The Sites Reservoir Project is gaining significant momentum with several exciting developments in recent weeks. As Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors, I am pleased to share three major updates that underscore our progress and the growing support for this critical infrastructure project. These updates highlight our success in securing substantial federal funding, navigating legal challenges, and demonstrating the reservoir’s potential effectiveness in real-time conditions.
Additional $67.5 Million in Federal Funding Secured
We are pleased to announce that the Sites Reservoir Project has been awarded an additional $67.5 million in federal funding. This significant financial boost will help expand our off-stream water storage capabilities, enhancing our ability to capture and store water during wet periods for use during dry spells. This funding demonstrates the federal government’s confidence in our project and its potential to provide sustainable water solutions for California.
For more details, please read the full press release here.
Favorable Court Decision on CEQA Lawsuit
In another positive development, the Yolo County Superior Court has ruled in favor of the Sites Project Authority in a lawsuit brought by environmental organizations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This decision reaffirms the thoroughness and legality of our environmental review process. It allows us to proceed with the project, ensuring that we meet the highest environmental standards while addressing California’s essential water needs.
To learn more about this court decision, please read the full press release here.
Real-Time Conditions Show Full Capacity of Sites Reservoir
Lastly, a recent analysis found that Sites Reservoir would be at 100% capacity at the close of the 2023-2024 wet season. Sites Reservoir is specifically designed to capture and store water generated during wet periods, like the atmospheric rivers that seasonally make landfall in California, to increase water flexibility, reliability, and resiliency in drier years. Estimates show that since January 2024, Sites Reservoir would have diverted and captured about 840,000 acre-feet of water. This would have been in addition to the about 700,000 acre-feet diverted and captured last year, resulting in a full reservoir headed into this summer.
For further information on these real-time conditions, please read the full press release here.
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Originally appeared as a Northern California Water Association blog post.
