Water Rights along the Winnemem Waywaket
Water Rights
Water rights on the Winnemem Waywaket are administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), which oversees the allocation and use of water resources in the state. The Board issues permits and licenses for water use, and is responsible for enforcing regulations related to water rights and water quality. The water rights on the McCloud River are primarily held by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) as well as timber and municipal users. Aside from PG&E, the largest water rights holders in the area include Fisher, McCloud Community Services District, McCloud River Partners, Haas, and the Betty Cooley Trust, each of which holds over 1,000 AF of water rights within the McCloud River watershed, HUC #18020004.
A query of the database for water rights within the McCloud River watershed (HUC 18020004), results in 130 existing water rights on the McCloud River water rights held by 40 distinct water users, with a total face value of 1,434,008 acre-feet.
Water rights holders in the watershed with the largest allocation include PG&E, Fisher, McCloud Community Services District, McCloud Partners LLC, Haas, and the Betty Cooley Trust. Not all large water right holders in the watershed are in a location that would benefit existing fish plantings and are unsuitable for instream dedications at this time.
Water Rights in the Basin
A query of the database for water rights within the McCloud River watershed (HUC 18020004), results in 130 existing water rights on the McCloud River water rights held by 40 distinct entities, with a total face value of 1,434,008 acre-feet. Water rights holders in the watershed with the largest allocation include PG&E, Fisher, McCloud Community Services District, McCloud Partners LLC (the Hearst Corporation), Haas, and the Betty Cooley Trust. Not all large water right holders in the watershed are in a location that would benefit existing fish plantings and are unsuitable for instream dedications at this time.
High-Volume Water Users in the Basin
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
The majority of water rights in the McCloud River basin are held by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). In total, this corporation holds 1,389,137.93 AF of water rights, equivalent to 96.87% of all allocated water rights on the McCloud River. Of all water rights holders, Pacific Gas & Electric Company is in the best position to augment and stabilize in-stream flows for the benefit of fishes planted at Ah-Di-Na in 2022, directly below McCloud Dam and Reservoir.
PG&E water right A015717 (Permit #12670) has a face value of 35,300 AF per year, while their right A014785 (Permit #12669) has a value of 1,353,837.4 AF per year, which roughly translates to a constant flow of 1,870 cfs. PG&E water right A15717 (Permit #015717) requires minimum outflows of 200 cfs along the McCloud River below McCloud Dam at the Ah-Di-Na campground.
McCloud Partners
On the upper McCloud River, the McCloud Partners, LLC are sufficient water rights to support instream dedications for the purpose of habitat enhancement. Water rights in the McCloud River held by the McCloud Partners, LLC total 9,821.12 AF.
Sierra Pacific Industries
Sierra Pacific Industries holds some relatively large water rights on Haskins Creek, totaling 32.46 AF. Haskins Creek a tributary of the McCloud River with a confluence just below the McCloud Dam and above the Ah-Di-Na campground. Obtaining part of the whole of these water rights could provide a more consistent and stable flow for transplanted fish at Ah-Di-Na.
United States Forest Service
There are three existing in-stream dedications that were conducted by the United States Forest Service (USFS) Shasta-Trinity National Forest (STNF) totaling 179.32 AF. Two instream dedications performed by the STNF were on Bartle Creek (0.72 AF and 0.71 AF), while the third was on the Upper McCloud River (156 AF). The impact of those dedications is minimal as the cumulative flow is equivalent to a constant flow of 0.217 cfs. It is a good start and it does set precedent for dedications along the waterway.
The STNF self-selected to amend their water licenses #8597 and #8639 on the McCloud River. The amended licenses include Fish and Wildlife Preservation and Enhancement as a beneficial use of the water right in accordance with California Water Code section 1707.
The source of License #8597 (Application #20666, Permit 13636) is an unnamed Spring, a tributary to an unnamed stream, tributary to Stillwater Meadows, tributary to McCloud River. The water right includes direct diversion of 800 gallons per day for domestic and stock-watering, or up to 950 gallons per day for domestic, stock-watering, and fire protection. The maximum water right total is 0.7 acre-feet per year for all uses. The priority date of this water rights is March 21, 1962.
The source of License #8639 (Application #20668, Permit 13638) is Red Tank Spring, a tributary to an unnamed stream, tributary to Stillwater Meadows, tributary to McCloud River. The water right includes direct diversion of 350 gallons per day for domestic and stock-watering, or up to 900 gallons per day for domestic, stockwatering, and fire protection. The maximum water right total is 0.7 acre-feet per year. The priority date of this water right is March 21, 1962.
“Imagine the networks of wild water in California and how they looked much different 500 years ago. And when we domesticate water, we lose touch with something essential, because rivers are the lifeblood of entire ecologies and cultures.”
Chief Caleen Sisk on the Fight for Free and Wild Salmon Rivers
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