Scott and Shasta Watersheds – Inefficient Livestock Watering Migration Provisions Met

To:  Water Right Holders in the Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds (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) received notification from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) that flows sufficient for coho and Chinook salmon migration have occurred in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. The Scott River and Shasta River watersheds have and will continue to receive significant precipitation in the coming week. The purpose of the email is to notify diverters in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds of the opportunity to divert additional water for livestock under the conditions outlined below. Parties that want to divert for livestock need to confirm the following criteria outlined in the Emergency Regulation are met before diverting surface water for livestock:  

1. The diverter shall notify the waterboards at ScottShastaDrought@waterboards.ca.gov with: their Name, Water Right Number and POD, anticipated diversion amount, plans to track compliance, and maintain records.  
2. There are no active curtailments in the respective watershed. (Curtailments were fully lifted in the Shasta River on October 31, 2024 and in the Scott River on November 13, 2024.)   
3. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has made two determinations that flows have been sufficient to stimulate salmon migration. 
   a) After September 1st for fall-run Chinook salmon (CDFW provided determination of Chinook migration for the Shasta River on October 24, 2024, and for the Scott River on November 22, 2024.) 
   b.) After November 1st coho salmon migration (CDFW provided determination of coho migration on the Scott and Shasta rivers on November 22, 2024.) 
   
4. If applicable, the relevant tributary is and remains connected to the mainstem (except Moffett Creek in the Scott River watershed)  
5. The diversions are operated to bypass 90 percent of flow at the point of diversion except that when flows exceed those listed below in the relevant watershed, the diversions may operate to bypass 80 percent of flow:  
   a) Scott River watershed when flows at the United States Geological Survey gage 11519500 located downstream of the city of Fort Jones at the northern end of Scott Valley (Scott River Mile 21), in cubic feet per second, are greater than 62 in September; 134 from October 1-15; 139 from October 16-31; 266 in November; 337 in December; 362 in January (Regulation expires January 31, 2025).   
   b) Shasta River watershed when flows are greater than 220 cubic feet per second at the United States Geological Survey gage 11517500 located near Yreka.  
6. The diversions are operated to avoid disturbing redds.  

As background, the Emergency Regulation includes a requirement that generally places limitations on inefficient diversions for livestock watering (generally unlined earthen ditches) from September through March. See California Code of Regulations, section 875.7. 

If you have questions regarding this email, please contact staff by email to:  ScottShastaDrought@waterboards.ca.gov or leave a message at our dedicated Scott River and Shasta River Drought phone line at: (916) 327-3113.