Farmers welcomed rain throughout the day

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- This week's storm came at a time the Department of Water Resources issued its initial state water allocation. The state has called for a 10% of normal delivery but that could change either way depending on the season.

Steady rain throughout the day was a great sight for our dry state. Many were hoping it marked the start of a wet and snowy winter. The State Water Project supplies Kings and Kern counties, the Tulare Lake basin as well as southern California.

Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen said, "Fresno County does not receive any state water but it's an early indication of what the federal project's going to be. Not that they're identical but it gives kind of the indication that things are improving slightly. But again, zero to ten it's not going to fix our worries."

After three years of drought growers welcome every drop of rain they can get. Flood basins are collecting runoff to help recharge the underground aquifer.

Jacobsen explained, "Our precipitation season really is made or broken by five to seven storms. I mean, if you go over that seven storms and start getting nine to twelve then that's going to be a really good year."

Valley farms need to replenish the water supply especially since so many have been pumping groundwater. The DWR reported more than 350 new water supply wells were drilled this year in Fresno and Tulare counties. More than 200 more new wells were established in Merced County.

Gayle Holman of the Westlands Water District said, "We're hopeful that this is the beginning of a wet year. We need to have at least 150% of average to kind of regain some of the traction that we lost."

One storm does not make a season. Farmers said despite the rain, the state outlook remains dire.

The US Bureau of Reclamation won't announce its federal water allotment until next February. The hope is we'll get more storms to build up the Sierra snowpack to ensure a larger allotment.