Water Rights Showdown: State Board to Weigh Scott-Shasta River Emergency Rules

State Water Board to Consider Readopting Scott-Shasta River Emergency Regulation

The State Water Resources Control Board will hold a crucial meeting on January 7, 2025, to consider readopting emergency regulations affecting water rights in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds. The meeting will be accessible to the public via webcast.

At its October 16, 2024, meeting, the State Water Board adopted Resolution No. 2024-0036 which, in part, directed staff to solicit input on whether to readopt the Emergency Regulation. As part of this process, staff were directed to solicit public comments on proposed changes to the regulation and alternatives to the readoption of an emergency regulation. Staff held a comment period that concluded on November 20th and hosted a public meeting to gather input on November 12th. Comments received were considered in the development of a draft proposed regulation released on December 27, 2024.

Comments on the December 27, 2025, draft proposed regulation were considered in this Notice, with minor changes made to proposed California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 875, subdivision (c)(2)(D). https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2025/jan/010725_4_cs1.pdf

The proposed regulations would establish minimum instream flow requirements and maintain the Board’s authority to curtail water diversions in these critical Northern California watersheds. This marks a potential extension of measures first implemented in 2021 to protect threatened fish populations, including Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead.

The virtual meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. and will be broadcast live through the Board’s website. Members of the public can access the webcast by visiting https://www.waterboards.ca.gov and clicking on the “Board Meeting” link. No registration is required to view the proceedings.

Those wishing to provide public comment should submit written comments to [email protected]. The Board will also accept oral comments during the meeting from attendees who register through the webcast platform.

Key items under consideration include modifications to groundwater monitoring requirements, provisions for alternative flow requirements in the Shasta River, and updated livestock watering regulations. The current emergency regulation expires on January 31, 2025.

For additional information about the proposed regulation or meeting procedures, interested parties can contact the Board’s Scott-Shasta Drought team at (916) 327-3113 or visit the dedicated webpage at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/scott_shasta_rivers/.

The State Water Board encourages stakeholder participation in this important discussion about water management in Northern California’s watersheds.

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx