Nearly all reservoirs in Marin County at capacity

Wayne Freedman Image
ByWayne Freedman KGO logo
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Nearly all reservoirs in Marin County at capacity
Despite the El Nino winter California is still in a drought. In Marin County water restrictions are still in effect, but the drought there exists, perhaps in name only.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Despite the El Nino winter California is still in a drought. In Marin County water restrictions are still in effect, but the drought there exists perhaps in name only.

Six of seven reservoirs are considered at capacity, and the one that's not is at 95 percent.

Despite the recent break in rains the El Nino conditions still persist, as does a drought in this state.

The water district says the county has done well because residents have continued to cut their water use.

PHOTOS: Rain, storms hit Bay Area during 2016 El Nino season

Crystal Yezman manages the Tamalpais watershed for the Marin Municipal Water District, which as of today, reports 98 percent capacity in its seven reservoirs. That's a rosey picture compared with the rest of California.

Yezman said Marin County being nearly at capacity is unique. It's so unique that this year, it has a third layer of riches -- Coho salmon.

Fishery program manager Gregory Andrew spotted and counted one of 500 coho that returned to Lagunitas Creek this year. It's their best showing in a decade, due in part to well-spaced storms that arrived early, allowing the Coho to swim way upstream in December.

For fish, at least, this has been a perfect El Nino.

"I have always said that the Coho population on Lagunitas Creek is sustainable but tenuous and I am not changing that," Andrew said.

It is a tenuous population having a good year.

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