Bureau of Reclamation Issues Record of Decision, Marking Environmental Milestone for Sites Reservoir Project
Maxwell, CA – Today, the Sites Project Authority (Authority) announced that the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) issued their Record of Decision (ROD) for the Sites Reservoir Project (Project). The ROD certifies that the Project meets all aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the law that ensures federal infrastructure planning considers potential environmental impacts.
“This milestone decision reflects years of rigorous analysis, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing a project that balances our water supply needs with protecting the environment,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors. “We’re grateful to our federal partners, who have helped make this project possible and look forward to advancing Sites in the coming year.”
Key requirements for issuing a ROD include a finalized Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), compliance with Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act, and compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With this decision, the Authority will be working to move the project forward through the final planning stages and on to construction. Reclamation is required to meet all environmental standards prior to signing a Partnership Agreement with the Authority.
“This decision affirms what our extensive analysis has shown—that Sites Reservoir can reliably capture and store water in a way that supports both people and the environment,” said Jerry Brown, Executive Director of the Sites Project Authority. “With this additional environmental approval, we can now leverage all available construction funding and are focused on moving with intensity and purpose toward construction, so Californians will realize the needed benefits of Sites Reservoir.”
The Sites Reservoir Project would increase water supply throughout California and provide, for the first time, environmental benefits by storing water specifically for the environment to support native wildlife and their habitat during drought periods. The 1.5 million acre-foot, off-stream, water storage project is being advanced to increase California’s water and climate resiliency while also protecting and enhancing the environment.
