Floridan Aquifer Status: Description of Levels
As of April 1, 2025, some agricultural water withdrawal permits for the Floridan Aquifer in Southwest Georgia, issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD), are subject to drought restriction conditions. A network of 15 wells maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is closely monitored to evaluate the condition of the Floridan Aquifer compared to drought metrics established by GAEPD. When five or more of the 15 monitoring wells fall below the drought metric, withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer via permits with drought restriction conditions must cease until aquifer levels recover to a point above the drought threshold. Three Floridan Aquifer status levels are used to inform permit holders about current conditions and restrictions:
Condition GREEN
Levels in all Floridan Aquifer monitoring wells are above the drought threshold. No Floridan Aquifer withdrawal restrictions are currently in place.
Condition YELLOW
Levels in the Floridan Aquifer are low and at least one of the monitoring wells has dropped below the drought threshold. Irrigators utilizing withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer with drought restrictions should monitor conditions closely and begin preparations for temporary suspension.
Condition RED
Levels in at least five Floridan Aquifer monitoring wells have dropped below the drought threshold. All withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer via permits with drought restrictions are suspended until Floridan Aquifer levels recover