A Protected River at Risk: Why the Shasta Dam Raise Is Illegal

May 26

Written By The Friends of the River Team

There are some places in California we have promised to protect forever. The McCloud River is one of them. Protected under the California Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, the McCloud is recognized for its extraordinary beauty, ecological value, and cultural importance.

Its cold, clear waters support salmon, wildlife, and deep connections for people across generations. These protections were not granted lightly. They exist because some rivers are simply too valuable to lose. Today, that promise is under threat.

A Dam Raise That Breaks the Law

Federal officials are once again pushing to raise Shasta Dam by more than 18 feet. While that number may sound small, the consequences would be enormous. Because of the massive size of Shasta Reservoir, even a relatively modest increase in dam height would flood miles of river canyon and shoreline.

The project would inundate protected stretches of the McCloud River, permanently drowning riverbanks, forests, wildlife habitat, cultural sites, and recreation areas beneath higher reservoir waters. Places that are now shaded by old trees and lined with clear, cold water would become part of an expanded reservoir zone marked by mudflats, fluctuating water levels, and dead vegetation.

California’s Wild & Scenic Rivers Act is clear: raising Shasta Dam in a way that inundates the McCloud River is illegal.

The law goes even further. It prohibits water districts and state agencies from assisting any project that would expand the reservoir and harm the McCloud. Courts have already upheld these protections, blocking previous attempts to move the project forward. Yet efforts continue.

Federal agencies are now exploring ways to sidestep California law, creating a dangerous precedent that could weaken protections not only for the McCloud, but for rivers across the state.

Why Wild & Scenic Protections Matter

Wild & Scenic designation is not just symbolic. It exists to safeguard rivers from exactly this kind of threat. These protections help ensure rivers like the McCloud remain:

Free-flowing and healthy
Protected from harmful development
Preserved for future generations

If the Shasta Dam raise moves forward despite these protections, it sends a troubling message that even California’s strongest environmental laws can be ignored.

What’s at Stake

Raising the dam would not only violate the law, it would permanently alter one of California’s most treasured rivers. Floodwaters would submerge riverbanks, forests, and critical habitat along the McCloud. Places that are now accessible for recreation, reflection, and connection would disappear beneath the reservoir. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.

California Must Stand Firm

This is a defining moment. California has both the authority and the responsibility to uphold its own laws. Allowing the Shasta Dam raise to proceed would undermine decades of river protection and open the door for similar projects across the state. We cannot let that happen.

Take Action

Federal officials are moving quickly in 2026 to advance this project, but there is still time to stop it. Add your voice today and urge the next Governor of California to: