California Ranchers Call for Lift on Water Restrictions Amid Flooding in Northern County

Cattle ranchers in Siskiyou County, currently under a drought emergency order instituted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in January, are now grappling with significant flooding.

In February, heavy rainfall from “atmospheric rivers” has overwhelmed farms and ranches in the Scott River and Shasta River valleys. The governor’s executive order, which allows the California State Water Resources Control Board to implement emergency regulations and impose water-use limitations, is still in effect.

Newsom has repeatedly renewed the drought emergency over the years, and farmers and ranchers believe the time has come for the governor to lift it.

On February 18, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a local flood emergency.

Siskiyou County Supervisor Jess Harris (District 1) informed The Epoch Times that Siskiyou is the only county left under the drought emergency order while facing significant flooding.

“It’s the most absurd situation I’ve ever witnessed,” Harris remarked. “The state has declared a drought emergency for us, yet we are simultaneously dealing with a flood emergency at the county level.”

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Floodwaters have breached irrigation canals, washed out roads, and filled the Shasta, Scott, and Klamath rivers with debris. The county further warns of impending flooding along the tributaries of these rivers due to rising temperatures and snowmelt run-off.

Almost three years later, on September 4, 2024, the governor rescinded several portions of the order due to notable precipitation and improved conditions in many watersheds, particularly in the Sierra Nevada region.

The water board emphasizes that emergency regulations are essential due to “years of dry conditions” which continue to affect native fish populations like coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout.

The Scott and Shasta rivers are significant tributaries within the Klamath River watershed, serving as crucial water sources for Siskiyou County, as well as providing habitat for “federally and state-threatened coho salmon,” which hold considerable economic, ecological, and cultural significance for Native American tribes and local communities, according to the release.

Precipitation levels in the Klamath watershed improved substantially in 2023 and 2024 following the drought conditions of 2021-22, when flow levels in the Scott and Shasta rivers fell below the minimum thresholds set by the board. Though rainfall and snowfall have exceeded averages thus far this year, the board warns that conditions may shift.

“Consecutive years of dry weather have drastically diminished critical fish populations … prompting us to take action to safeguard their survival,” stated E. Joaquin Esquivel, chairman of the state water board. “Continuing the emergency regulation allows us to sustain minimum flows in the Scott and Shasta rivers and assists in recovery from the long-term impacts of drought.”

If the state is mistaken and there is sufficient water available for agricultural activities, the ongoing drought emergency regulations imposed by the governor could undue harm to the local economy for another year, Harris warned.

“They are jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless individuals. A 30 percent reduction in water usage translates to a 30 percent decrease in income for ranchers, as it limits the area available for hay production,” he explained. “Essentially, it’s akin to requesting a 30 percent pay cut from the government, yet they have no qualms about imposing that on ranchers, blaming them for the fish population decline.”

Without Newsom’s executive order, the water board would lack the authority to enforce water-use restrictions, which would lead to violations of adjudicated water rights, Harris added.

“They are utilizing this emergency declaration to infringe upon those water rights. This is their strategy to maintain control over the ranchers,” he stated.

It is paradoxical, he noted, that the state removed three dams in Siskiyou County—the only county still under a drought emergency order during flooding conditions.

When asked whether the demolition of the dams has contributed to increased water levels, especially in light of the recent winter storms, Ailene Voison, a spokesperson for the state water board, informed The Epoch Times via email that the dam removal has reopened approximately 400 miles of critical habitat for salmon and other species essential to the river’s ecosystem and the communities reliant on them.

However, since the dams had blocked the natural flow for over a century, Voison noted that “recovery for the species will require time” and that “the removal of the dams did not resolve the issues surrounding its tributary streams.”

In her email, Voison also stated the water board has “no comment” regarding whether ranchers and farmers have a valid argument for eliminating the drought emergency regulations.

“This is our third consecutive good water winter,” she stated. “If the state is unable to lift emergency restrictions during years like these, I fail to see when they would ever consider doing so.”

Dave Johnson remarked that water is flowing at about 10 cubic feet per second in a “dry gulch” on some leased land near their ranch.

“Locals say they’ve never observed it flowing,” he stated.

Both the Scott River and nearby creeks are now overflowing, and many hay and alfalfa fields are saturated or submerged, according to the Johnsons.

Debbie Bacigalupi, who operates a cattle ranch with her parents near Yreka in Siskiyou County, shared with The Epoch Times that the flooding has caused significant damage to their land.

“We have waterfalls forming in areas where they’ve never existed,” Bacigalupi noted.

For the first time this summer, a pond that has been utilized for decades will be empty due to a levee breach caused by the floodwaters, she stated.

“The sheer volume of water is utterly absurd for us still to be under a drought emergency order,” she commented. “We are dealing with extensive flooding and erosion. While not all our ditches are overflowing, many are breaking. The scale of the flow is immense—thousands of cubic feet are flowing downstream every second.”

“The farmers and ranchers are fatigued by the state water board’s opinions and are demanding evidence that their water curtailment strategies are actually producing any benefits,” he reported. “In a year with an abundance of water, it seems incomprehensible to impose additional curtailments.”

They feel “frustrated” by the irony of the situation, being instructed by the state water board to reduce water usage amid flooding conditions, he claimed.

The LCS plans represent the state’s approach to “coerce farmers and ranchers into complying with their wishes,” he stated.

Agreeing to an LCS may require ranchers to install meters on their wells “and navigate through numerous requirements” to receive a certain amount of water or risk facing a potential 95 percent reduction by September, Harris added.

“The state water board has perfected this process,” he said.

Bacigalupi asserted her family does not intend to sign an LCS agreement with the state.

“Where’s the proof that any of these strategies have yielded results?” she asked. “These individuals who lack direct knowledge or experience on the ground are devising these plans without having to face the repercussions of their actions.”

The LCS strategies are not properly “local cooperative solutions,” according to her, since the state dictates the restrictions.

He noted that Newsom was seeking to foster “a more collaborative method of water management” to protect aquatic life and water quality and mitigate litigation.

“This prompted us to devise these voluntary agreements,” Crowfoot said. “They are enforceable but deemed voluntary because they bring everyone together.”

Surveying the Flood

Lisa Mott, a resident of Montague with a ranching background in the Shasta Valley region, shared with The Epoch Times that she has not witnessed this level of flooding since 1997.

“The Shasta River has significantly exceeded flood levels during the two storms we have experienced,” she stated.

The first storm occurred in late December, more than a week prior to the governor renewing the drought emergency order; the second came during the first week of February, according to Mott.

“Even the Klamath River experienced flooding,” she noted. “The last storm certainly elevated the river substantially since we were already saturated from that December storm.”

The state is focusing attention on the Shasta and Scott rivers, as more water flow will be required for the Klamath River following the removal of the dams and reservoirs, Mott explained.

Photographer Mel Fechter from Scott Valley noted, “It was raining heavily” the day before the meeting in Etna.

“I truly sympathize with these farmers and ranchers,” he said, having spoken with many of them about state water restrictions.

“I genuinely cannot comprehend the reasoning of the state agencies,” he remarked.

“I have lived here nearly 50 years, and I have never seen as much standing water throughout the valley—not just flooding but ponds of standing water,” he added.

Competing Bills

In the meantime, two competing legislative bills—Assembly Bill 430 and Assembly Bill 263—addressing water restrictions have been introduced in the state Legislature this year.