March Rainfall and 2026 Water Level Data from Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Audubon staff at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary recorded 0.7” of rain in March (average for March is 2.55”). 

"We’ve only received about half of the rain that we’ve typically received by this time in the dry season, which runs October through March," says  Director of Conservation Shawn Clem, PhD. "That brings us to 39.81” of rain since June, which is 26% lower than average," she adds.

The drought continues. Over the past 17 months, only one month saw average or above-average rainfall (May 2025).  Swamp water levels remain higher than one would expect from the low rainfall, but that is expected to change. Recession rates are currently high due to warm daytime temperatures. 

"We expect Lettuce Lakes could dry down by the end of April if we don’t get considerable rainfall," concludes Clem. Historically, the Lettuce Lakes would dry down an average of once every five years. Over the past decade, it has dried down four years of every five.