The Effect of This Year’s Drought on Corkscrew Swamp

Background

Audubon has collected month-to-month rainfall information from Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary since November 1959. Corkscrew’s common annual rainfall is 60.0 inches. The hydrologic yr is measured from June 1 by way of Might 30.

This yr, whereas the overall quantity of rainfall recorded this yr was common, a drier dry season resulted in water ranges falling unusually quick. 

2024-25 Wet Season by way of April

• Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary obtained 60.6 inches of rain from June 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025.
• We recorded above common rainfall June by way of October (a complete of 55.9 inches). Because of this we received 93% of our annual rainfall in these 5 months. Sometimes, we get about 70% of our annual rainfall in these 5 months.
• Since November 1, nevertheless, situations have been very dry. We recorded solely 4.72 inches of rain from November 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. Our common complete rainfall for these months is 13.2 inches. We recorded about one-third of the quantity of rain we often get throughout these dry season months.
• Since 1959, this yr was the fourth lowest November by way of April rainfall on file, with the bottom being in 2008-2009 (2.71 inches).
• It is a stark distinction from final yr, once we obtained extra dry season rainfall than typical (final yr’s Nov-Apr rainfall was 18.17 inches).
• We’ve had eight years with greater than 20 inches of rain Nov-Apr, with 30.88 inches recorded in 2009-2010. 

What does this imply for the swamp?

One of many methods we measure water ranges long-term at Corkscrew is utilizing a workers gauge that’s situated alongside the boardwalk on the Lettuce Lakes. Previous to the mid-2000s, water ranges at this gauge solely reached zero about as soon as each 5 years. Since Audubon workers first noticed hydrologic adjustments at Corkscrew across the yr 2000, this gauge reaches zero most years.

The date this gauge reaches zero may help inform us how rapidly the swamp is drying. On common since 2000, that gauge has reached zero in mid-April. This yr the workers gauge reached zero in early-April (so proper about on-time). In 2008 that gauge reached zero in February, and we’ve had seven years the place it’s reached zero in March (2001, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2023).

With out ample rain, water ranges under floor proceed to fall by way of the dry season, so the sooner we dry down usually the decrease floor water in the end will get. Water ranges all the time fall more and more quicker within the spring when the air temperature is heat and crops are rising. That is additionally the time of yr that individuals are utilizing extra water, and with extra folks shifting to Southwest Florida, there’s a better want for watering lawns, filling swimming pools, and many others.

What’s notably attention-grabbing about this yr is that we had typical annual rainfall by way of April, however the distribution of rainfall throughout the yr was uncommon. We had extra rain within the wet season (a “wetter moist season”) and little rain within the dry season (a “drier dry”). This has resulted in water ranges within the swamp falling unusually quick, however not getting unusually low.

Our wildlife are tailored for a dynamic ecosystem, however water ranges falling too quick can stress quite a lot of species as they must adapt rapidly to the dry situations.

“Dry” dry seasons like this yr’s could cause nest failure for species like Wooden Storks. It is a long-lived species so nest failure each infrequently is okay, however the cumulative impact of stressors (much less meals obtainable, lack of foraging habitat, impacts to nesting websites, and many others.) and stress year-after-year (the identical stressor or totally different stressors) is troublesome for species like Wooden Storks to beat.

General, the most important danger with these dry situations is wildfire which is why habitat administration (prescribed hearth) and wetland/water conservation are so essential.