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Sites Reservoir: Water for Dry Years

Sites Reservoir is a part of the solution.

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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Water is integral to our daily life. California homes, businesses, farms, and ecosystems rely on a statewide water network to supply water when they need it. 

A changing climate reality is threatening our water supply. That’s why public agencies, irrigation districts, local governments and organizations from Northern to Southern California want to #BuildSitesNow.
@passwateragency supports Sites Reservoir because it would increase access to clean, reliable, water—especially in dry years—which they believe is a fundamental human right. #WhySites
Once constructed, Sites Reservoir will be the 8th largest reservoir in California. Sites will not compete with these state water projects, but rather complement them to increase California’s total water storage and create a more resilient statewide water supply.
Sites Reservoir operations are based on real-time, in-river conditions. Even during drier years, there are times when flows in the Sacramento River are abundant, and water can be safely diverted from the river for storage. 

🔗 Learn more at SitesProject.org
As our climate changes, our management of water supplies needs to change, too. Sites Reservoir is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure California communities, farms, and ecosystems can have reliable water now and in the future. 

Read more in our blog for @NorcalWater : ow.ly/ZmPj50U2LjI
Sites Reservoir is truly one of a kind. It will be the first and only reservoir in California that captures and stores a large portion of water specifically for environmental purposes. 

 Visit our website to learn more. #BuildSitesNow #SitesReservoir #CAWater
From water storage and climate resiliency to ecosystem protection and recreation opportunities, Sites Reservoir has broad support because of the significant public benefits it will bring to California. #BuildSitesNow
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Water is integral to our daily life. California homes, businesses, farms, and ecosystems rely on a statewide water network to supply water when they need it.

A changing climate reality is threatening our water supply. That’s why public agencies, irrigation districts, local governments and organizations from Northern to Southern California want to #BuildSitesNow.
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Water is integral to our daily life. California homes, businesses, farms, and ecosystems rely on a statewide water network to supply water when they need it. 

A changing climate reality is threatening our water supply. That’s why public agencies, irrigation districts, local governments and organizations from Northern to Southern California want to #BuildSitesNow.

1 CommentComment on Facebook

The only thing threatening Califorina’s water supply are bureaucrats and activist groups that block and stall sensible solutions like Sites.

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