During the month of December 2015, across the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) rainfall averaged 1.80 inches. That is just over half of the long-term December average rainfall of 3.17 inches. Parts of Taylor and Madison counties received over 5 inches of rain. Union and Baker counties received an inch or less on average during the month.

The three-month average rainfall for the time period ending December 31, 2015, totaled 6.0 inches, about thirty percent below the long-term average of 8.6 inches. The largest three-month deficits remain concentrated in Suwannee and Columbia counties.

The highest gaged monthly rainfall total of 4.90 inches was recorded in southern Madison County.  The highest daily total of 2.16 inches was recorded at the Madison Blue Spring rainfall station in eastern Madison County.

All major river level stations in the District began the month with recordings at or above the normal range of flows. Above normal streamflow conditions were recorded in the Upper Santa Fe and Alapaha River basins. The Santa Fe River was back to normal flows due to below average rainfall in the basin.  Coastal rivers and the Suwannee River above Branford remained within the normal range.

The majority of groundwater levels decreased during the month of December 2015. District-wide springflows overall increased.