State Again Threatens Scott Valley’s Ag Wells Despite Coho Salmon Success

—Water curtailment re-adoption not supported by State’s own data on Scott River salmon

All ag well use in Scott Valley is being threatened again for 2022-2023 as the State Water Board considers re-adopting its current “emergency” regulations. Scott Valley is the only place in the state where all ag wells are being threatened, an unprecedented action by the Board. The Board has announced it will be taking public comments on a zoom call May 4th (2 pm - 4 pm) as it considers the re-adoption of curtailments for the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds.

—Group highlights unfair new state water regulations and misrepresentation of Scott Valley’s aquifer, fish, and agriculture practices

Etna and Fort Jones, CA—Family farmers and ranchers in rural Scott Valley, far-northern California are banding together as they face the potential loss of 100 percent of their irrigation water this summer due to unprecedented new drought emergency regulations for the Scott River by the State Water Resource Control Board (Board)—regulations unlike any others in the state.

Data shows Scott Valley’s aquifer is stable. But in light of this prolonged drought, we believe aquifer recharge is a preemptive action that will help all water uses and users. What is Recharge? During time of excess flow, surface water from the river is diverted into a ditch, then released at different locations and allowed to spread over dormant farm fields.

Coho salmon populations have seen a significant increase over the past 20 years in the Scott River. And, their life cycle needs don’t match what the State Water Board is demanding for flow levels in the Scott for 2022. Scott Valley AgWA’s well-referenced white-paper demonstrates why the SWB’s demands are unreasonable and unfair.