Scott River TMDL

The purpose of this website is to provide information on the Scott River TMDLs.
The Klamath Basin TMDL Fact Sheet provides general information about Scott and Klamath Rivers.

Scott River TMDL General Information
The Scott River is listed as impaired on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired water bodies for sediment and temperature impairments. Sediment and temperature impairments result from multiple human-caused factors. These factors are discussed in detail in the Scott River TMDL Staff Report.
A more succinct summary of the impairments, their drivers, and the actions required to improve water quality and support beneficial uses can be found in Chapter 4 of the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region, Section 4.2.9, beginning on Page 63 of 148.

Current Regulatory Efforts
On May 7, 2025, the North Coast Water Board adopted Order R1-2025-0011, renewing the Scott and Shasta TMDL Conditional Waivers of Waste Discharge Requirements through October 7, 2025. This renewal continues coverage of discharges from agricultural operations under the conditions and requirements of Order R1-2018-0018 while staff continues work on General Waste Discharge Requirements to supersede these Orders. Links to these relevant documents can be found below.

• R1-2025-0011 Waiver Renewal
• Staff Presentation Slides for R1-2025-0011 Adoption
• Staff Presentation Slides Updating the Board and Public on General Waste Discharge Requirement Efforts

• R1-2023-0005 Waiver Renewal
• R1-2018-0018 Scott River TMDL Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements

Towards development of General Waste Discharge Requirements, on January 31, 2025, staff issued notice of preparation for an Environmental Impact Report and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meeting to be held on March 3, 2025. Documents pertaining to that meeting can be found below.

• Access at the State Clearinghouse (SCH#2025020048)
  General Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Agricultural Operations in the Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds
• Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meeting Notice
• Initial Study for GWDRs
• CEQA Scoping Meeting Presentation

Emergency Drought Regulations and Minimum Instream Flow Targets
The State Water Resources Control Board established emergency minimum instream flow targets for the Shasta River in response to Governor Newsom’s drought emergency declaration in 2021. Efforts are currently underway to establish permanent instream flow requirements. More information on this program, curtailment status, and other details can be found as the Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds Emergency Regulation webpage .

Updates