Environmental Intersection by George Lindemann

As a result of three uncommon storms in one month, nearly 10 inches of rain was recorded District-wide for October, representing 6.2 inches above the average for this time of year. All areas from Orlando to the Florida Keys received above-average rainfall, with key regions such as the Kissimmee basins and Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 receiving a much-needed boost.

In comparison, October 2005 saw a total of 7.98 inches of rain — including Hurricane Wilma. The storm left an average of 4.16 inches of rain across the District.

October’s storms did significantly benefit Lake Okeechobee, a key backup water supply for millions of South Floridians. The lake stood at 13.60 feet NGVD on Wednesday, close to the same level as this time last year. Unlike last year, the lake is rising instead of falling. The current level is more than 2 feet higher than on September 30 but still below the historical average of 15.03 inches.

“The decisions we make every day in water management consider the potential for weather that can swerve from record dry to record deluge in a relatively short timeframe,” said Susan Sylvester, SFWMD Chief of the Water Control Operations Bureau. “Our challenge is to continually plan, adjust and operate the extensive South Florida system to best balance the needs of 7.7 million people, businesses and the natural system.”

October is a crucial transition from the wet season to the dry season because of its potential impact on regional water levels for months to come. October 2011 was defined by three exceptional storm events that significantly bolstered water levels in drought- plagued Lake Okeechobee, aquifers and storage areas across the region.

The storms included:

• October 8: This was the wettest single day in
  the upper and lower Kissimmee basins
  combined in nearly 100 years. An average of
  6.05 inches of rain fell in the two basins,
  spanning approximately 3,000 square miles,
  with local maximums up to 14.09 inches. The Kissimmee River was closed to navigation for about two weeks because of dangerous water flows. Navigation was restored when conditions became safe again.

• October 16 - 18: A non-tropical low pressure system and a stalled front combined to leave South Florida with an average of 2.74 inches of rain across the District. The rain primarily fell south of Lake Okeechobee, mainly missing the already