Scott River and Shasta River. Instream Flow Study Plan Development Orientation Meetings November 13 and 14, 2012

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1 Scott River and Shasta River Instream Flow Study Plan Development Orientation Meetings November 13 and 14, 2012

2 Scott River Meeting November 13, 2012 Fort Jones Community Center 6 8 pm East Street Fort Jones, CA

3 Shasta River Meeting November 14, 2012 Holiday Inn Express Yreka 6 8 pm 707 Montague Road Yreka, CA

4 Agenda Introduction Background information Introduction of the Project Team Purpose of the meeting Overview of our process Milestones Questions

5 Background Shasta and Scott Rivers identified as high priority watersheds Ongoing declines in the fish population Recent efforts to initiate a regulatory frame work were unsuccessful Addressing the problem will require all interests participate

6 Priority Streams List 2008 Priority Streams List for Instream Flow Assessment Prepared by the Department of Fish and Game Pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) Section August 8, Rank Stream or Watercourse DFG Region and County 1 Butte Creek 2 Butte 2 Tuolumne River (below La Grange Dam) 4 Stanislaus 3 San Gregorio Creek (lower) 3 San Mateo 4 North Fork of Navarro River 1 Mendocino 5 Big Sur River 4 Monterey 6 Santa Maria River 5 Santa Barbara 7 Redwood Creek (tributary to Maacama) 3 Sonoma 8 Bear River (below Camp Far West) 2 Placer and Nevada 9 Shasta River 1 Siskiyou 10 Carmel River 4 Monterey 11 Santa Margarita River 6 Riverside 12 Merced River (below Crocker-Huffman Dam) 4 Merced 13 Redwood Creek (tributary to Napa) 3 Napa 14 Scott River 1 Siskiyou 15 Mattole River (near Whitethorn) 1 Humboldt 16 Dry Creek (tributary to Napa River) 3 Napa 17 Deer Creek (tributary to Yuba River) 2 Nevada 18 Mojave River 6 Riverside 19 Carpinteria Creek 5 Santa Barbara 20 Santa Ana River 6 Riverside, San Bernardino 21 Middle Fork Feather River 2 Plumas 22 Dos Pueblos Creek 5 Santa Barbara

7 Flow Studies Planned, Underway, and Finishing on DFG Priority Streams in 2012/2013 Studies Planned: Scott River Shasta River Deer Creek (Delta Trib) Middle Feather River (Delta Trib) Lower Bear River (Delta Trib) Studies Underway: Big Sur River Lower Butte Creek (Delta Trib) Merced River (Delta Trib) Stanislaus River (Delta Trib) Tuolumne River (Delta Trib) Studies Finishing 2012/2013: Santa Maria River Shasta River Canyon Reach

8 Statement of the Problem Endangered populations of salmon and steelhead continue to decline in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds because of loss of habitat due to low streamflows during some seasons

9 Adult Coho Salmon

10 Limiting Factors/Issues for Coho Salmon in the Shasta River High water temperature Low dissolved oxygen Interception of groundwater/springs Limited riparian habitat Mark Fish passage barriers Nutrient loading Recruitment of spawning gravels Siltation of gravels

11 Limiting Factors/Issues for Coho Salmon in the Scott River Water temperature Groundwater extraction Lack of flood plain connectivity Altered flow regime Lack of riparian habitat on mainstem Sediment load Fish passage barriers

12 Estimate of Unimpaired and Impaired Monthly Flows in the Shasta River (Presented by B. Bennet, DWR, Lower Klamath Basin Science Conference, June 2004) Impaired Unimpaired 350 Mean Monthly Flow (CFS Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Month

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14 Loss of Floodplain and Channel Characteristics

15 Public Resources Code : Division 10. Streamflow Protection Standards The Director of Fish and Game shall prepare proposed streamflow requirements, which shall be specified in terms of cubic feet of water per second, for each stream or watercourse identified pursuant to Section Upon completion of the proposed streamflow requirements. the Director shall transmit these requirements to the State Water Resources Control Board. The State Water Board shall consider these requirements when exercising its water rights authority

16 Project Team CA Department of Fish and Game Jennifer Bull, Project Manager Mark Wheetley, Project Spokesperson Caitlyn Bean, role on project Bob Hughes, role on project Robert Holmes, role on project Bill Chesney, role on project Gary Smith, role on project

17 Project Team Normandeau Associates, Inc. Curt Thalken, Project Manager Karen Ciocia, Facilitator Thomas Payne, IFIM Specialist (Expert) Kyle Brown and Dena Horton, Project Assistants

18 Project Team ICF International Negotiation Guidance Associates Dr. Richard Harris Douglas Parkinson & Associates Tetra Tech

19 Purpose of the Meeting(s) The purpose of the meetings is pursuing a collaborative process to address the current balance between instream and out of stream water use in the Scott Shasta Valley.

20 What are we identifying? What are the various uses for water within the two basins? What is the economic and environmental impacts of the competing uses? How do we balance streamflows that protect fish while minimizing impacts on water diversions?

21 Objectives Identify stakeholders/interests Balance water users needs with flow needed to protect fish Collect information. minimize impacts on water diversions and balance available water needs to best serve stakeholders

22 Priorities Coordination with stakeholders to lay the ground work for the future identification of flow regimes that will improve conditions for fish Ensure that stakeholders have multiple opportunities for participation and input

23 Project Team Roles CDFG Project Manager CDFG Project Spokesperson Consultant Project Manager Facilitator Expert Science Team Lead

24 CA Department of Fish and Game Hosting two orientation meetings Hosting two workshops and two summary meetings Pursuing a collaborative process to address the current balance between instream and out of stream water use in the Scott/Shasta Valley Gather information to be used to help determine instream flows

25 Overview of Process Orientation Meetings Introduce the process and project team Present the timeline Opportunity for answering questions Ask for workshop participants

26 Overview of Process LIAM Workshops Legal Institutional Analysis Model (LIAM) Successfully used in other states Designed to enhance issue identification, stakeholder participation, and common understanding Structured Process All day workshop with 2 4 person teams working together

27 Overview of Process LIAM Workshop Summary Meetings Project Team summarizes results from LIAM workshops Less formal than workshop drop by format Opportunity for public comment and additional questions

28 Overview of Process Expert Science Team Made up of Scientists and stakeholder representatives Sifts through all information gathered, as well as existing information on which recommendations are based Develops study plans, if necessary

29 Overview of Process Stakeholder participation to balance competing water needs Orientation meeting LIAM workshops Web site Expert Science Team Study Plan Presentation Public Meeting

30 Overview of Process Web page

31 Milestones Orientation Meetings November 2012 LIAM workshops December 2012 LIAM summary meetings December 2012 Expert Science Team January to April 2013 Study Plan Presentation Spring 2013

32 Stakeholder Input Needed Anyone else we should be including? Workshops who signs up and how Stakeholder committee Expert Science Team Web site feedback loop comments, questions

33 Questions? Thank you! questions and comments to