A coalition of fifty Tribes, environmental justice organizations, commercial fishing groups, recreational advocates, and conservation organizations has called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to oppose efforts to raise the height of Shasta Dam. In a letter addressed to the governor, the coalition expressed concerns over the Trump Administration’s push to advance the controversial project, which they argue violates state law and undermines California’s authority over water governance.
The Trump Administration recently allocated an extra $40 million for dam expansion planning. The project, which would raise the dam by 18.5 feet, has long been sought by Central Valley agricultural interests. Supporters say it will boost water storage and reliability for Central Valley agriculture, while critics point to environmental and legal concerns, especially its effects on the protected McCloud River.
The groups write, “The raise of Shasta Dam would be illegal under California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which expressly protects the McCloud River from further inundation, and it would represent an extraordinary federal overreach into matters of state authority and water governance. In fact, the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife have already declared that the project is illegal, and the California Attorney General has already taken this position in successful litigation.”
The letter states that the project would cause permanent damage to ecosystems, Tribal lands, and communities. It would flood 5,600 acres of forest, worsen salmon and steelhead habitat, and endanger many listed species. Raising Shasta Dam would further harm the Winnemem Wintu Tribe by destroying remaining cultural and sacred sites, after most of their ancestral land was lost during the dam’s initial construction.
“We thank you for your past support, and urge you to continue standing firm against this unlawful and destructive proposal and to make clear that California will not acquiesce to federal efforts that undermine our laws, our Tribes, and our rivers,” the letter concludes.
