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Special topic: Water in Lake County

Last Update on June 12, 2008

         
 

NEW: See historic water level values for Lake Minnehaha for the last 25 years (from US Geological Survey).

  • Water Level in Lake Olsen

(The watermark is measured relative to a reference level defined arbitrarily by the webmaster of www.HiFlorida.com)

June 12, 2008 138 inch  
Apr. 25, 2008 150.5 inch  
Jan. 22, 2008 151.5 inch  
 
Dec. 21, 2007 149.5 inch  
Dec. 16, 2007 149 inch  
Oct. 10, 2007 144.5 inch  
Sept. 20, 2007 133 inch  
Aug. 2, 2007 127 inch but heavy rains starting
July 24, 2007 128.5 inch extremely low
June 2, 2007 129.5 inch  
May 24, 2007 131 inch  
May 5, 2007 136 inch very low
Mar. 11, 2007 145 inch  
Jan. 18, 2007 145 inch  
Dec. 13, 2006 141.5 inch  
Oct. 20, 2006 143 inch  
Oct. 9, 2006 144 inch still no rain
Oct. 3, 2006 146 inch  
Aug. 23, 2006 142.5 inch low due to almost no
Aug. 10, 2006 144 inch hurricanes in 2006
May 31, 2006 145 inch  
Apr. 28, 2006 151.5 inch rather low
Feb. 4, 2006 164 inch  
Jan. 29, 2006 161 inch  
Nov. 26, 2005 164.5 inch  
Aug. 27, 2005 170 inch  
Aug. 19, 2005   171 inch  
July 24, 2005 166 inch  
June 5, 2005 158 inch  
June 3, 2005 157 inch  
Jan. 4, 2005 159.5  
Dec. 28, 2004 160 inch  
Oct. 14, 2004 175 inch  
Oct. 10, 2004 176 inch all time measured maximum
Sept.15 2004 179 inch hurricanes Frances / Jeanne!
Aug. 22, 2004 171 inch  
Aug. 14, 2004 166 inch after Hurricane Charley
Aug. 7, 2004 158 inch  
June 20, 2004 159 inch  
June 16, 2004 158 inch  
May 2, 2004 163.5 inch high due to heavy rainfalls
May 1, 2004 157.5 inch quick increase
Apr. 28, 2004 152.5 inch  
Jan.1, 2004 154.5 inch normal
Dec. 23, 2003 154.5 inch  
Sept.23, 2003   160 inch  
Sept. 7, 2003 165.5 inch very high
Aug. 8, 2003 164.5 inch  
July 25, 2003 161 inch  
May 9, 2003 156 inch  
May 1, 2003 157.5 inch  
Feb. 23, 2003   158 inch  
Feb. 11, 2003 157.5 inch  
Nov.20, 2002 152 inch  
Nov.11, 2002   151 inch  
Aug. 30, 2002 150 inch  
Aug. 29, 2002 148 inch     
Aug. 18, 2002 145.5 inch approximate normal level
June 19, 2002 116 inch extremely low
Apr. 13, 2002 131 inch  

 

The year 2007 has been very hot an dry until the end of May. The start of the hurricane season came with a first long rain on June 2nd. The water brought to us by tropical storm Barry was more than welcome. After that there still was not much rain until July 20.

The year 2006 came with little activity on the level of hurricanes. This was probably due to El Niņo (surface water in the Pacific has temperature above average). 

In 2005 the water level remained consistently high.

In 2004 the water level in Lake Olson looked normal to high. The maximum of 179 inches after hurricanes Charley, Francis and Jeanne was observed only as a high water mark; i.e. was not directly measured.

The year 2003 started with a water level even higher than what would be expected from rainfall alone. The high level could be attributed to more water flowing in from the Green Swamp area. In July and August we had many thunderstorms with a lot of water pouring down.

Comments on the year 2002: From June to the end of August there was considerable rainfall. Unfortunately, September to November there has been less rain, but the water level remained normal due to a lot of rain in the Green Swamp area. December brought more rain: 9.05 inch, so maybe this is already due to El Niņo. Conclusion: With a total of 62 inch, the yearly rainfall was clearly above average (47 inch). 

 

    

We also started to record the readings in Lake Louisa State Park. Dixie Lake, Lake Louisa, Lake Minnehaha and Lake Minneola are part of the St. Johns systems of rivers and lakes. Dixie Lake is about 5 miles north of the Green Swamp area and 10 miles south of Clermont.  

  • Water Level of Dixie Lake (Lake Louisa State Park) (Measured near the campsite. Decimal fraction of foot)

Jan. 27, 2008 0.75 foot  
Dec. 20, 2007 0.70 foot  very low
Sept. 24, 2007 1.27 foot  
Aug. 2nd, 2007 1.42 foot  
May 24, 2007 1.50 foot  
May 5, 2007 1.75 foot  
Mar. 11, 2007 2.60 foot                            
Jan. 24, 2007 2.85 foot
Oct. 12, 2006 3.10 foot  
Aug. 10, 2006 3.10 foot  
Apr. 28, 2006 2.70 foot rather low
Aug. 26, 2005 3.47 foot  
Jun. 7, 2005 3.03 foot  
Dec. 29, 2004 3.35 foot
Oct. 14, 2004  4.08 foot  
June 18, 2004 2.40 foot  
May 1st, 2004 2.90 foot  
Dec. 23, 2003 3.15 foot  

  • Water Level of Lake Louisa:

Jan. 22, 2008 < 4 foot  not measurable
Sept. 24, 2007 < 4 foot  not measurable
Aug. 2nd, 2007 < 4 foot  not measurable
May 24, 2007 4.10 foot  
May 5, 2007 4.45 foot  
Jan. 24, 2007 6.00 foot  
Oct. 12, 2006 6.30 foot
Aug. 10, 2006 6.30 foot
Apr. 28, 2006 6.15 foot  rather low
Aug. 26, 2005 6.75 foot  
Jun. 7, 2005 6.60 foot
Dec. 29, 2004 7.00 foot  
  • Special Topic: Rainfall, the Drought, the Floridian Aquafer

In Lake County we were quite worried about the water level in our lakes until late in 2002. People attribute the lack of water we had experienced since 1998 to the effect of La Niņa.

What do you know about the Floridian Aquafer? Did you know that our site belongs to the St. John's water district? All our lakes are connected in one way or another with the Green Swamp area located about 15 miles south of Clermont. The flow of water goes from the swamp area through Lake County to Jacksonville.   

Read more on this in www.MyFlorida.com and on the website of the Department of Environmental Protection.

See historic water level values for Lake Minnehaha for the last 25 years (from US Geological Survey).