Initial Public Benefit Scores Provided by the California Water Commission
 

You may have heard the California Water Commission (CWC) plans to publish Public Benefit Ratio (PBR) scoring information, which was recently provided by staff to all 11 applicants seeking Proposition 1 funding. The “preliminary” scoring include some applicants receiving a “zero” and all applicants receiving scores of less than one.

Receiving a preliminary PBR score less than one is of significant concern to the Sites Project Authority (Authority) because it could limit the state’s investment to build Sites Reservoir. If the state does not invest in Sites, the ability to implement a new water management tool for environmental flows and use in critical times - both annually and during droughts - will be significantly limited.

The Authority remains confident in the significant public benefits the Sites Project would provide to the State of California, and will make our case during the PBR appeals process. We have offered the state a significant supply of water that can be flexibly managed to benefit the ecosystem.

It is our hope that the valuation review and appeals process, as outlined in the regulations, will clarify the measurement of public benefits so the will of California voters to create more storage can be fulfilled.  In the meantime, the Sites Project will continue to move forward with participation from local water agencies across the state committed to the value the project provides to California farms, homes, and businesses.

Additional information on the initial scoring can be found here.