Early-Season Rain Builds Hope For Outdoor Recreation In ’17

The start of rainy season and its effects on the outdoors next year already are showing promise. The little-seen numbers from water agencies show there is a good chance of a great 2017 for camping at lakes and streams, as well as for boating, rafting, fishing and water sports.Over the weekend, I reviewed reports made by about 25 water districts to the state Department of Water Resources and federal Bureau of Reclamation. This is what I found:Northern California watersheds: Of 91 major recreation lakes, 68 are at or above 100 percent of normal for this date and another five are above 90 percent.