Klamath Basin, Shasta and Scott River Collaborative Management 2013

These funds were used to hire an instream flow expert to draft a report detailing the flow necessary in the lower Scott River Canyon for passage of adult migrating Chinook salmon. The flow of the Scott River is impaired in the late summer and early fall period due to a combination of groundwater use causing groundwater table recession, surface water diversions for agricultural use, drought, and snowpack diminishment due in part to climate change. In order for fall-run Chinook salmon to persist in this watershed, they must be able to access their spawning grounds in a timely manner. To date, no comprehensive evaluations of the flow needs of Chinook salmon have been done. The Yurok Tribe therefore commissioned this effort so that sufficient flows could be obtained to pass these fish. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently in the process of scoping a much more comprehensive and detailed flow evaluation for both the Scott and Shasta Rivers and this work product is intended to be a preliminary estimate until more detailed efforts are completed by the State of California.

The benefit of this project is that salmon restoration agencies and water management agencies can determine by looking at the Scott River stream gauge, whether or not instream flow needs of salmon are being met during the fall migration period.