Regional Water Supply Not Affected By Southern Drought

By Gabriel Tynes, Walton Sun, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

Apr. 21–More than two years of consecutive rainfall deficits that have left South Florida parched and on the verge of a water crisis will not immediately affect supplies in the Northwest part of the state, according to the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Recently, state governing bodies announced a drought action plan calling for immediate restrictions on non-essential consumption for most areas south of Orlando. It also seeks to manage available supplies in the areas that need them most and identify other freshwater sources for future use. Some lawmakers have suggested diverting supplies from other parts of the state to help ease the crisis. Lucinda Scott, a spokesperson for the NWFWMD, said that as it is, the issue under discussion “does not affect our region.”"From what we’ve heard, the primary source of relief [for South Florida] would come from Suwannee (River Water Management District),” Scott said. “But that would probably be a last course of action.” Like North Florida and the panhandle, South Florida acquires most of its water from underground aquifers. But another primary source, Lake Okeechobee, is currently more than four feet below its historical average and draining quickly. Scott said the NWFWMD supply differs in that its aquifer is vast and there are many backup sources. “We haven’t had a drought of major concern since 1999, but they are in a different situation,” she said. According to the National Weather Service, South Florida is currently experiencing severe drought conditions, with less than half of expected rainfall totals in 2007. Comparably, Northwest Florida is “abnormally dry,” receiving slightly less than historical rainfall.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Walton Sun, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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