California Water Board Denies Permanent Flow Restrictions on Shasta River, Surprising Environmental and Fishing Groups

The State Water Resources Control Board in California has denied a petition by environmental and fishing groups seeking permanent instream flow restrictions on the drought-stricken Shasta River in Northern California. The decision was unexpected as both the water agency and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom have expressed a desire to make some emergency drought rules for rivers permanent to better insulate the state from recurring drought. The board already extended the emergency limits on the Scott and Shasta rivers during the drought in a December decision, but these temporary rules expire in February 2025. Environmental groups argued that permanent limits on diversions by local farmers were necessary to protect chinook salmon that are expected to return in greater numbers as dams come down on the nearby Klamath River.