UPDATE on curtailment status of water rights and claims in the Delta watershed

This update from the State Water Board contains important information about the curtailment status of water rights and claims of right within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) watershed pursuant to orders that were issued on August 20, 2021 (Order for water rights/claims under 5,000 acre-feet and Order for water rights/claims over 5,000 acre-feet).  

There have been no changes to September curtailment statuses since August 27, 2021. Projected curtailment statuses for October are included below.  An updated Water Unavailability for the Delta Watershed Summary Report with information for October will be posted early next week on the Water Unavailability Methodology webpage.  Please check the Delta Watershed Curtailment Status List for the current curtailment status of each water right and claim in the Delta watershed.

The following priorities of water rights and claims remain curtailed for the month of September 2021, unless and until the State Water Board advises that this determination has been updated:

1. All post-1914 appropriative water rights in the San Joaquin River watershed, including all tributaries;
2. All pre-1914 appropriative water right claims in the San Joaquin River watershed, including all tributaries;
3. All riparian water right claims in the American River subwatershed upstream of Folsom Reservoir;
4. All riparian water right claims in the Calaveras River subwatershed that are outside of the Legal Delta;
5. A subset of Central Valley Project and State Water Project water rights in the Sacramento River watershed and in the Legal Delta; and
6. Pre-1914 claims and post-1914 appropriative rights on the following Sacramento River tributaries:
   1. Rights and claims in the Bear River subwatershed with a priority date of 1853 or later;
   2. Rights and claims in the Cache Creek subwatershed with a priority date of 1857 or later;
   3. Rights and claims in the Yuba River subwatershed with a priority date of 1908 or later;
   4. Rights and claims in the Putah Creek subwatershed with a priority date of 1923 or later; and
   5. Rights and claims in the Stony Creek subwatershed with a priority date of 1963 or later.

The following priorities of water rights and claims are curtailed for the month of October 2021, unless and until the State Water Board advises that this determination has been updated:

1. All post-1914 appropriative water rights and pre-1914 appropriative water right claims in the San Joaquin River watershed that are outside of the Legal Delta, including all tributaries;
2. All post-1914 appropriative water rights and all pre-1914 appropriative and riparian water right claims in the Calaveras River subwatershed that are outside of the Legal Delta;
3. All post-1914 appropriative water rights and pre-1914 appropriative water right claims in the Yuba River subwatershed;
4. All post-1914 appropriative water rights and pre-1914 appropriative water right claims in the Putah Creek subwatershed that are outside the Legal Delta;
5. A subset of Central Valley Project and State Water Project water rights in the Sacramento River watershed and in the Legal Delta; and
6. Some Pre-1914 claims and post-1914 appropriative rights on the following Sacramento River tributaries:
   1. Rights and claims in the American River subwatershed above Folsom Reservoir with a priority date of 1851 or later;
   2. Rights and claims in the Bear River subwatershed with a priority date of 1853 or later;
   3. Rights and claims in the Cache Creek subwatershed with a priority date of 1859 or later; and
   4. Rights in the Stony Creek subwatershed with a priority date of 1977 or later.

For those with limited internet access, a pre-recorded version of the summary above can be heard on the Delta Curtailment Status phone line at (916) 323-4643.

If you have any questions, you may send an email to Bay-Delta@waterboards.ca.gov or call the Delta Drought phone line at (916) 319-0960.