Record Low Water Levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer in Northeastern Cape Coral

Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer Water Shortage Area CAPE CORAL, Fla. - In order to continue to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board authorized the District's Executive Director to issue a Water Shortage Order imposing Modified Phase IV Water Shortage restrictions if/when the water levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer decline below the "future action level" of -93.01 feet for two consecutive weeks. As of April 9, 2025, the water level at the USGS Monitoring Well L-4820 in the water shortage area is at -91.68 feet. Phase IV water restrictions would mean that residents in the designated area will no longer be able to use their lawn irrigation systems. Currently, landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week in the designated area for irrigation water supplied by private wells. The restrictions are put into place to protect the aquifer and drinking water supply. The District's Governing Board declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions in November of 2023 for a portion of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County to protect the aquifer.