CA AB263

Extends emergency water regulations for the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds until January 1, 2031, or until permanent long-term instream flow requirements are adopted, whichever comes first

Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to provide annual public updates with opportunities for public comment on progress toward developing permanent flow rules for these rivers

Scott River is the largest producer of wild Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon (listed as threatened under federal and state endangered species laws)

Shasta River is the biggest producer of wild Upper Klamath-Trinity Fall Chinook salmon, with historical returns of 80,000 adult salmon in 1931 compared to only 36,568 for the entire Klamath River Basin in 2024

California's commercial salmon industry, valued at $1.4 billion annually and supporting 23,000 jobs, has been closed for three consecutive years due to low salmon populations