Rain Below Average In Hendry-Glades

16 Florida Counties Record Lowest Rain Totals In 80 Years

CLEWISTON, FL. -- The South Florida Water Management District says the District's 16-county region experienced the driest October-to-February period since recordkeeping began nearly 80 years ago. While regional rainfall for March was average, April's rainfall has so far been less than half of the historical average. 

Long-term forecasts call for extreme dry conditions through the rest of the annual dry season.

Water Shortage Order – Landscape Irrigation

·         Modified Phase II restrictions, effective March 26, limit landscape irrigation to two days per week throughout the District.

·         Landscape irrigation using reclaimed water is not restricted under the order.

·         Irrigation times vary by area:

o    For Broward, Glades, Hendry, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. Also for portions of Osceola County within the SFWMD boundaries, the Town of Windermere in Orange County and cities within Lee County except Cape Coral – Just the Facts

Navigation

·         Recent rainfall temporarily improved navigation potential in the Kissimmee River. The S-193 navigation lock at Taylor Creek in Okeechobee County is open only on Saturdays and Sundays. S-193 will be closed if the lake level drops to 11 feet NGVD. These locks on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee remain closed:

o    S-135 at J&S Fish Camp in Martin County

o    G-36 at Henry Creek in Okeechobee County

o    S-127 at Buckhead Ridge in Glades County

o    S-131 at Lakeport in Glades County