Mill Creek and Deer Creek Drought Response

On May 10, 2021, Governor Newsom declared a drought state of emergency for 41 counties, including all counties within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed (May 2021 Proclamation). The May 2021 Proclamation directs the State Water Board, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), to evaluate the minimum instream flows and other actions needed to protect salmon, steelhead, and other native fishes in critical streams. Mill Creek and Deer Creek are tributaries to the Sacramento River, located in Tehama County. Both creeks support multiple self-sustaining natural populations of anadromous salmonids, including threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon and threatened California Central Valley steelhead. Protecting and restoring these populations is recognized as significant to the recovery of these threatened species.

During July and August of 2021, CDFW and the National Marine Fisheries Science (NMFS) requested that the State Water Board pursue an emergency regulation to curtail water diversions in order to provide minimum drought emergency flows for the protection of native fish on Mill and Deer Creeks similar to actions taken during the last drought in 2014 and 2015. The State Water Board adopted an emergency regulation for Mill and Deer Creeks on September 22, 2021. Due to ongoing drought conditions, CDFW and NMFS requested that the State Water Board consider readoption of the emergency regulation. The State Water Board readopted the emergency regulation for Mill and Deer Creeks for water year 2022 at the August 16, 2022 Board Meeting.

Below are links to important information regarding drought activities in the Mill Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. This website will be updated with additional information regarding this matter as it becomes available.

For information on other drought response actions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed, please visit the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed Drought Information webpage.

Form Submittal Portal

Beginning July 1, 2023, Mill and Deer Creek curtailments pursuant to California Code of Regulations, title 23, sections 876.5 through 879.3 are not in effect.

Deer Creek

Announcements

Curtailment Order issued for Mill Creek Watershed (October 7, 2022)
Curtailment Order issued for Deer Creek Watershed (October 7, 2022)
Emergency Regulation Approved by Office of Administrative Law (September 21, 2022)
Emergency Regulation Submitted to Office of Administrative Law (September 12, 2022)
State Water Board readopts emergency drought regulation for Mill and Deer Creeks (August 17, 2022)
Notice of Proposed Emergency Rulemaking (August 5, 2022)
- Emergency Regulation
- Finding of Emergency, Informative Digest, and Fiscal Impact Statement
State Water Board issues pulse flow for Mill Creek (June 10, 2022)
State Water Board issues pulse flow for Deer Creek (June 10, 2022)
State Water Board issues pulse flow for Deer Creek (May 25, 2022)
Fact Sheet (October 14, 2021)
Media Release: Low water levels trigger curtailments for water right holders in Mill and Deer creeks (October 11, 2021)
Curtailment Order issued for Mill Creek Watershed (October 11, 2021)
Curtailment Order issued for Deer Creek Watershed (October 11, 2021)
Emergency Regulation as Approved by Office of Administrative Law (October 4, 2021)
Media Release: State Water Board approves emergency curtailment regulation for Mill and Deer Creeks (September 22, 2021)

Drought Response Topics

Curtailment Orders, Lists, and Reporting Portal (forms)

Form Submittal Portal

Curtailment orders were issued in the Mill Creek and Deer Creek Watersheds on October 7, 2022

Curtailments are in effect beginning October 15, 2022 to achieve the following flows:

Mill Creek curtailment: 50 cfs to the confluence with the Sacramento River
Deer Creek curtailment: 50 cfs to the confluence with the Sacramento River

Curtailment Schedule

Dates	Species	Flow	Pulse Flow
October 15-March 31	Adult CCV Steelhead present	50 cfs or full flow without diversions, whichever is less
October 15-June 30	Juvenile CV SR Salmon or Juvenile CCV Steelhead present, and Adult CV SR Salmon or Adult CCV Steelhead not present	20 cfs or full flow without diversions, whichever is less
April 1-June 15	Adult CV SR Salmon present	50 cfs or full flow without diversions, whichever is less	100 cfs or full flow without diversions, whichever is less. In lieu of base flows, and lasting 24-72 hours, as approval by the Deputy Director
June 1-June 15	Juvenile CV SR Salmon or Juvenile CCV Steelhead present		100 cfs or full flow without diversions, whichever is less. In lieu of base flows, and lasting 24-48 hours, as approval by the Deputy Director