One year of below-average rainfall continues to impact water resources across portions of the District

As September begins, much of the St. Johns River Water Management District has now experienced approximately one year of below-average rainfall, highlighting how drought conditions develop gradually and why water resource recovery can take much longer than several rainfall events.

While recent rainfall has improved conditions in some locations, prolonged dry conditions continue to affect groundwater levels, rivers, lakes and wetlands throughout portions of the region. Groundwater levels in some areas began declining in fall 2025 following a shift to below-normal rainfall patterns, and those deficits accumulated month after month, leading to current drought conditions.

Florida’s rainy season plays a critical role in replenishing water resources, but drought recovery depends on more than rainfall totals alone. Water must move through the hydrologic system before it can help replenish groundwater supplies and other water resources affected by long-term dry conditions.

When rain falls, some is absorbed by dry soils, some is used by vegetation and some is lost through evaporation. Only a portion reaches groundwater aquifers. As a result, recovering from a prolonged drought typically requires substantially more rainfall than the measured rainfall deficit alone.

“September marks approximately one year since rainfall began trending below normal across portions of the District,” said District Director of the Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment Clay Coarsey. “The conditions we’re managing today are the result of deficits that have accumulated over many months. While recent rainfall has been beneficial, recovery takes time, and continued water conservation remains important as our water resources respond.”

As of Aug. 31, portions of the Lower St. Johns River Basin continue to experience some of the largest 12-month rainfall deficits within the District:

• Duval County: 15.45 inch rainfall deficit
• Clay County: 15.46 inch rainfall deficit
• Bradford County: 17.34 inch rainfall deficit
• Baker County: 19.65 inch rainfall deficit

Although these deficits represent the departure from the normal amount of rainfall counties receive in a 12-month period, typically the amount of rainfall needed to fully recover from drought conditions is quite a bit more.

District hydrologists estimate that approximately three feet of rainfall may be needed across portions of the affected areas over the next three months to fully restore groundwater levels, replenish surface waters and recover from the impacts of the drought.

“A rainfall deficit is essentially a measure of how much rain an area received compared to what is considered normal,” Coarsey said. “Drought recovery is different because not every inch of rainfall directly replenishes our water resources.”

The District’s Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration remains in effect within affected areas as staff continue monitoring rainfall, groundwater levels, spring flows and other drought indicators.

Mandatory restrictions remain in place, including:

• Residential and commercial properties are limited to one day per week of landscape irrigation.
• Landscape irrigation is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
• Commercial and industrial users must suspend certain non-essential water uses.
• Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to one day per week.
• Aesthetic water use, such as decorative fountains, is prohibited.
• Street and pressure washing activities face additional restrictions.
• Irrigation restrictions for new plantings, including sod, have been tightened.

District staff will continue evaluating hydrologic conditions and determining when water shortage restrictions can be modified or removed. Until then, conservation remains a key tool for supporting water resource recovery throughout the region.

Outdoor irrigation continues to be one of the largest uses of potable water. Residents are encouraged to check that irrigation timers are set correctly to ensure that irrigation occurs only on their designated watering day and only during allowable hours. Irrigation systems should also be checked for leaks, and sprinklers should only water landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks or driveways.

Residents may occasionally see irrigation systems operating in public spaces such as parks, medians and common areas during the water shortage. In many cases, these systems use reclaimed water, which is a highly treated recycled water source that helps reduce demand on potable groundwater supplies. While conservation remains important across all water sources, some reclaimed water systems must continue operating to maintain system function or manage storage capacity.

To view the complete water shortage order, including detailed requirements for each water use category and water conservation tips, visit sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.

To learn more about reclaimed water and its beneficial uses, visit https://floridadep.gov/water/domestic-wastewater/content/floridas-reuse-program.

To view current rainfall deficit information across the District, including county-specific data and downloadable high-resolution graphics, visit the District’s Media Library at www.sjrwmd.com/newsroom/media-library.