2015 will be remembered as one of the driest years in California history.
There are promising signs El Niño will send us in the right direction, but experts warn the drought is not over yet.
For many, the last year has included shorter showers and creative ways of saving every drop.
"Three minutes when I was showering," San Jose-resident Rebecca Renteria said. "When I take a shower I have a bucket of water and I use that to flush the toilet."
In 2015, homeowners in Santa Clara County averaged 27 percent water savings. But experts warn conservation and a rainy winter still is not enough to pull us out of a four-year drought.
"Last year, because of the drought, we had to pull more than we could replenish," said Theresa Alvarado with the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
Earlier this week, scientists measured the snowpack in the Sierras for the first time this season. Philips Station near Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort is at 136 percent of average.
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"Fifty-five percent of Santa Clara County water comes from snow melt from the Sierra Nevada water sheds," Alvarado said.
Skiers welcomed the fresh powder in mountains, while in the South Bay lawns are looking healthy for the first time in nearly a year.
"The rain is keeping it nice and green right now," San Jose-resident Vivian Talamantes said. "Other than that it is brown."
Experts are predicting the new year will bring strong El Niño storms.
Alvarado is hoping the conservation trends continue.
"Hopefully this has become a way of life and people realize that we can do more with less," Alvarado said.
