State cuts off all diversions from Russian River

A bad dream many people feared came true on Monday as the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued curtailment orders to stop diverting water from the Russian River watershed or be fined.

In a statement issued Monday, the SWRCB announced water levels in Lake Mendocino were below minimum storage levels and in order to protect supply for people and wildlife, curtailment orders were issued to all 861 water right holders in the Upper Russian River. The order makes it illegal to draw or divert water from the Upper Russian River, except as needed to ensure human health and safety.

Each summer the state releases about 200 acre-feet a day from Lake Mendocino to maintain flows in the Upper Russian River. The supplemental water protects multiple fish species and municipal and agricultural uses, and during drought, accounts for all the water in the river.

Water managers are trying to ensure the lake does not fall below 20,000 acre feet before Oct. 1 in order to reserve enough storage to limp through another dry winter if needed.

“The lake is declining much faster than anticipated,” said Erik Ekdahl, Deputy Director for the Division of Water Rights. “If the depletions continue at this rate, the 20,000 acre feet, end-of-season minimum storage level could be reached almost six weeks ahead of schedule. The lake could be entirely empty by the end of the year, putting both people and wildlife in harm’s way.”

The curtailment order is enforceable by fines up to $1,000 a day or $2,500 for each acre foot diverted. Violations also could draw cease-and-desist demands that could result in fines of up to $10,000 per day, according to the SWRCB.

Curtailment orders for 222 claims in the lower river watershed are expected as early as next week.

For more information on the curtailments, notices of water unavailability visit https://www.waterboards.ca.gov