Sites Reservoir: Water for Dry Years
Now more than ever, California needs innovative solutions to ensure we have a sustainable water supply. Our climate has changed, and we need more storage as the West gets drier and hotter to ensure we have enough water to meet our needs.
Sites Reservoir is a unique, multi-benefit water storage project that will capture and store water from major storms, so water is available to California’s communities, farms, and environment during dry periods.
The water that Californians use for drinking, recreating and protecting the environment moves through a system that is arguably the most complex in the world.
Sites Reservoir Benefits
- Reliable dry-year water supply for California’s communities, farms and environment
- Dedicated environmental water for native fish, migratory birds, and their habitats
- Adaptable to climate change
- Contribution to California’s renewable energy goals
- Flood management
- Recreational opportunities
- Job creation, including a large skilled workforce during construction
Sites Reservoir Fast Facts
Creates additional 1.5 million acre-foot off-stream storage for drier periods
Increases Sacramento Valley water storage capacity
Creates reliable supplies for environmental, agricultural, and municipal uses
30 participating agencies representing communities across California
A Part of the Sacramento Valley
Sites Reservoir would be located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, near Maxwell, California – a rural farming town in Colusa County, approximately 65 miles northwest of Sacramento. The Sacramento Valley is known for its farming community, rich agricultural benefits, and natural beauty. The region’s acres of grassland surrounded by rolling foothills make it an ideal location for off-stream water storage. The proposal is widely supported by local community leaders, residents, as well as state water managers and water agencies from the Bay Area to Southern California.
A Bird’s-Eye View of California’s Water Future
Join JP Robinette, Engineering and Construction Manager for the Sites Project Authority, for a drone tour of the future Sites Reservoir site. Discover how the project leverages existing water infrastructure to capture water from the Sacramento River and deliver it to our participants. More than just a reservoir, Sites is a climate-resilient investment in California’s future.
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More than 100 miles of the canals and pipelines that will be connected Sites Reservoir are existing facilities, reducing both environmental impacts and construction demands.
Learn more at http://SitesProject.org.
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More than 100 miles of the canals and pipelines that will be connected Sites Reservoir are existing facilities, reducing both environmental impacts and construction demands.
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
Sites Reservoir is designed by Californians, for Californians. Visit SitesProject.org to learn more about the project’s benefits to communities, farms, and the environment across the state.
Sites Reservoir is designed with the environment in mind. It won’t dam a major river or disrupt fish migration. Instead, it supports ecosystems by:
🌿 Dedicating water specifically for the environment
💧 Storing up to 372,020 acre-feet for environmental uses
🌊 Boosting Delta freshwater flows in dry periods
🐟 Maintaining cold water supply for salmon populations
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
Hear from Don Bransford of the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District and Sites Project Authority founding member as he reflects on 15 years of regional collaboration that has led to the long-awaited groundbreaking on Sites Reservoir.
#BuildSitesNow #SitesAuthority15
California’s climate is changing, and Sites Reservoir is specifically designed to adapt to that. As California gets more precipitation in the form of rain and not snow, Sites will capture excess stormwater and store it for the future.
No participant takes priority over another, including state and federal agencies—everyone receives their proportional share of water diverted based on their investment in the project.
👉 Learn more at the link in our bio!
For longtime Maxwell resident and Colusa County Supervisor Randy Wilson, 2025 marks a milestone year bringing the long-awaited Sites Reservoir project closer to reality.
#BuildSitesNow #SitesAuthority15
Sites Reservoir will store much-needed water to help California’s farms thrive through dry years, supporting local growers, rural communities and our nation’s food supply. #BuildSitesNow
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More than 100 miles of the canals and pipelines that will be connected Sites Reservoir are existing facilities, reducing both environmental impacts and construction demands.
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
56 CommentsComment on Facebook
Dam it, build it! Build it, dam it!
Anything for big ag and Southern California 🇺🇲
I sure hope they use all electric heavy equipment for this job diesel is bad.