Wet start to rainy season welcome sight for Bay Area water districts

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - This weekend's rainfall was a welcome sight as the state recovers from years of severe drought. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, rain fell more than 10 inches in one day benefitting Santa Clara Valley water users. Water officials in Santa Clara County said early rains in the season are encouraging, but there's still a need to conserve.

Water officials in Santa Clara County said it's surprising to see rain this early in the season but what's even more surprising, the amount of rainfall that fell in such a short amount of time especially in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

"Some of our gauges up in the mountains had a pretty impressive result," said Marty Grimes of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

This weekend, rainfall ranged from five to above 10 inches in the Santa Cruz Mountains over a 24 hour period and that created significant flows into the Uvas Reservoir in South Santa Clara County. Overall, reservoirs in the county are at about 40 percent capacity.

"That's a little bit low for this time of year," said Grimes. "We are still below average for this time of year. We have a long way to go."

However, there is good news. Progress is being made in replenishing groundwater percolation ponds they're better than a year ago. The water district also thanks the community's efforts in water conservation.
               
"This year in 2016, our community has saved 28 percent over 2013 levels," said Grimes. "That's the big factor."

While the heavy rain filled rivers and at times, knocked down trees and created mudslides, the water district said, they welcome the wet weather not knowing what Mother Nature will bring this winter.

"We've certainly seen years where you have a good start like this and the rest of the winter it just peters out so we are hopeful we will continue to have a rainy year and have an average, above average year," said Grimes.

The Water District said it's a good reminder after a rainstorm homeowners can turn off their sprinklers for at least three days. It's a good time to be thinking about turning down the water system to save water.