SISKIYOU COUNTY — Flows in the Scott River are dropping fast, and state regulators are warning water users that without immediate conservation and coordination, mandatory curtailments are coming — along with fines that just got a lot steeper.
The California State Water Resources Control Board issued a notice Monday to Scott River watershed water users stating that flows have been declining since April 13 and are now approaching the minimum instream flow requirement of 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) for May. As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, the Fort Jones U.S. Geological Survey gage recorded flows at 211 cfs — down roughly 15 cfs per day in recent days.
With no significant precipitation in the forecast, warmer-than-average temperatures expected, and virtually no snowpack left in the watershed, the State Water Board anticipates flows will continue their downward slide and could fall below the 150 cfs threshold absent voluntary cutbacks.
The New Penalty Landscape
While no curtailments are currently in effect, the Board emphasized that penalties for violations have increased dramatically since the last irrigation season. Assembly Bill 460, which took effect January 1, 2025, raises the maximum penalty for violating a curtailment order from $500 per day to $10,000 per day, plus an additional $2,500 for every acre-foot diverted in violation. Other violations of Board regulations or orders now carry a maximum fine of $1,000 per day, up from $500.
The Board is encouraging all diverters to coordinate and conserve now in hopes of delaying — or avoiding entirely — the need for mandatory curtailments. Minimum flow requirements drop to 125 cfs from June 1–23, and to 90 cfs for June 24–30, but the immediate concern is maintaining flows above the May threshold.
What Happens Next
The Board plans to take an additional flow measurement to confirm the accuracy of the Fort Jones USGS gage data. Water users can monitor real-time flow conditions at the USGS Fort Jones gage webpage, selecting “Discharge, cubic feet per second” under the data options.
If curtailments become necessary, they will be implemented in order of water rights priority.
Water users seeking updates can subscribe to the State Water Board’s “Scott-Shasta Flow Efforts” email list under “Water Rights” at the California Water Boards website. Questions can be directed to [email protected] or by calling the dedicated emergency regulation phone line at (916) 327-3113.
