Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed September 26th Native American Day and announced the signing of several bills that advance tribal priorities. Those tribal priorities included CCKA co-sponsored Assembly Bill 263 (Rogers), which furthers the state’s promise to protect salmon and salmon habitat in the Klamath River watershed.
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 left in the wild spend part of their lifecycle in the Scott River. Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho are on state and federal Endangered Species List. The habitat offered by the Scott and Shasta rivers are an essential component of the Klamath River salmon runs that North Coast tribes and local economies rely on.
The enactment of Assembly Bill 263 will 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 will now stay in place until the State Water Board promulgates long term flow rules—which could take several years.
But more work needs to be done. As Newsom stated in his proclamation, AB 263 “reaffirms our work to address historic wrongs and furthers the states promise to tribes of inclusion and accountability.” We couldn’t agree more that it is time for the state to take meaningful action to address historic wrongs! California’s water rights system, based on the “first in time, first in right” principle, has historically overlooked the true first inhabitants of this land and original water users, California Native Americans. This complete oversight, coupled with state-sponsored actions that removed Native Americans from their lands and their waters, has systematically excluded Tribal Nations from crucial decision-making processes concerning our state’s waterways.
While it is encouraging to see some state agencies beginning to acknowledge this history, there is a pressing need for legislation that formally recognizes these past mistakes and to begin to address the harms Native American communities have endured and continue to endure. Such a law could serve as a cornerstone for meaningful progress and reconciliation.
Executive Director Sean Bothwell leads CCKA’s initiatives to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians.
