The following is a press release issued by the California Water Boards:
To support ongoing efforts to improve conditions for the imperiled Clear Lake hitch, a native fish found only in Clear Lake watershed and its tributaries, the State Water Resources Control Board yesterday adopted emergency regulations that allow staff to collect information from water users to evaluate how pumping affects creek flows that are critical for the species’ habitat.
Millions of hitch, also known as “chi” to local tribes, once thrived in the watershed, but
poor water quality, invasive species, passage barriers and inadequate flows have contributed to long-term declines of the population, with the numbers plummeting over
the last decade. Insufficient creek flows from February through June can prevent access
to spawning habitat or strand and kill the fish before they migrate back to Clear Lake or
before eggs can hatch, creating a primary threat to the species’ survival.
The board’s regulations allow staff to collect a variety of water use data, including well
locations and depths, the amount of groundwater pumped, and when and how water is
used. Additionally, the data will help staff evaluate how pumping and other water uses
may be impacting creek flows. Climate conditions such as multi-year droughts, surface
water use and groundwater pumping can all directly affect streamflow.
“Drought, climate extremes, and related environmental challenges are threatening the
existence of the hitch, or chi, which has been a food and cultural mainstay of the original
Pomo inhabitants of the region since time immemorial,” said State Water Board Chair E.
Joaquin Esquivel. “The information we collect will help us protect the hitch in future
droughts and lead to collaborative and innovative management solutions that support
local leadership. Tribal and community monitoring and data collection, in particular,
have been critical to the board’s efforts.”
Spurred by the sharp decline in the hitch population during the most recent drought,
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in March 2023 directing the board to evaluate minimum instream flows, work with water users and tribes on voluntary
actions, and consider emergency regulations.
Since the beginning of the year, board staff have moved quickly to address the challenges confronting the hitch, collaborating with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, along with representatives from the California Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Water Resources, Lake County, Lake County Farm Bureau, individual farmers and community groups.
Workshops, government-to-government meetings and repeated visits to the watershed
by staff and board members led to a number of insights, including the recognition that
better information about wells is urgently needed.
Once the Office of Administrative Law approves the regulations, which can take up to
two weeks, staff will send out information orders and begin engaging with water users in January 2023. Engagement will include ongoing meetings, workshops, compliance
assistance, fact sheets and more.
More information on the Clear Lake hitch (chi) is available on the board website.
