Despite the steady, muscular rains that sprayed Southern California throughout December and January, the legendary drought’s thirst has not been quenched.

“The rains definitely have helped out situation,” said Public Works Director Charles Herbertson.

“Technically, though, we still are in a drought in Southern California. The rains have helped Northern California a lot.

“In Southern California, we get our water supply from Northern California and the Colorado River.”

Mr. Herbertson said that the rules on restrictions in recent years remain firmly in place.

“This is because we don’t know if we are going to be right back in the same situation in a year or two.

“The best policy,” said Mr. Herbertson, “is to establish those habits and keep them.

“The immediate concerns for most of the state have been abated – except for the Santa Barbara. Lake Cachuma still is ‘way down, a serious problem.”

One reason Northern California offers a wetter climate, say experts, is that jet stream patterns tend to drive rains in that direction.

Recent warmer temperatures may have neutralized the value of the wet weather up north. Snow is strongly needed.

The Public Works director was in hard-hit Sacramento last week for meetings.

Mr. Herbertson said the capitol appeared to have been encircled by a giant lake, owing to the early winter rainstorms.

“They had to open up and allow these fields to flood,” he said.

“All of that water in Sacramento, though, is just flowing eventually to the San Francisco Bay and out into the ocean.

“Some will be absorbed into groundwater,” Mr. Herbertson said, “but a lot of it is not going to do us any good.”