News Release

October 2, 2001
Carl Goodwin 850-942-9500

Tropical Storm Gabrielle Brings Much-Needed Rainfall to the Florida Peninsula

To monitor the effects of Tropical Storm Gabrielle, crews of hydrologic technicians from the Tampa, Altamonte Springs, and Miami U.S. Geological Survey offices measured many of the streams in the Florida peninsula, including the Peace, Myakka, Manatee, St. Johns, and Kissimmee River basins. Flows at long-term stations ranged from a probability of recurrence of more than 50%, to 4% probability of recurrence. Local flooding occurred and at least one road (at Deep Creek near Hastings) was washed out as a result of the rainfall. Equipment at two stations, one in north Florida (Dunns Creek near Satsuma), and one in south Florida (North Branch, Estero) were damaged and had to be rebuilt. The stations are now back up and reporting real-time data again. Key stations on the main stem of the St. Johns River will be measured during the next few weeks, which should tie in well with high flows in that river system.

Overall, the hardest hit areas were Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, and Manatee Counties and coastal counties from Volusia north to Duval. The lower Peace, and all of the Myakka and Manatee River basins experienced flooding with a probability of occurrence in the 4% range. In coastal counties and in the Jacksonville area, the most severe flooding was experienced in smaller drainage area streams, with some streams reaching peaks also in the 4 percent probability of occurrence range.

In southwestern Florida, rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle on September 14th caused ground water levels at many stations to rise above the period-of-record maximums previously recorded for that week of the year. Water levels also rose to levels well above normal in the real-time monitoring stations in Martin and Palm Beach Counties. Two of these stations are still recording water levels that are above the period of record weekly maximum for this week of the year.

Water levels in the Biscayne aquifer in southeastern Florida are generally above normal near the coast and are about normal inland. Water levels are still lower then normal in Lake Okeechobee and in Water Conservation Areas 2A, 2B, and 3B, but all of these stations showed significant increases as a result of rainfall from Tropical Storm Gabrielle. Additional data are being collected to determine the extent of aquifer recharge as a result of Gabrielle. However, it is evident from the data collected thus far that the Tropical Storm has increased Florida's ground water supply, which has been very low because of a 2-year drought.

Additional information is available on the following USGS web sites:

http://water.usgs.gov/fl/nwis

http://fl.water.usgs.gov/

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation and the economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.

In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home page at http://www.usgs.gov. To receive the latest USGS news releases automatically by e-mail, send a request to listproc@listserver.usgs.gov. Specify the listserver(s) of interest from the following names: water-pr; geologic- hazards-pr; biological-pr; mapping-pr; products-pr; lecture-pr. In the body of the message write: subscribe (name of listserver) (your name). Example: water-pr joe smith.

Jane Eggleston
Outreach Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey
227 N. Bronough St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-942-9500; FAX: 850-942-9521

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