As reservoirs across California meet historic lows, we are again faced with the reality of not enough water for the environment, farms and people. It is peak summer and hot, dry conditions are to be expected in California, but we are beyond hot and dry – we are now in drought territory. As our climate continues to change, we can expect more of the same, and possibly worse if we don’t make some meaningful changes to how we manage water in California. We need to advance water recycling projects, increase conservation and develop more capacity to store water. One key part of the solution is the construction of Sites Reservoir.
Sites Reservoir, which would be located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, is a different kind of water storage project. Unlike the big dams of the last century, Sites Reservoir does not dam any major river – it is off-stream, just like Contra Costa Water District’s Los Vaqueros Reservoir. It is designed to capture the excess water from big storms and save that water for dry years. Sites is designed to help the environment, as well as people and farms. A large portion of the water saved in Sites will be available for fisheries during dry years when it’s most needed.
2021 is the type of year Sites Reservoir is designed for. Just a few years ago, in 2017 and 2019, we experienced a series of atmospheric river events that produced so much runoff that it overtopped our flood control system, causing tremendous flooding and significant damage throughout Northern California. If Sites Reservoir had been in place during that time, not only could we have avoided many of those flooding impacts, but we also would have captured and stored much of this excess runoff for use in a dry year like we are currently experiencing. If Sites Reservoir was operational over these past few years, we would have nearly one million acre-feet of water stored for use today. That’s enough water to serve 3 million Bay Area households for one year.
Sites Reservoir is an insurance policy for future droughts. It does not rely on snowpack, and if the scientific projections are correct about the impacts of climate change, then having Sites Reservoir will mean we can safely collect more water for use during future droughts.
Sites Reservoir is a multi-benefit project, bringing environmental enhancements, flood control benefits, economic benefits and a significant new source of water for people that can be used during dry years when it’s most needed. Salmon benefits will be realized through the coordination of water releases from Northern California’s existing network of reservoirs. Sites Reservoir water supplies can be used first, allowing snowmelt-fed reservoirs like Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom to hold onto cold water supplies for later release when it’s most beneficial for salmon runs and the Delta.
We’ve rightsized the project over the last two years, achieving a responsible balance between the potential effects of diverting water in wet years compared to the benefits of storing and releasing water for dry years. Increasing our water storage by collecting flows when its wet for use during the dry periods is part of how California is going to make it through future droughts. Sites is a critical part of this equation.
Our organizations support Sites Reservoir because it benefits the environment, people, businesses and farms – and Sites Reservoir has broad statewide support that starts with participants right in the proposed project area’s backyard.
It is important that we continue to invest in a broad range of solutions to ensure a resilient water future. Conservation, local storage, water recycling and reuse are all important water supply solutions. So is Sites Reservoir. Increasing our water storage is part of how California is going to make it through future droughts, and Sites is a critical part of this solution. Learn more at www.sitesproject.org.
Valerie Pryor is the general manager of the Zone 7 Water Agency. Adrian Covert is senior vice president of public policy for the Bay Area Council.
