Sites Reservoir to Receive Additional $129 Million in Federal Funding to Ensure Clean, Reliable Drinking Water for Western Communities
Maxwell, CA – Last week, the Department of the Interior awarded the Sites Reservoir Project (Project) $129 million in federal funding, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, to bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through water storage and conveyance projects.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has allowed us to begin work on long overdue water storage projects, providing clean, reliable drinking water to families, farmers and Tribes throughout the West,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “The investments we’re announcing today will continue to fund these important efforts, expediting essential water storage projects and providing increased water security to Western communities.”
This new commitment builds on the $67.5 million announced in May 2024 to Sites Reservoir, increasing the current total to $646.15 million in federal funding committed to the Project in exchange for federal benefits. As a beneficiary pays project, this funding would secure additional benefits for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water operations, which include supporting ecosystem objectives. The state of California conditionally awarded $875 million to the Project through the Proposition 1 Water Storage Investment Program for public benefits.
“Sites Reservoir would not be possible without the continued support of our federal partners, who share our commitment to increasing California’s water resiliency amid a changing climate,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors. “We’ve made significant progress in the last few years and this funding is an exciting start to what will be another monumental year for Sites Reservoir.”
Sites Reservoir will increase water supply throughout California and provide, for the first time, environmental benefits by storing water specifically to support native wildlife and their habitat during drought periods. The Project will provide an additional 1.5 million acre-feet of storage capacity, substantially improving the state’s water flexibility, reliability, and resiliency in drier years.
Sites Reservoir has broad statewide support from cities, counties, water agencies, and irrigation districts throughout the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Bay Area, and Southern California which are working together to advance the Project. The Project is locally led by the Sites Project Authority, which is made up of Sacramento Valley water districts, cities, and counties.
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