CDFW Awards Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (SGMA) $1 Million for Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CDFW Awards Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (SGMA) $1 Million for Project
SISKIYOU COUNTY, CA - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) awarded the Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, specifically its Sustainable Groundwater Management Act program (SGMA), $1 Million to address threats to water resources and make progress towards the goals of the Scott Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
Through this grant, staff will continue the groundwater recharge project developed by Scott Valley Irrigation District (SVID) where the primary intention of the project is to evaluate ditch water potential for groundwater recharge and streamflow augmentation. Monitoring data and the Scott Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model (SVIHM) will be used to evaluate ditch water infiltration at different locations, times, and conditions to develop strategies to optimize groundwater recharge and support instream flows.
“SVID is thankful for this opportunity to continue research into groundwater recharge and ditch infiltration in Scott valley. One of our goals is to develop a deeper understanding of how to better use water abundance when we have been getting less snowfall than in the past. We look forward to working with CDFW and the other cooperators in hopes of supporting an abundant fish population all while keeping the vibrant agriculture community strong in the Scott Valley.” Said Jim Morris, SVID President.
Other projects funded by CDFW include:
- Hole in the Ground Ranch Conservation – Montague Water Conservation District
- Upper Shasta River Fish Passage – Montague Water Conservation District
- Above Dwinnell Diversion Assessment and Planning - Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District
- Supplementation of Coho in Big Springs – Karuk Tribe
- Big Springs Ranch Habitat Improvement – Karuk Tribe
- Shasta Safe Harbor Habitat Improvement – California Trout, Inc.
- Scott River Tailings Reach Watershed Restoration – Yurok Tribe
- Scott River Tailings Restoration Planning – Scott River Watershed Council
- Water Conservation and Fisheries Enhancement – Siskiyou County Farm Bureau
- McKinney Post Fire - Emergency Restoration Project –Yurok Tribe
“We know that the Shasta and Scott Valleys are integral to the strength and health of the Klamath Basin and its fish population. Thanks to CDFW and the recent funding, we have an incredible opportunity to build upon the other ventures and efforts that have transpired and are currently taking place by landowners and other stakeholders in the Shasta and Scott Valleys.” Said District 3 Supervisor, Michael Kobseff.
Background
In late 2022, CDFW announced the availability of $200 million in new funding for restoration, including $100 million in emergency drought funding for protecting salmon against drought and climate change. Funding under the Addressing Climate Impacts and Nature-Based Solutions initiatives provides grant funding for projects addressing water and habitat impacted by climate, as well as restoring wetlands and mountain meadows, and creating wildlife corridors. On March 7, 2023, CDFW announced its first round of awards totaling $22.5 million for 19 projects from this funding.
Awards were given to 10 projects in the area (listed above) demonstrating support from and collaboration with Tribes and landowner interests in the Shasta and Scott rivers and their watersheds. These include habitat improvement, removal of barriers to fish passage and groundwater recharge projects. CDFW is also awarding $9 million from the same fund to Tribes in the Klamath River mainstem for post-McKinney Fire debris flow damage remediation, slope and sediment stabilization, and restoration for salmonids.
To learn more about each project, please visit the CDFW Drought - Protecting Salmon Grant Awards informational site.
For additional information about SGMA, visit the County of Siskiyou Natural Recourses page.
*Photo provided by Giuliano Galdi, UC Cooperative Extension.
Released May 8, 2023.
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