Current storm won't impact California drought

PALO ALTO, Calif (KGO) -- Don't let our recent rain fool you. California is still suffering one its worst droughts on record.

This rain is certainly needed, but water officials say it's not enough to make a significant impact.

Marty Grimes with Santa Clara Valley Water Authority says, "Please remember, we're still in a drought."

The message is still to conserve.

PHOTOS: Strong rain and winds hit the Bay Area

Last week, the board agreed to extend a call for a county-wide 20 percent reduction of water use.

The Lexington Reservoir was just at 13 percent capacity when the rain started falling.

"The water sheds above these reservoirs have been so dry because of the drought that a lot of this water, even though it's a lot of rain, it's just soaking right into the ground," said Grimes.

In Palo Alto, even though it's raining, there are still rebates to relandscape your yard with drought-resistant plants.

Residents are eligible for rebates of up to $4 per square foot of turf grass.

"We really feel landscape is the low hanging fruit, generally the most water using intensity at anybody's given home. Sometimes the larger businesses are actually in landscape irrigation. So we just want to make sure people are being as efficient as possible," said Catherine Elvert, with the Palo Alto Utilities Department.

Elvert says since this spring, about 50 homes and 10 businesses have applied for the program.

For more information about the rebate program, click here.