California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
In response to continuing dry conditions in the Scott and Shasta Rivers, and a request from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Resources Control Board readopted and updated an emergency curtailment regulation.
Curtailments in the Scott River are expected to be reimposed this summer. In the Shasta River, curtailments of water rights acquired after 1912 were reinstated March 15. The number of right holders who may be curtailed is yet to be determined.
“Amendments in the regulation adopted today provide opportunities for right holders to shoulder the response to this crisis more evenly through local cooperative solutions as alternatives to curtailments,” said Erin Ragazzi, an assistant deputy director with the Division of Water Rights. “Just as importantly, they also facilitate opportunities to extend a problem-solving dialogue among stakeholders so that we can develop long-term solutions for the coming years.”
Changes to the original regulation – which would have expired in August – clarify emergency drought requirements, update the minimum flow levels based on recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, extend the inefficient livestock watering ban through March and include a local cooperative solution for livestock diversions during the prohibition period.
Additional revisions include administrative improvements and updated definitions and exceptions.
The State Water Board issued the initial curtailment orders in the Scott and Shasta watersheds on Sept. 9-10, 2021.
