Sections of California’s Scott River have dried up this year raising concerns over the survival of salmon that rely on the river to reach their spawning grounds.
The river, near the California Oregon border is partly sustained by groundwater and melting snow. This year extremely low snowfall and unusually warm conditions have sharply reduced water availability. The snowpack measured only 1% of its average level on May 1.
Environmental groups have criticised state water regulators for not doing enough to protect river flows particularly by limiting groundwater pumping by farmers. The state had already ordered farms to stop taking water directly from the river in June and asked growers to reduce groundwater use by about 30%.
State officials, however said the exceptionally low snowpack was the main reason for the river’s low flows and noted that the Scott River can dry up even when water diversions and pumping are limited.
The Scott River is an important habitat for Chinook and coho salmon which return from the ocean to spawn. Environmental and tribal groups have urged the state to strengthen regulations and establish permanent minimum flow protections for the river.
The river has also experienced dry sections in previous drought years, including 2021, 2022 and 2023. Advocates warn that continued drying could prevent salmon from reaching their spawning areas and increase disease risks if fish become concentrated in smaller sections of the river.
Farmers say extreme drought and shrinking snowpack linked to climate change are major factors and have proposed measures such as groundwater recharge and additional water storage.
State officials said they are working on broader measures to support salmon recovery while environmental and fishing groups are calling for stronger long term management of water flows.