Instream Flows in the Sacramento River Hydrologic Region

The major rivers and streams of the Sacramento Valley provide essential pathways for spawning salmon and steelhead. Flow agreements to benefit these fish are on every major watercourse in the Sacramento Valley. This briefing paper demonstrates the existing instream flow requirements for the major rivers and streams in the Sacramento River hydrologic region. This includes requirements in State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) decisions, biological opinions, streamflow agreements, and other processes.