Board hears Scott and Shasta flow update; staff to draft scientific basis reports and economic analysis under AB 263 timeline

The State Water Resources Control Board received an extended briefing on November 4 about flow implementation, monitoring and long‑term planning for the Scott and Shasta River watersheds.

Board staff framed the discussion as a two‑track effort: continuing implementation of the existing drought emergency flow requirements while preparing long‑term analysis to support future decisions. Dan Schultz and other Division of Water Rights staff said consultants are drafting scientific basis reports that will analyze fish benefits across a range of potential baseline minimum flows; those drafts will be released for public comment prior to peer review. An economic analysis is being prepared in parallel to estimate costs and benefits of implementing long‑term baseline flows and will include an agricultural production model under development in the Office of Research, Planning and Performance (ORPP).

AB 263: schedule and implementation flexibility Staff described AB 263, recently enacted by the Legislature and effective Jan. 1, which extends the current emergency regulation through Jan. 1, 2031 or until permanent rules are adopted, whichever comes first. AB 263 preserves the existing implementation flexibilities in the emergency regulation…