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 21st Century Water Storage System
Sites Reservoir is a water savings account for dry years. It would capture and store stormwater flows from the Sacramento River—after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met—and release the water for California communities, farms, and environmental agencies to use when it is desperately needed.
Sites Reservoir complements other major reservoirs like Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom, which function as the backbone to both the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Sites Reservoir will help optimize water releases from this existing network, greatly increasing the flexibility, reliability and resiliency of statewide water supplies.
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@YoloCountyFarmBureau supports Sites Reservoir because it’s an efficient, reliable and innovative approach to providing water to California’s environment, families, farms, and businesses. #WhySites

Sites Reservoir is a multi-benefit water storage solution designed for California’s communities, farms, businesses and environment. The proposed off-stream reservoir will provide:
💧️A more resilient and reliable water supply
🐟 Wildlife habitat improvement
🚧 Local economic development and jobs for Colusa County workers
🛶 Recreational opportunities
🔗Visit SitesProject.org to learn why it’s time to #BuildSitesNow

@EasternMuni supports Sites Reservoir because it’s a generational water storage project that will serve millions of Californians. #WhySites

California’s water future starts here. 💧 Watch this video to find out why Sites Reservoir is a critical solution. 🔗 Learn more at SitesProject.org. Link in bio. #SitesReservoir #WhySites #SitesStartsHere #CaliforniaWater

Sites is the first California reservoir to dedicate a significant portion of its water supply to the environment. Sites will support wildlife by:
💧Supplying fresh water to manage salinity levels in the Delta
🐟 Maintaining cold water supply for salmon populations in the Sacramento River
🐦Providing habitat for native and migratory birds
🔗Visit SitesProject.org to learn why it’s time to #BuildSitesNow

@SoCalWater supports Sites Reservoir because it is a strategic and long-awaited solution to California’s water management, climate change, and ecosystem protection challenges. #WhySites

🚧 Exciting progress is underway as Sites Reservoir moves closer to construction in 2025! 🚧 We’re making big strides with three major updates:
✅ Construction Prep: A competitive process is open to select the best team to build the $3B reservoir and roads package. Proposals are due by March 10, 2025.
✅ New Leadership: Shayleen O’Connell joins as Finance Manager, bringing financial expertise and a deep connection to local water needs.
✅ Funding Boost: An additional $129M in federal funding increases total federal support to $646.15M, reinforcing California’s water future.
With key milestones ahead, including the Water Right Permit process, Sites Reservoir is on track to provide clean, reliable water for California’s communities, farms and environment.
Read more in our blog for @norcalwater. 🔗Link in bio.
#SitesReservoir #BuildSitesNow #WaterForCalifornia #WaterStorage

Sites Reservoir is the flexible water supply solution California needs amid a changing climate. It’s designed to capture excess rainwater during heavy storms and store it for dry periods, when it is needed most.
🔗Visit SitesProject.org to learn why it’s time to #BuildSitesNow
