Fill the ditches, fill the sponge in Scott Valley
If you have stockwater rights in Scott Valley, now's the time to open your ditches--if they're not full already from runoff. State Water Board permits it now, since the river has exceeded 500 cfs (it's at 1,100 cfs and climbing!). But in order to be compliant with the Emergency Drought Regulation that’s still in place, stockwater diverters must:
- Email ScottShastaDrought@waterboards.ca.gov in advance of diverting, with the following info: 1) Diverter's name and contact info; 2) Point of diversion and water right under which the diversion will occur; and 3) Anticipated diversion rate.
- No redds (spawning beds) can be dewatered.
- Access to State Water Board and CDFW staff must be allowed to inspect the diversion and surrounding area.
- Diversion must be limited to no more than 20% of the instream flow, as measured or estimated.
- Your tributary must stay connected (unless you are on the mainstem, or your trib was not connected before).
- You must keep records of your diversions and provide them to SWB and CDFW upon request.
- See the SWB’s full order to confirm these details. One thing they didn’t mention was fish screens, which of course will have to be operational prior to diversion.
Winter stockwatering in ditches has historically done important groundwater recharge in Scott Valley. So why have we largely been prohibited from doing it? The Emergency Regulation, in place since August 2021, prohibits "inefficient livestock watering" in "leaky ditches" between September and March 31, even if there's no curtailment in effect. So, aside from a brief period between January 9 and January 22, Scott Valley hasn’t been allowed to water our stock in ditches this cold season (or most of last winter). The SWB did issue an exception this winter: now, when the river exceeds 500 cfs, stockwatering in ditches is allowed. So let’s fill our ditches, and fill the sponge! If our aquifer fills up and our snowpack is at 100% or more come April, we think the State will have a hard time arguing that the drought emergency persists in Scott Valley.
