Sites Reservoir Awarded Additional $67.5 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Off-Stream Water Storage
Maxwell, CA – Last week, the Department of the Interior awarded the Sites Reservoir Project (Project) $67.5 million in federal funding, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, to add additional water storage capacity in the western region of the United States.
“As drought conditions continue to grip the West, the need for these projects is increasingly evident,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “These investments will advance projects that bring reliable drinking and agricultural water to residents in need, provide ecosystem benefits, and increase overall water storage.”
This investment builds on the $204.5 million announced in March 2024 to Sites Reservoir, increasing the current total to $517.15 million in federal funding committed to the project when constructed. Sites is a beneficiary pays project, so these federal funds will secure benefits for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water operations planned to include meeting ecosystem objectives and water supply reliability. Reclamation seeks to secure approximately 16% capacity interest in the project. When combined with the state’s planned 17% capacity share in ecosystem objectives with Prop 1 bond money, it is possible that up to one-third of the reservoir would support meeting ecosystem objectives.
“Together with our federal partners, we’re working to advance Sites Reservoir to ensure our state’s water supply is more resilient to future droughts,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors. “This investment is another step closer to achieving our final funding goal, building this generational project, and providing significant benefits to California’s communities, farms, and environment.”
Sites Reservoir will increase California’s water supply and provide, for the first time, environmental benefits by storing water specifically to support native wildlife and their habitat during drought periods. The Project will provide an additional 1.5 million acre-feet of storage capacity, substantially improving the state’s water flexibility, reliability, and resiliency. As an off-stream reservoir, it will capture and store a portion of stormwater from the Sacramento River—after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met—and release water to California communities, farms, businesses, and wildlife during drier years.
Sites Reservoir has broad statewide support from cities, counties, water agencies, and irrigation districts throughout the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Bay Area, and Southern California which are working together to advance the project. The Project is locally led by the Sites Project Authority, which is made up of Sacramento Valley water districts, cities, and counties.
Download a PDF of this news release here.
