The creek that runs through my place was almost dry last week but for a few potholes. We had our first really cold snap since then. We only had about 3/10 inch rain with no runoff, five days ago. Yesterday, I noticed the pot holes seemed fuller, and today there is a trickle of water going between them. Is this simply groundwater no longer being used by the trees and shrubs that is being released into the creek? I never noticed this in the three previous early winters we have lived here because of sufficient rain to keep plenty of surface flow going. We are now into our fifth straight month with very little rain.