The Scott and Shasta Rivers are two of the Klamath Basin's most important salmon strongholds. As flows trickle below minimum standards in the Scott and salmon populations decline below depensation thresholds in the Shasta, the North Coast Water Board is considering another five-year extension of a temporary water-quality program.

The Scott and Shasta Rivers remain at the center of some of California’s most important salmon recovery and water management decisions. As the first full summer following the Klamath dam removal, 2026 is providing both encouraging signs and significant challenges.

After months of meetings, negotiations, technical review, late-night document digging, threats of litigation, and challenging conversations about the future of the Shasta River, Siskiyou County has rescinded approvals for two proposed irrigation wells in the Shasta Valley and withdrawn the associated Public Trust findings, CEQA exemption, and determinations of no significant impact.

The California State Water Resources Control Board decides how water in our rivers is shared between farms, cities, and fish. Right now, they are deciding how much water must stay in the Shasta River to protect salmon by establishing baseline minimum flows.

Earlier this June, EPIC had the extraordinary opportunity to take to the skies with EcoFlight, a nonprofit dedicated to illuminating environmental issues through the unique vantage of aerial perspective.

EPIC is currently involved in 7 active lawsuits, 17 coalitions and collaboratives, and countless other environmental advocacy efforts.

On January 7, the CA State Water Resources Control Board adopted Emergency Minimum Instream Flow Regulations for the Scott & Shasta Rivers.