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Rainstorms Give California Reservoirs A Much Needed Boost

LOS GATOS (KPIX 5) -- It was the most powerful storm of the season so far, and now we're seeing the benefits.

A new report card shows an impressive boost to the Bay Area water supply.

The San Pablo Reservoir is one of many Bay Area reservoirs that have ballooned with recent rains.

Others reservoirs around the state, are also now above their historic averages.

The Lexington Reservoir above Los Gatos is one of the reservoirs that, after many years of drought, is finally looking a lot like normal.

Marty Grimes with the Santa Clara Valley Water District said, "Our reservoirs are about 96 percent of our 20 year average, so that's looking pretty good. We're happy with that so far."

Information from reservoir and creek gauges is still streaming in. But it hasn't looked this good -- this early in the season -- for years.

"We're basically just into what we call our normal range for groundwater storage," Grimes explained.

Last Friday's downpour is a big reason why. It was the latest in a series of drenching storms to hit the Bay Area.

San Jose resident Tessa Woodmansee said, "This is our Pacific vortex...but it's good, we need the rain."

Luckily, the rainstorms have been spaced out well enough to not cause serious flooding.

Snapshots of Santa Clara Valley reservoir levels over the last 30 days include huge spikes in the last few days. Those spikes are like money in the bank.

The water district said it was an increase of 4,000 acre-feet -- enough to supply 8,000 households with water for a year. Just from one storm.

Water officials are still cautious, hoping to not jinx the rest of the season.

"We're encouraging people to keep up those habits they developed during the drought, because we just don't know what's around the corner. It could turn out to be another dry year and then we end up back in another drought," Grimes said.

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