Where has all that water disappeared to? Here is a reprint from an 1888 publication referring to the abundance of rainfall in the Vacaville district. In fact, there was an over-abundance, with the excess water causing root rot to the newly planted fruit trees.
“The copious rainfall sometimes makes artificial drainage necessary on the lower lands of the district; and during recent years considerable quantities of drain tile have been put in. The investment is found to yield immediate returns in the health and vigor of the trees and in bringing the soil into proper working condition during the winter and early spring; and while parts of the state are now worrying over the irrigation problem, carload after carload of drain tile is being brought to Vacaville to dispose of surplus water in the soil.”
There are many residents here today who can well remember the hundreds of springs gushing forth with cool water the year around. The Blue Mountains to the west of Vacaville were infested with hundreds of springs; as were the hills north and south of Vacaville. Old Rocky, just north of Vacaville, had its springs, and old-timers would relate hearing water gushing underground on the mountain as though a small river was chiseling its route beneath the surface.
There was reason for the excess water back before the turn of the century. A 10-year span, from 1880 to 1890, reflected the greatest amount of rain in any 10-year period of local rainfall recorded history. It rained for an average of just over 30 inches a year in that decade.
Rainfall figures, as far as The Reporter knows, were first tabulated back to the 1880-81 season, and total rainfall up to the present shows an average precipitation of a fraction under 25 inches per season.
For that 100-year period, total rainfall is at approximately 208 feet or 2,496 inches. The question asked today by many farmers is: “Where has all that water disappeared to?” Most of the springs are dry; the creeks do not run the year-round as they did after the turn of the century.
The two main creeks in the area, Ulatis and Alamo, have been carved from the surface of the earth going back not hundreds, but perhaps thousands of years, yet their size seems to have remained static for at least the past century.
Ulatis originates in Mix Canyon, in the mountains west of Vacaville, while Alamo comes from the same range of mountains, but has its origin in Gates Canyon.
Throughout the area are dozens of creeks, some having names, while others are mere drainage channels. They include Sweeney, Gibson Canyon, Laguna, Encinosa, Cantelowe and a few more.
One creek had its origin in Vaca Valley, taking care of some of the excess rainfall during wet seasons. It became known as Rabbit Creek. A metal culvert permitted traffic to use Parker Street north, just a short distance from the present Albertson’s store. During a heavy rain storm the culvert became clogged with debris, backing up the creek, and creating a lake which drowned hundreds of rabbits in hutches along the creek bank.
Years ago, during excavations to install utility services on Main Street, workers uncovered debris which indicated a creek at one time crossed the downtown street at Main and Elizabeth.
At a point in Pleasants Valley, the contour of the land forms a dividing line which permits rain water to follow natural courses of either south or north. Figures show Vacaville’s elevation, taken at a point on Depot Street, is 166 feet above sea level, while Winters is only 50 feet.
Putah Creek, which at one time was known as Smith’s River, for centuries overflowed its banks during wet seasons, spilling water throughout Solano and Yolo County farmlands. This all came to an end by the completion of Monticello Dam in 1957, impounding the excess waters behind the dam, and creating Lake Berryessa with a capacity of 1.6 million acre feet of storage. At present the water level is down to around the 1.2 million acre foot mark, but should increase considerably within the coming winter months, depending upon the amount of rainfall.
At shallow depths lies a shale formation, which has been impossible to penetrate. The original Vacaville Water Co. drilled its wells a short distance north of Buck Avenue, and although there was sufficient water to supply the needs of the small town around the turn of the century, it was soon learned water in quantity could not be discovered at any point in Vaca Valley.
It was almost a miracle when the late Patsy Damiano, a fruit farmer a short distance east of Vacaville, had an irrigating well drilled and discovered what was later to prove a bonanza for other farmers who were in search of water.
Today all of the wells supplying water for the City of Vacaville, are located east of the city, where the shale formation prevalent in Vaca Valley does not seem to exist.
During some of the wet seasons going back a few years, home owners who wanted the advantages of a basement under their homes, were inconvenienced by excessive water flooding these basements, forcing the installation of drain sumps and pumps. Today there are hundreds of wells supplying water for yard irrigation purposes. Some of these wells were hand drilled with a posthole digger.
When the Vacas and Penas settled here about mid-1850, they took advantage of Lagoon Lake which provided a year-round water supply for not only their households but also for livestock.
Throughout the intervening 150 years, Lagoon Lake has ceased to be a source of water, and for many months throughout the summer the supply completely evaporated. Recently, dredging has added some depth to portions of the original area, and the lake will some day be a year-round recreational area.
In 1911, the concrete bridge spanning Ulatis Creek at the north end of Main Street, was constructed, replacing a frame structure. Students who attended the local schools, and who walked across the wood bridge, tell of taking off their shoes, sitting on the edge of the bridge and enjoying the coolness of the water. Yes, where has all that water disappeared to?
Link: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7062/ | Solano History Database Record
Printed From: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7062/ | http://www.solanohistory.org/record/7062
Vacaville Heritage Council