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To: Water Right Holders in the Scott River Watershed (sent to water right holders for which the Board has email addresses and to the Scott-Shasta Drought E-mail List)
Today, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued two curtailment orders for the Scott River watershed, which curtail surface and groundwater rights except for health and safety use, non-consumptive uses, minimum livestock-watering, approved local cooperative solutions, and pending groundwater local cooperative solutions:
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Order WR 2024-0024-DWR (Order Imposing Water Right Curtailment and Requiring Reporting for Surface Water Rights in the Scott River Watershed); and
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Order WR 2024-0025-DWR (Order Imposing Water Right Curtailment and Requiring Reporting for Adjudicated Groundwater Rights and Known Groundwater Diversions Associated with Parcels Listed in Attachment A in the Scott River Watershed).
More details on implementation of the Orders are provided below.
Flows in Scott River are below the July minimum instream flow requirement of 50 cubic feet per second. Last week, the State Water Board delayed the issuing of these curtailment orders in light of the Shelly Fire and evacuation orders and requested voluntary water diversion reductions for those unaffected by the fire. But flows have continued to decline, the fire is significantly more contained, and most evacuation orders have been lifted or downgraded to warnings. These orders direct the immediate cessation of all diversions under the included water rights, unless suspended, until water supply conditions improve in the watershed.
The State Water Board is aware of the active Shelly fire in the Scott Valley watershed and has included extensions on curtailment certifications during evacuations. If you are under an evacuation order or warning, this timeframe is extended until fifteen (15) days after the lifting of any evacuation order or warning affecting the place of use of water for the rights in Attachment A or affecting your access to necessary information or the ability to log on for reporting. More information regarding Human Health and Safety firefighting exemptions and reporting extensions can be found below.
Required Online Reporting
Both Orders require diverters to complete an online form certifying that they are complying with the Order. In light of the active fire, please note that this timeframe is extended until fifteen (15) days after the lifting of any evacuation order affecting the place of use of water for the rights in Attachment A or affecting your access to necessary information or the ability to log on for reporting. The Deputy Director may further extend the deadline for good cause, and the State Water Board recognizes that protection of life and property in these active fire areas may prevent a response within the timelines described in the State Water Board’s curtailment orders. If you need further extension of the timeframe for curtailment response in light of wildfires, please contact us at the information below once it is possible for you to do so.
Continued Diversions for Minimum Human Health and Safety, Minimum Livestock Needs, or Instream Use
You may also submit the applicable form(s) to request a limited exception for continued diversion for minimum human health and safety needs, minimum livestock needs, or instream uses. The login and password information for completion of the forms is provided in Attachment A of the Orders. Even “curtailed” diversions can continue for these approved uses.
Additional Information and Resources
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