Dipping our toes in the icy cool waters of a stream on a hot summer day in northern California is bliss, and that’s a nearly impossible thing to find during a drought.

However, that impossibility is possible thanks to the rocking-and-rolling of the 6.0 Napa Earthquake in late August, as fresh water began flowing in a few dry stream beds in Solano, Napa and Sonoma Counties after the quake.

On the days flowing the earthquake, residents in the region noticed creeks had started flowing again. They were concerned that one of the nearby reservoirs had been damaged; luckily, that was not the case.

Due to the magnitude of the earthquake, numerous cracks and fissures were opened in the rocks allowing for groundwater to come to the surface.

The fresh spring water is by far the coolest thing about the Napa Earthquake, as it’s an unexpected pot of gold for the wild animals, the locals and the residents of Vallejo who will have more drinking water during this drought.

Yep, there’s a silver lining to every cloud, and a trickle of fresh water with every quake; and maybe, it will be even better next time if the water turns to wine.

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Editor: Renée Picard

Image: Pixoto