Drought challenges

Nearly four years of sparse rainfall have pushed Southwest Florida into one of its worst droughts, rivaling the record dry spell that ended in 2001. Lakes have disappeared, river flows have slowed to a trickle and groundwater levels have dropped to lows not seen in eight years. Relief likely remains at least two to three months away, when the summer rainy season typically begins. Rainfall is nearly 30 inches below normal over the last 36 months, 5.89 inches less than usual just since Jan. 1.

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