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Modoc County watermaster warns of sharply reduced flows, some ditches may remain closed
Summary
Watermaster Ben Sylvia reported steep declines in creek and reservoir flows and warned that following decree rules some ditches may not open this summer; he described targeted "beneficial use" allocations.
Modoc Countywatermaster Ben Sylvia gave a stark update on March 24, saying snowpack and streamflow measures have fallen well below normal and that the county is preparing for a more constrained irrigation season.
"Last year at this time it was running about 650 cubic feet per second. This morning it was running at 51," Sylvia said when describing Boxler Dam flows and regional creek numbers. He reported similar steep year-over-year drops in Bidwell Creek, Pine Creek and other tributaries and said the division of decrees limits how water can be allocated.
Sylvia said staff have begun implementing "beneficial use" allocations and are notifying lower-priority water-right holders that their ditches may not be opened for the season. "Any ditch that has not been opened at this point probably will not be open for the summer," he told the board.
He also reported operational wins: settlement of a water-rights dispute between private parties in Surprise Valley and progress on resolving dam-fee and safety issues at Riles Reservoir through negotiations and fee remediation.
The board received the report with no immediate action; Sylvia and staff were asked to continue outreach to water users, to follow decree obligations and to return with updates as the irrigation season unfolds.
