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California Water Commission Announces Funding for Sites Reservoir

July 24, 2018
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the California Water Commission announced Proposition 1 funding of $816 million for Sites Reservoir.
LaMalfa said: "67% of Californians voted to support Proposition 1 funding for Sites Reservoir. That support clearly isn't limited to Republicans or Northern California – most of California agrees this is a necessary and beneficial undertaking for our state. Funding from the state will unlock millions more in available federal funding which I ensured was included in the WIIN Act last Congress. While there's certainly more work to be done, I'm happy we can finally start moving forward on a project that is so widely recognized as critical for our water needs. As I've said before, we must have storage that allows us to store more water in wet years in order to prepare for dry years. Sites Reservoir is much needed storage."
"Sites is a smart and long overdue investment for California," said Sites Project AuthorityChairman Fritz Durst. "Today's decision by the California Water Commission furthers the will of California voters, who overwhelming called for new water storage, by moving the Proposition 1 process closer to implementation the Authority has invested a significant amount of time and resources in developing a viable proposal that meets the strict environmental requirements outlined in Proposition 1. Today's vote by the Water Commission is a clear endorsement of the substantial environmental benefits Sites provides to the state of California, particularly during inevitable future drought conditions. With state funding decisions made, we can finalize planning and move toward construction."
"Sites is the only project approved by the Water Commission that can improve water supply reliability within the Sacramento Valley Watershed while also increasing flows on the Sacramento River at times that are most critical to struggling fish populations," said Sites Project Authority General Manager Jim Watson. The Sites Project offers the unique benefit of improving water quality and habitat conditions in the Sacramento River and Delta when and where it's needed most. The project will not block fish migration, does not dam a large river or stream, and will only be filled by storm events, when excess water is available in the Sacramento River and after all existing environmental requirements have been met."
Last year, Congressman LaMalfa and Congressman Garamendi sent a letter to the California Water Commission supporting Proposition 1 funding for Sites Reservoir.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
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