From the State Water Board:
After review of hydrologic forecasts and real-time data, the Division of Water Rights is announcing the temporary suspension of certain curtailments in the Russian River Watershed. Please review the information below for specific information and continue to monitor the Russian River Drought Response webpage for additional updates on the end of the temporary suspensions or final lifting of curtailments. Temporary curtailment suspensions are likely to last until at least November 1st. Division staff will continue to reevaluate the suspensions as conditions and forecasts change.
Lower Russian River Watershed
The Lower Russian River Watershed is the area of the watershed that drains toward Dry Creek or the Russian River downstream of its confluence with Dry Creek. The Division of Water Rights is temporarily suspending all curtailments in the Lower Russian River Watershed, effective 12:00 am, Thursday, October 21, 2021.
Upper Russian River Watershed
The Upper Russian River Watershed is the remaining area of the watershed, draining towards the Russian River’s confluence with Dry Creek. The Emergency Regulation requires that curtailments remain in place until storage releases are no longer necessary for maintaining flows downstream of the lake. Fortunately, the storms currently forecasted for the Russian River watershed are anticipated to increase inflows to Lake Mendocino and decrease the need for storage releases. As a result, the Division of Water Rights anticipates announcing suspension of certain curtailments in the Upper Russian River Watershed as early as 12:00 pm, Friday October 22, 2021.
Because of the dynamic conditions, right holders should continue to monitor the Russian River Drought Response webpage for announcements on the latest status. All future updates on curtailment statuses, for both the Upper and Lower watersheds, will be posted on this webpage and distributed through email (Lyris) notifications.
Please note that these curtailment suspensions are temporary. Should dry conditions return, the suspensions may end and right holders would again be subject to curtailment.
If you have any questions, please contact the Russian River Drought Response Team at RussianRiverDrought@waterboards.ca.gov or (916) 341-5318.
