State Politician’s Legislation To Provide Klamath Watershed Salmon With More Water Gets Successful Assembly Vote
California Assemblymember Chris Rogers’ AB 263 bill, which in its initial introduction was created “to protect salmon populations in the Klamath River watershed and provide local agricultural operations with more certainty on river flows,” made it through a successful State Assembly vote today. This is what Rogers had previously said about his bill back in January:
“I’m proud to stand with the fishermen and Tribes of the North Coast to protect California’s fisheries,” said Assemblymember Rogers. “We have made tremendous strides to restore the salmon runs in the Klamath River but more must be done further upstream to ensure salmon populations can grow and flourish. This legislation will protect some of the most critical salmon habitat in California and will complement the restoration efforts associated with Klamath dam removal.”
Here’s today’s press release from Rogers’ office:
On Monday, AB 263 overwhelmingly passed the state Assembly. The bill protects salmon populations in two key tributaries of the Klamath River watershed by keeping minimum flow requirements in place until the State Water Board can establish new long-term flow regulations. The bill is now headed to the state Senate for their consideration.
“The current temporary flow requirements on the Shasta and Scott rivers are the first time everyone has had a seat at the table, including tribal voices,” said Assemblymember Rogers. “Historically, other interests have outweighed those of local tribes and the fishing industry in water rights, much to the detriment of salmon populations. While the State Water Board works on new long term regulations, maintaining minimum flows on these tributaries will insure the important salmon restoration projects in the Klamath watershed can continue to flourish, and provides certainty to farmers, fishermen, and tribal communities alike.”
AB 263 was introduced in partnership with the Karuk Tribe, California Coastkeeper Alliance, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association (PCFFA). The bill would maintain river flows for at-risk salmon runs on two critical Klamath River tributaries – the Scott and Shasta Rivers. Flow minimums were set by the State Water Board during the drought emergency declared by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021 and, under this legislation, would stay in place until the Board promulgates long term flow rules. Amendments taken in the Assembly added a five year sunset date.
Most of the wild Chinook salmon in the Klamath River, which powers the state’s commercial and sport fishing industries, are born in the Shasta River. The majority of the wild Southern Oregon/Northern California Coho salmon (a state and federally endangered species) spend part of their lifecycle in the Scott River.
