Water Levels Lowest In Hernando County

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County is defying the averages - but not in a good way.

The Tampa region has been drenched with rain compared to last year and has recorded above-normal precipitation in five of the last six months.

Those rainfall trends have occurred mostly everywhere in the area except Hernando County.

Instead, Brooksville and the surrounding area have recorded the lowest level of precipitation across the district - which stretches from Ocala to Punta Gorda.

"It's definitely been more productive since last year," said National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Sharp, who was referring to the positive news about Tampa's water levels. "It seems each month we've seen above normal rainfall, or at least well above last year."

The situation in Hernando County is far bleaker. The proof is at the local lakes, where most boat ramps are closed due to dry conditions.

"We're still having problems in our lake bodies," said Hernando County Parks and Recreations Director Pat Fagan. "I doubt even if we had a hurricane it would bring up the water enough ... The weeds have really taken over where the boat ramps are."

The Lake Townsend and Nobleton boat ramps are the only ones in the area still open to the public. The ramps at Hunters Lake and Mountain Lake have been closed for more than two years.

Hernando County has been in a drought since early 2006, said Southwest Florida Water Management District spokeswoman Robyn Felix.

The district, also known as Swiftmud, reported 19.78 total inches of rainfall for Hernando County from Jan. 1 through June 30 - more than four inches below average.

By comparison, Sumter, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have recorded above-average precipitation. Pasco County remains one inch below normal.

"The last two summers have been below average," Felix said. "Basically, we go into every summer hoping for above-average rainfall for an extended period of time."

Swiftmud announced it would extend its one-day-per-week watering restriction through Sept. 30.