Withlacoochee River could be headed toward record low water levels this summer

DUNNELLON, Fla. — Conservation leaders say lakes, rivers and the aquifer in Citrus County could be headed toward record low levels by this summer.

A recent hydrologic report from the Southwest Florida Water Management District shows that current water levels along the Withlacoochee River are 2 to 3 feet lower than a year ago because of the shortfall of rain we’re seeing across the region.

“Our shop does both a trip on the Rainbow (River), a trip on the Withlacoochee, and I always tell people, no matter what, that the confluence is the coolest spot,” Rainbow River and Kayak owner Meriah Kirk said.

Tucked away amongst the trees in Dunnellon, you’ll come across Rainbow River Canoe and Kayak — a business that thrives on both the Rainbow and Withlacoochee rivers. But recently, something about the water is being noticed.

“Usually they’re at least, this time of year, about up to here,” Kirk said, pointing out water lines. “They’ve been about up to here, but now even further.”

Kirk said staff and visitors alike have noticed a dip in the river’s level.

“We have had some people comment on the flows being lower, being a little more stagnant,” she said. “And then with the way over in the marina, the way the cove is very stagnant, we’ve had some of our boat owners there kind of comment on that.”

Following the river south into Pasco County, Mark Fulkerson with the Southwest Florida Water Management District surveys the river.

“Over the past three decades, we’ve had four severe droughts that hit the Withlacoochee River,” Fulkerson said. “Just in those 30 years, it’s only happened four times. But this year, just looking at the data, we’re shaping into a fifth one of those.”

In last month’s hydrologic report, Fulkerson noted water levels are 2 to 3 feet lower than a year ago. A big change for the river and surrounding ecosystem.

“Last year at this time, we were three months after Milton,” Fulkerson said. “The water was probably 3 feet higher than it is now. So that’s kind of the difference between last year and this year. This year, we didn’t have a Milton. We didn’t have a big, real wet season to fill things up.”

Just looking at the surrounding trees, you’ll notice water lines from Milton are still there, showing just how low the river has become. Fulkerson said he does not expect conditions to improve until the summer with some much-needed rain in the wet season.

“Those summer rains are going to have to materialize a lot better than what we had last year, or we’re going to go into maybe an additional year of very low water levels.”

As for Kirk and her business, she said she remains optimistic for rainfall — even with the business’ busiest time of year, spring break, just around the corner.

“The springs are really important, so I think it’s important to make sure we’re taking care of them and making sure we’re doing as much as we can to take care of them,” Kirk said.