Water district says Lexington is at normal level for summer
By Nathan R. Huff
Contrary to mountain residents' and commuters' perceptions, Lexington Reservoir's water level is not abnormally low for this time of year, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD).
A number of regular reservoir-watchers have commented on the dropping water level and increasing earth-toned banks. Those observations, however, seem to be steeped more in ingrained fears of drought than reality.
"It's about where it should be," Jeff Micko of the SCVWD said. Micko, a "water master" who decides what water is released where and how much, said Lexington is approximately 65 percent full, down only 5 percent from June to July.
With 18 feet of bank now showing, fears of a depleting water supply may come from the fact that less than four months ago the reservoir was spilling over from the late rains. In a normal rainy season, the district releases water incrementally during the fall to ensure flood protection. This year, with the majority of rain falling in February, the reservoir's water level peaked later than usual.
Moreover, the late rainfall has let the district continue recharging the county's underground aquifers, or "water table." The Santa Clara subbasin, as the aquifer is referred to, provides almost 50 percent of the county's water. It's over 20 times larger than Lexington Reservoir, stretching all across the valley.
"[The aquifer] has been maintaining at a pretty high level because the last five years have been relatively wet," Micko said, adding that keeping the groundwater levels high is the best insurance for drought years.
Most of the district's other reservoirs are at similar levels to Lexington, and all are being incrementally drained to fill up the underground aquifers. Micko said that while the district was not in the business of making weather predictions, the law of averages predicts drier winters ahead.
"We've had five years of above average or near-average rainfall, and that's an exception," Micko said. "We're due for a dry one."
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
