From the State Water Board:
As we progress from fall to winter, many watersheds across California continue to experience historic dry conditions, with insufficient water available to meet demands. As of today (Tuesday, October 19th) conditions are inadequate to lift curtailments. Current forecasts show the potential for precipitation in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds over the coming week. Staff are using data from prior years’ storm events to estimate the instream response that may be realized and maintained as a result of precipitation events. Please look online or signup for the Scott-Shasta Drought email subscription list for the latest information about the status of curtailments (see below).
The State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights will continue to closely monitor hydrologic forecasts and real-time conditions, relying on data from the California-Nevada River Forecast Center and other sources, and are evaluating how precipitation events may affect water availability and whether streamflow conditions warrant short-term, temporary suspension of curtailments moving forward.
If conditions warrant, notice of periodic opportunities to divert water during storm events will be distributed on a real-time basis via web postings and emails to the “Scott-ShastaDrought” email subscription (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.html) (select “Water Rights” and then “Scott-Shasta Drought”). Notices will not be mailed out.
If specific water rights are authorized to divert, they will be identified on the Scott and Shasta Drought Response webpage (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/scott_shasta_rivers/). On the webpage, curtailment lists can be found under the drop-down menu labeled “Curtailment Orders, Lists, and Reporting Portal (forms)”, which is located under the “Drought Response Topics” section.
Conditions in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds (e.g., dry soil, depressed groundwater levels) may limit the immediate impact of early precipitation on streamflows, but additional precipitation events are expected to result in sustained instream flow increases.
If you have questions, please contact Division of Water Rights staff by email at: ScottShastaDrought@waterboards.ca.gov or by calling the dedicated phone line: (916) 327-3113.
