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To: Scott River Water Right Holders (sent to water right holders for which the Board has email addresses and to the Scott-Shasta Drought E-mail List)
Based on the current flow and upward trend of flows at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Jones gage, precipitation and flow forecasts, and low-water-demand in this season, this addendum provides for the suspension of surface water and groundwater curtailments in the Scott River watershed. Please note that prohibition on inefficient surface water diversions for livestock is still in effect and diverted surface water must not be used for inefficient livestock watering until the requirements of Section 875.7 of the Emergency Regulation (discussed in more detail below) are met.
Additional Information:
This is Addendum 6 to Order WR 2024-0024-DWR and Order WR 2024-0025-DWR (collectively Curtailment Orders) in the Scott River watershed. These Curtailment Orders are issued to support maintaining the minimum instream flow requirements established in the Emergency Regulation. Flows at the USGS Fort Jones gage have been at or above the September flow requirement (60 cfs) and generally increasing since November 8, 2024. Based on the current flow at the USGS Fort Jones gage and other available information (i.e., flow and precipitation forecasts, and potential water demand) the State Water Board suspends curtailments for all water users in the Scott River watershed. The prohibition on inefficient surface water diversions for livestock remain in effect until the initial requirements of Section 875.7 of the Emergency Regulation are met. Key initial conditions include a determination that sufficient flow has occurred to stimulate coho salmon migration in the mainstem and any relevant tributary, as well as connectivity requirements for the relevant tributary. Additional conditions that apply are that surface diversions are subject to bypass, redd protection, notification and record-keeping conditions. A separate email notification will be sent when the initial conditions are met and inefficient livestock water diversions may take place consistent with other requirements.
The State Water Board will continue to monitor flows, flow forecasts, and watershed conditions regularly to determine if further adjustments to the suspension of curtailments are appropriate.
Questions and How to Stay Informed
Please monitor your email and our website Scott River and Shasta River Emergency Regulation website (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/scott_shasta_rivers/) for future updates. If an email notice is issued on the weekend, the website will not be updated until the following Monday due to service limitations.
If you have questions regarding this email, please contact staff by email at:
ScottShastaDrought@waterboards.ca.gov or leave a message at our dedicated Scott River and Shasta River Drought phone line at: (916) 327-3113.
If you received this notice in a forwarded message and would like to receive future emails related to this and similar efforts, please sign up for the State Water Board’s “Scott-Shasta Drought” email subscription list under “Water Rights” at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe
Erik Ekdahl
Deputy Director
Division of Water Rights
Issued November 13, 2024
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