To: Shasta River Watershed Water Right Holders
The flow at the Yreka United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage was 53.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 3:00 pm today, June 27, 2025, slightly greater than the required minimum flow of 50 cfs for May 1 – September 15. With minimal precipitation forecasted and warmer temperatures, increases in diversions are anticipated throughout the watershed. Based on current hydrologic conditions and other available information, the State Water Board is issuing Addendum 4 to Order WR 2024-0006-DWR.
Addendum 4 reinstates conditional curtailments for water rights in the Shasta River watershed through a priority date November 1, 1912. Water right diverters with a priority date of or junior to January 1, 1958 (see Attachment A for list of water rights) may divert under their priority of right when specific conditions outlined in the addendum (outlined below for convenience) are met. The remaining water right holders in Attachment A (between November 1, 1912 through December 31, 1957) are conditionally curtailed and are directed to work with the Scott Valley and Shasta Valley Watermaster District (Watermaster) and State Water Board, as appropriate, and if necessary curtail in order of priority to ensure the required minimum flows are met and sustained at the Yreka United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage.
Specific Conditions that Must be Met for Water Rights (with a priority date of or junior to January 1, 1958) to Divert. Water rights holders with a priority of or junior to January 1, 1958, must do all of the following while conditionally curtailed under this addendum:
- Prior to diverting water, the water right holder shall consult with and receive confirmation from the Watermaster there is water available for diversion under their priority of right and that such diversion will not impact other more senior water rights holders. The water right holder shall not divert until the Watermaster has confirmed that there is water available. The diverter shall document such consultation and confirmation (e.g., save emails), and provide records of such consultation upon request by the Board.
- The water right holder shall notify the Watermaster and State Water Board when diversion commences, including the amount of water being diverted and any changes to the diversion amount.
- The water right holder shall cease diversion immediately upon notification from the Watermaster or State Water Board that there is no longer water available under their priority of right, such that continued diversion will not provide for the minimum flow requirement to be met or a more senior water right holder to divert under their higher priority water right. The water right holder shall provide notification to the Watermaster and Board when such diversion has ceased.
- When diverting, the water right holder shall check the Yreka USGS gage and Department of Water Resources Shasta River at Grenada Pump Plant (SPU) gage at least daily. Additionally, the water right holder shall:
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- Reach out to the Watermaster and consult on flow conditions when flows at the Yreka USGS gage are at or below 55 cfs and flows at the SPU gage are declining. Water rights holders should reduce or cease diversions under such conditions to ensure flows are met and sustained at the Yreka USGS gage.
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- Under no circumstances divert when the minimum instream flow requirement is not being met at the Yreka USGS gage.
Failure to implement any of the above conditions is subject to enforcement under the Emergency Regulation.
The State Water Board will continue to monitor weather forecasts, stream gages, watershed conditions and regularly coordinate with the Watermaster to determine if further adjustments to curtailments are appropriate.
STAY INFORMED
To stay informed on future updates related to curtailments and the ongoing Emergency Regulation effort in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds, please:
- Monitor your email if you have subscribed to the “Scott-Shasta Drought & Flow Efforts” email list (you can subscribe to the Scott-Shasta Drought email list at GovDelivery under “Water Rights”); and/or
- Visit our Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds Emergency Regulation website (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/scott_shasta_rivers/). If an email list notice is issued on the weekend, the website will not be updated until the following business day due to limitations on implementing such updates.
If you have questions regarding this email, please contact staff by email to: ScottShastaFlows@waterboards.ca.gov or leave a message at our dedicated Scott River and Shasta River Emergency Regulation phone line at: (916) 327-3113.
