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Surface water availability and long-term regional drinking water storage conditions continued to degrade in the Tampa Bay region in January due to La Niña conditions. Significantly below-normal surface water flows in the Hillsborough River, temporarily affected by a heavy rainfall event on January 23, still required the City of Tampa to purchase of water from the Tampa Bay Water system.

As anticipated, lack of surface water required withdrawal of water from the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. Regional water facts for January:

  • Rainfall averaged between 3.5 to 5 inches throughout the region in January (between 0.5 and 1.5 inches above normal).
  • Forty month rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough and Alafia River watersheds both averaged about 28 and 16 inches.
  • Flow in the Hillsborough River was about 66% below normal.
  • Alafia River flow is about 50% below normal in January (average flow conditions provide little regional water during the fall and spring months).
  • Regional water demand in January was about 231 million gallons per day (mgd), an 18 mgd decline December 2007. This number reflects declines associated with reduced outdoor water use.
  • Daily water demand declined to about 205 mgd on January 19 reflecting regional demand without substantial irrigation.
  • As of February 7, 2008, 10 billion gallons of water remain in the C.W. Bill Young Regional reservoir. About 1 billion gallons were withdrawn in January but increased flows into the system offset withdrawals.

La Niña conditions and long-term drought conditions continue to minimize river flow available for withdrawal. This condition is predicted to continue through the dry spring months keeping the reservoir and river supplies from returning to pre-drought conditions.

Tampa Bay Water is in a 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.

For more information contact Dave Bracciano or Alison Adams at 727.796.2355.