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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As California faces more extreme weather, like longer droughts and bigger storms, #SitesReservoir offers an adaptable and climate-resilient solution. Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet periods and store it for drier periods, all without damming any major rivers.
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As California faces more extreme weather, like longer droughts and bigger storms, #SitesReservoir offers an adaptable and climate-resilient solution. 🌧️☀️
Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet periods and store it for drier periods, all without damming any major rivers.
#BuildSitesNow
Agencies across California are working together to advance Sites Reservoir, so the regions they serve can have more reliable water. With their investment, each agency receives:
💧 Dedicated storage space
💧 A proportional share of diversions from the Sacramento River
💧 Control over how and when to use their water—move it, store it or even sell it
The communities, farms, and ecosystems the agencies serve will benefit from this flexible storage solution. 🔗 Learn more at SitesProject.org. Link in bio.
#SitesReservoir #WhySites #BuildSitesNow #CaliforniaWater
📢 Check out our latest blog for @norcalwater! Sites Project Authority’s Engineering and Construction Manager, JP Robinette, provides insight on the Project’s unique contracting strategy that incorporates local leadership, statewide collaboration, and bipartisan support to drive Sites Reservoir closer to construction.
🔗 Visit the link in our bio to read more!
California’s water future starts here. 💧 Watch this video to learn how Sites Reservoir is made possible by collaboration. 🔗 Learn more at SitesProject.org. Link in bio. #SitesReservoir #WhySites #SitesStartsHere #CaliforniaWater
Sites Reservoir reached key milestones in 2024 that advanced the project toward construction.
✅ Courts confirmed that our Environmental Impact Report fully complies with CEQA requirements
✅ The project secured key permits from the CA Department of Fish & Wildlife
✅ The Water Right permit process is now underway with the State Water Board
✅ The first land purchase near Maxwell was secured
✅ The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) selection process kicked off for the dams and reservoir package
These accomplishments mark real progress toward breaking ground on a climate-resilient water storage solution for California!
📘Learn more about the Project’s progress and what’s ahead for Sites Reservoir in our Annual Report by visiting the link in our bio.
California’s water future starts here. 💧 Sites Reservoir is a new way of managing water in California, creating a sustainable model for the future.
🔗 Learn more at SitesProject.org. Link in bio. #SitesReservoir #WhySites #SitesStartsHere #CaliforniaWater
@sbvmwd
Last month, our Board of Directors had the opportunity to tour the future site of Sites Reservoir.
With broad support from across California, we are working together to move this vital project closer to construction.
➡️ Swipe for photos 📸
Learn more at the link in our bio. #BuildSitesNow
Sites Reservoir is designed to capture excess rainfall from heavy storms, relieving the strain on existing reservoirs, helping to prevent flooding and storing water for dry years.
🔗 Check out SitesProject.org for more reasons why it`s time to #BuildSitesNow!
Follow Us on Facebook.
As California faces more extreme weather, like longer droughts and bigger storms, #sitesreservoir offers an adaptable and climate-resilient solution. 🌧️☀️
Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet periods and store it for drier periods, all without damming any major rivers.
#buildsitesnow
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Remember Prop 1 Water Bond in 2014? 7.54 billion for water storage projects, infrastructure and environment, 68% voter approval.
The second picture is how sites looks now. It only changes if they seal water from the already overcommitted Sacramento river. Kill this project.
So if we are having longer droughts that means less water for the reservoir it sounds like a waste of money be better off with desalination plants