Sites Reservoir: Water for Dry Years
Now more than ever, California needs innovative solutions to ensure we have a sustainable water supply. Our climate has changed, and we need more storage as the West gets drier and hotter to ensure we have enough water to meet our needs.
Sites Reservoir is a unique, multi-benefit water storage project that will capture and store water from major storms, so water is available to California’s communities, farms, and environment during dry periods.
The water that Californians use for drinking, recreating and protecting the environment moves through a system that is arguably the most complex in the world.
Sites Reservoir Benefits
- Reliable dry-year water supply for California’s communities, farms and environment
- Dedicated environmental water for native fish, migratory birds, and their habitats
- Adaptable to climate change
- Contribution to California’s renewable energy goals
- Flood management
- Recreational opportunities
- Job creation, including a large skilled workforce during construction
Sites Reservoir Fast Facts
Creates additional 1.5 million acre-foot off-stream storage for drier periods
Increases Sacramento Valley water storage capacity
Creates reliable supplies for environmental, agricultural, and municipal uses
30 participating agencies representing communities across California
A Part of the Sacramento Valley
Sites Reservoir would be located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, near Maxwell, California – a rural farming town in Colusa County, approximately 65 miles northwest of Sacramento. The Sacramento Valley is known for its farming community, rich agricultural benefits, and natural beauty. The region’s acres of grassland surrounded by rolling foothills make it an ideal location for off-stream water storage. The proposal is widely supported by local community leaders, residents, as well as state water managers and water agencies from the Bay Area to Southern California.
A 21st Century Water Storage System
Sites Reservoir is a water savings account for dry years. It would capture and store stormwater flows from the Sacramento River—after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met—and release the water for California communities, farms, and environmental agencies to use when it is desperately needed.
Sites Reservoir complements other major reservoirs like Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom, which function as the backbone to both the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Sites Reservoir will help optimize water releases from this existing network, greatly increasing the flexibility, reliability and resiliency of statewide water supplies.
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As we’ve seen in the last few years, California is receiving high levels of precipitation—but also experiencing longer periods of drought. Sites Reservoir would capture and store stormwater during wet months for dry months when it's needed. Learn more at http://sitesproject.org.
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As we’ve seen in the last few years, California is receiving high levels of precipitation—but also experiencing longer periods of drought. Sites Reservoir would capture and store stormwater during wet months for dry months when it`s needed.
Learn more at sitesproject.org.
We’ve started the construction procurement process for Sites Reservoir, marking another milestone for this historic water infrastructure project. Earlier this month, we held a Construction Procurement Open House in Maxwell for more than 90 attendees. The Sites Project team, led by Engineering and Construction Manager, JP Robinette, covered key information on project status and procurement timelines as we ramp up toward construction.
Sites Reservoir will be the first and only reservoir in California that captures and stores water specifically for the environment. Around 372,000 acre-feet of storage space will be set aside to replenish water in wildlife habitats and ecosystems when and where it’s needed.
Sites Reservoir will allow participating agencies, both north and south of the Delta, to manage their stored water how and when they need it the most – giving them a more flexibly managed water supply for their communities.
Visit SitesProject.org for more information.
California needs innovative solutions that address our need for a sustainable water supply. Sites Reservoir is designed to adapt to a changing climate by capturing and storing water during storm events for use during severe dry periods when it`s needed most. #BuildSitesNow
Sites Reservoir was awarded $205.6 million in federal funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. It`s the largest single WIIN Act award for a water storage project in history. We`re grateful to the @bureau_of_reclamation for their continued support.
Sites Reservoir will operate in coordination with Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom reservoirs - increasing flexibility, reliability, and resiliency of statewide water supplies in drier periods. #BuildSitesNow
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As we’ve seen in the last few years, California is receiving high levels of precipitation—but also experiencing longer periods of drought. Sites Reservoir would capture and store stormwater during wet months for dry months when it's needed.
Learn more at sitesproject.org.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Me and my brethren are looking forward to those longer periods of drought at the Sites Reservoir! 💚
Should have been built years ago.