To: Shasta River Watershed Water Users from the State Water Board
Flows in the Shasta River watershed are declining. All diverters are encouraged to coordinate their diversions with the Scott Valley and Shasta Valley Watermaster District (Watermaster) and to reduce or cease diversions as flows decrease to maintain the minimum instream flows. Such concerted efforts may allow flows to remain above the minimum flow requirement without the imminent reinstatement of curtailments or may limit the depth or duration of curtailment.
As background, the State Water Resource Control Board’s Emergency Regulation provides authority to curtail water rights to meet minimum instream flow requirements. In the Shasta River watershed, the minimum flow requirement is 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Yreka United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage (Yreka USGS gage) from May 1-September 15. Flows at the Yreka gage decreased to 55.6 cfs last Wednesday (6/18) and briefly trended upward over the weekend, likely due to coordinated diversions and cooler weather. Flows are again declining with a flow of 64.9 cfs at the Yreka gage as of 1:00 pm today (6/24). Flows in the last two days are dropping at approximately 16 cfs per day.
With minimal forecasted precipitation in the Shasta River watershed and forecasted warm temperatures, flows are expected to continue an overall decreasing trend and are anticipated to approach or fall below the minimum flow requirement absent curtailment or significant coordination of diversions.
The State Water Board is monitoring the hydrology in Shasta River watershed and hopeful that concerted local coordination in the watershed to address water demands and meet the flow requirement can delay or avoid the need for curtailment. You can track the current flow at the Yreka USGS gage by visiting the Yreka USGS gage’s webpage here (note you’ll want to click the “Discharge, cubic feet per second” option under the “Data Type” section near the bottom of the page to see the flow in cfs).
If flows are anticipated to drop below the 50 cfs at the Yreka USGS gage between May 1 – September 15, the State Water Board will reinstate curtailments for the Shasta River watershed, requiring coordination of diversions and curtailment of junior water rights, to meet and maintain the minimum flow requirement. Additional curtailments may be issued to ensure that flows do not fall below the minimum flow requirement.
UPDATED PENALTIES
On January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 460 went into effect, which increases the potential penalties associated with violations of curtailment orders. Please continue coordinating with the Watermaster and State Water Board as flows decrease and ensure to check your email (see how to sign up for email directly below) or the Board’s Emergency Regulation webpage regarding the status of curtailments.
HOW TO RECEIVE UPDATES
If you would like to receive email updates about the emergency regulation for the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds, please sign up for the State Water Board’s “Scott-Shasta Drought & Flow Efforts” email subscription list under “Water Rights” at: California Water Boards (govdelivery.com).
QUESTIONS
If you have questions regarding this notice, please email: ScottShastaFlows@waterboards.ca.gov or leave a message at our dedicated emergency regulation phone line at: (916) 327-3113.
