Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Klamath Emergency Regs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State board readopts emergency Klamath watershed rules, extends curtailment tools for Scott and Shasta
Summary
The board readopted and amended an emergency regulation imposing minimum flows and curtailment procedures for the Scott and Shasta River watersheds, adding flexibility for local cooperative solutions, livestock watering exceptions under clocked findings, and directing continued work on groundwater modeling and local solutions.
Lede: The State Water Resources Control Board on June 21 readopted and amended an emergency regulation to maintain minimum flows and curtailments in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds of the Klamath Basin, a move board members described as necessary to protect returning salmon runs amid continued drought.
Nut graf: The readopted regulation retains minimum summer and fall flow thresholds recommended by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), adds clarified pathways for local cooperative solutions and limited livestock watering exceptions, and directs staff to continue work on model‑based groundwater evaluation and local recharge options. The board adopted the readoption (with change sheet #1) by unanimous roll‑call vote.
Body: CDFW briefed the board on the rationale for retaining and in a few cases refining minimum flows the Department recommended. Joe Crouteau (CDFW) summarized monitoring data and said recent juvenile counts and the department’s modeling supported maintaining summer ramp‑down and winter ramp‑up patterns in the Shasta and a summer ramp‑down in the Scott. CDFW also provided data showing a strong smolt production response in 2020 for brood years that motivated the emergency regulation last year: CDFW reported an estimated ~81,000 juveniles outmigrating for a 2020 cohort and calculated about 92 smolts produced per returning adult female for that cohort — numbers the department said showed the regulation likely had measurable benefits.
Board staff reviewed public comments and proposed refinements. The adopted change sheet adds (1) language recognizing ongoing hydrologic modeling and coordination with Siskiyou County on Shasta and Scott basin groundwater; (2) a main‑stem reach option in the criteria for livestock‑watering local cooperative solutions; and (3) clarified procedures for allowing limited livestock diversions when deputy director findings show the uses are not unreasonable and recharge or other benefits exist. Staff emphasized the regulation does not require reservoir releases to make up nonexistent natural flows and that curtailments are designed to protect remaining aquatic habitat during the most critical months.
Public comment: Tribes, fisheries groups and environmental organizations urged retention of flow thresholds and robust enforcement; agriculture and county representatives urged more flexibility and stronger emphasis on local cooperative solutions and recharge options. Multiple public commenters asked for clearer funding paths for local cooperative solutions and for inclusion of SISKIYOU County groundwater models in the planning and modeling work; staff incorporated those directions into the resolution and change sheet.
Board action and outcome: The board unanimously approved readoption of the emergency regulation with the proposed amendments and change sheet. Staff will continue development of the Scott Valley integrated hydrologic model and collaborate with Siskiyou County on Shasta model work, accept and evaluate local cooperative solution proposals, and implement the clarified livestock‑watering provisions.
Ending: Board members said the emergency readoption reflects a balance between fisheries protection and seeking workable local solutions, and asked staff to report progress on cooperative solutions, model results and funding opportunities at future meetings.
