Great Moments in West Marin History
40 YEARS AGO — THE 1976 AND 1977 DROUGHT ENDS AND THE NICASIO RESERVOIR IS FULL! — JANUARY 16, 1978
During the drought of 1976 and 1977, Marin County was bone dry. For three years, precipitation dropped to almost half of normal. The Nicasio Reservoir dried up so much that it became slabs of cracked clay, and people had to rescue the pond turtles. Water rationing was mandatory and there were heavy fines for noncompliance. No one watered their lawns and gardens, showers were severely limited and ranchers and farmers had to purchase water. But the winter of 1977-1978 finally brought 67 inches of rain, and the turtles were returned to the reservoir. Within days after this photograph was made, water finally careened down the spillway.