The Scott River flows plummet toward critical levels. The USGS Fort Jones gauge (USGS 11519500) recorded a provisional 64.0 cfs on July 18, 2025, at 9:30 AM PDT, down from 136 cfs on July 7—a staggering drop of 72 cfs in 11 days, averaging 6.5 cfs per day. This leaves the river just 14 cfs above the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) mandatory minimum of 50 cfs for July. Without rain and with warm weather increasing irrigation demands, flows could breach this threshold within days, triggering curtailments that would halt water diversions, starting with junior rights holders.
Historically, July flows at Fort Jones have varied widely, with median flows around 85 cfs based on long-term USGS data. The current 64.0 cfs is roughly 75% of this historic median, signaling a severe departure from typical conditions and reflecting broader drought patterns in the region. In past dry years, such as 2014 and 2021, flows dipped below 50 cfs, prompting strict curtailments that disrupted farming operations. The current trajectory mirrors those critical periods, raising alarm for farmers and environmentalists alike.
