By: Fritz Durst, Chair, Sites Project Authority
Water is a precious resource in California—and like any smart investment strategy, we need to use it wisely and plan for the future. As our climate changes, our management of water supplies needs to change, too.
That’s why state and local leaders are using all of the tools available so that future generations have reliable water supplies to grow food, sustain businesses and protect the environment. And the tools we have today are more sophisticated than the solutions advanced in the early and mid-1900’s. We’ve created new and improved technology to purify and reuse, desalinate, conserve and store water.
Sites Reservoir is a key part of the broad approach to ensuring Californians have enough water for years to come. It’s a 21st century solution to storing water designed with both environmental values and water supply needs in mind.
The reservoir would only siphon a small percentage – approximately 4 percent – of Sacramento River water that would otherwise flow out to the ocean, leaving enough water in the Delta for environmental needs. If Sites Reservoir was operating today, it could have been filled completely with water from the last two very wet winters. That water would be available for future dry years.
The benefits of Sites are vast and stretch up and down the state to farms, cities, businesses, and homes from Northern California to Southern California. Many cities, water agencies and reclamation districts are participating in Sites on behalf of their ratepayers to have a flexible, reliable savings account of water to use when they need it, especially during future dry years. The project provides an opportunity to protect the environment, prepare for worsening drought conditions, provide flood control for vulnerable communities, and create jobs. The reality is it’s rare to see such a well-planned project with a workable balance between human and environmental needs.
Thanks to Governor Newsom’s leadership and the work of many other supporters, the Sites Project has achieved major milestones in the past two years including a final environmental impact report, new state and federal funding and an invitation to apply for a $2.2 billion WIFIA loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The project is also in the midst of critical permitting processes. Securing a water right permit is a complex process, and the project is currently the subject of hearings before the State Water Resources Control Board. It’s anticipated that a final decision on the water right permit will be made in mid-2025. Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also recently issued Sites Project Authority key permits for construction and operations – the Incidental Take Permits. These permits strike a measured balance and demonstrate that listed or threatened species can be sustained while creating new water supplies for California.
As the project progresses on a regulatory track, we are continuing to build connections with the local community. Last month, the Sites Project Authority hosted a public meeting for local residents to learn about the project and speak directly with members of the Authority. For years, the Sites project team has worked with local residents, businesses, landowners, and agencies to understand the impacts of a project of this magnitude. As a result, they have refined the Project’s design, construction, and future operations to limit impacts on the surrounding community as much as possible.
The Sites Project Authority also recently announced its first land purchase, which will allow for the relocation of Maxwell-Sites Road, the reservoir’s inlet and outlet structures, and several construction haul roads that will facilitate the construction of Sites and Golden Gate Dams. The approximately 816 acres purchased in Colusa County signify a critical milestone as the Project moves from planning to construction. This purchase marks the beginning of a longer process to acquire the land required to build the Project.
As momentum builds and the Sites Project Authority achieves these important milestones, it’s as important as ever for people and organizations across the state to voice their support for Sites Reservoir. This is a once in a generation project and it’s time to seize the moment and move Sites across the finish line.
Originally appeared as a Northern California Water Association blog post.
