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We have rice and wetlands to thank for that in California. 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 its most needed. The vote is a major milestone for the reservoir, one of seven water storage projects now eligible to receive public money from a 2014 voter-approved bond. The birds of our Pacific Flyway are counting on us. My personal rule of thumb is that for every year of construction you spend about three years in the planning-permitting-engineering stage, he said. Worsening drought has renewed interest in a proposal to transform Sites Valley, about 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, into a $4-billion reservoir. But just because California builds a new reservoir does not mean the state will have enough water to fill it. Another water district, the Zone 7 Water Agency that serves 270,000 people in the East Bay, would receive about 10,000 acre-feet annually from Sites, increasing its supply about 20%. This facility would provide multiple benefits to improve aquatic habitat conditions and withstand dry year conditions. In one of environmentalisms emerging successes, the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is on the rebound because of restoration efforts. Infographics. A long-dead proposal to flood a bucolic valley north of Sacramento and create a massive reservoir for thirsty Southern California is finding new life and opposition amid the effects of climate change and worsening drought. BiologistCarson Jeffresis on the fence about the project. California Water Commission chair Teresa Alvarado stressed Wednesdays vote was not a final decision to fund the project. News, Featured In California, we have relied on the Sierra Nevada snowpack and the spring/summer runoff to fill our reservoirs and recharge our groundwater aquifers which in turn provides water for agricultural, environmental, and urban uses. Newsom Ducks Action on Reform to Fix California Housing Crisis, Newsom Dealt Stunning Defeat on Fast Track Water Project Approval, California Last century, California built dozens of large dams, creating the elaborate reservoir system that supplies the bulk of the states drinking and irrigation water. Conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited support Sites Reservoir because of the benefits it would provide to the millions of migratory birds that stop in the Central Valley on their journey along the Pacific Flyway. Its also home to 20 people, including Mary Wells, a respected former water manager and policymaker in Northern California, who has operated a cattle ranch in the valley for nearly half a century. The Sites Reservoir would have water pumped to it from the nearby Sacramento River. If we do absolutely nothing, I can guarantee you things will get worse.. Your email address will not be published. But the climate-change-fueled drought gripping the Western United States is so severe that many of Californias 1,500 reservoirs are at historic lows. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up to receive our weekly blog and social media newsletter. We are full-steam ahead.. Once built, the reservoir will almost certainly provide water storage benefits for people. When it comes to water, the great equalizer to all uncertainty is storage, said Bob Tincher, the districts chief water resources officer. Drought is an inevitable and predictable reality for our state. Sites Reservoir is a generational opportunity to construct a multi-benefit water storage project that helps restore flexibility, reliability, and resiliency to Californias water supply. The circumstance we find ourselves in today is a prime example of why we need to build Sites Reservoir now. 2,851 mi. Still, theres no escaping the anxiety among local farmers and ranchers cornered by climate change. Its Turning Heads in California. The Sites Reservoir Project would be a 1.5 million acre-foot offstream surface storage reservoir located in the Sacramento Valley west of the town of Maxwell. While we brace for the impacts of this challenging water situation, our farms and local communities are simultaneously dealing with the huge economic impacts and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit Californias rural communities hard. The Sites planning process has involvedmultiple roundsof environmental impact reports and a few major changes to the design plan. Zachary Dennis, chairman of the Tehama Colusa Canal Authority, takes stock of his losses after bulldozing 377 acres of almond trees. Simply put, our current water infrastructure was not designed with future climate conditions in mind. Cities and water agencies from across California, as well as our federal and state partners, are collaborating to make Sites Reservoir, and these resulting benefits a reality. Drought is pushing this project forward, said Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), a longtime supporter of the proposal. An environmental review, which already has gone through multiple rounds of revisions and public comment periods, is still underway and could wrap up this summer. It provides a new off-stream water storage facility that integrates perfectly into our current water management system. Our water allocation dropped to zero, and the price of water from contractors jumped to $600 an acre-foot about six times what it costs in normal years.. Wells has no beef with any of that. 1 covering up to $875 million and much of the rest coming from federal loans to water suppliers. Select a sensor type for a plot of data. Sites Reservoir is a proposed multi-benefit, off-stream water storage facility, located north of Sacramento in rural Colusa and Glenn counties. Northern California reservoirs, the foundation of both the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, are at historically low levels and continue to fall. Housing Local Sites Reservoir is specifically designed to store the water generated by these storm events for use during times of drought when the water is so desperately needed. Due to drought, Californias few remaining Central Valley wetlands suffered from limited water, depriving birds of important habitat when they needed it most. Since then, multiple droughts have strained the states water supply and renewed calls for more ways to capture and store water from the states major rivers and streams. Now, decades later, a Southwestern megadrought and historic water restrictions in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties are fueling renewed interest in the plan, much to the dismay of environmentalists. He is a former board member of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California and author of the book Master of the Mysteries: The Life of Manly Palmer Hall.. Critics point out that the reservoir would hold only a small fraction of the 42 million acre-feet of water consumed each year in California. Storm surges from the Sacramento River some 15 miles away would be diverted to the reservoir via two existing canals and a new pipeline. Water, Featured Kickoff of construction, which includes two large dams, had been scheduled for 2024, but likely will be delayed another year. Most major reservoirs are connected to rivers and rely on gravity to fill them with water from snowmelt in the mountains. And Brown, executive director of the Sites Authority, noted the project has changed multiple times based on public comments. Gavin Newsom has rallied for the project, and his 2022water strategyoutlined a plan to create as much as 4 million acre-feet of new water storage space. Sites Reservoir Still Delayed Despite Funds Coming In Now, a major drought gripping the western United States has put the project back in the spotlight. The rivers are barely surviving. If Sites Reservoir had been in place during that time, not only could we have avoided many of those flooding impacts, but we also could have captured and stored much of this excess runoff for use in a dry year like we are currently experiencing. Sites Dam will be nearly 300 feet high and more than 700 feet in length; Golden Gate Dam will be about the same height and three times as long. The reservoirs slow pace of progress doesnt surprise leaders and water supply experts. Just a couple of 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 localized and regional flooding impacts throughout Northern California. The plan is to build a new lake in Northern California that, when full, could hold enough water to supply 3 million households for one year. 4-Story Complex for NW Fresno Has Residents Looking at Legal Options, Crowds Pack Yosemite to See This Summers Spectacular Waterfalls. 49:44. Sites Reservoir is a generational opportunity to construct a multi-benefit water storage project that helps restore flexibility, reliability, and resiliency to California's water supply. Its an increase of a few percent, but its real water to someone, saidJay Lund, a UC Davis professor of civil and environmental engineering. This is where Sites Reservoir comes in. Brown, the project authoritys executive director, said acquiring the private properties will be included in the project cost. The Biden administration recently committed $80 million to the reservoir, the largest appropriation of any water storage scheduled to receive funding next year. Water officials want to transform the area into a reservoir. Designed to integrate, augment and improve our existing water infrastructure, no other storage project currently contemplated can positively affect our statewide water system like Sites Reservoir. Jeff McCreary is director of operations for Ducks Unlimiteds western region. SACRAMENTO Amid a severe drought, California regulators on Wednesday voted to advance what could be the states first major new water storage project in decades, despite warnings from tribal and environmental groups that it would hasten the extinction of multiple species of salmon. The Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority is comprised of 17 water contractors spanning four counties (Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Yolo) along the west side of the Sacramento Valley, with a service area of 150,000 acres, producing over $250 million in crops per year, and contributing over $1 billion to our regional economy annually. Zakaria: Russias Biggest Problem Isnt the War. Building all of these features will account for much of the reservoirs $4 billion price tag. This is not a big on-stream dam project of past generations. It utilizes existing state-of-the-art screened, fish friendly water diversions on the Sacramento River and existing water conveyance facilities (GCID, TCCA, and the Colusa Basin Drain). In fact, not only does this project have an extremely benign environmental impact, it also dedicates a significant portion of its water supply and operational benefits to the enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Water board officials declined an interview request. Brown said the availability of preexisting canals makes the project viable. Other big tasks include buying land from local owners, ripping out a country road, demolishing structures, removing septic systems, clearing trees, scouring out mountains of topsoil and distributing it to local farms, and relocating two private cemeteries. Steve Evans, a water consultant for conservation groups including the California Wilderness Coalition, worries that the reservoirs diversions could disrupt the rivers ecology. Where Is It. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, that serves as our mountain reservoirs, is well below historic averages. A2022 federal loanof $2.2 billion and a $449 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Sites Project Authority, plus afinancial pledgefrom the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will cover much of the rest of the cost. But drought can also be disastrous to investors.. The idea behind the reservoir is to take water from the river only when it has extra water to give, such as during large storms like one last October that set a single-day Sacramento rainfall record. New California COVID Rule Will Worsen Labor Shortage: Business Leaders, Kevin Spesert with Sites Project Authority on the bank of a canal that would be a key water source for the planned new reservoir. So is Sites Reservoir. It provides a new off-stream water storage facility that integrates perfectly into our current water management system. The Metropolitan Water District which delivers 1.6 million acre-feet of imported water a year to 19 million people would receive about 50,000 more from Sites., adding just 3% to its supply. The proposal has also gained bipartisan support led by Gov. 2021 is the type of year Sites Reservoir is designed for. Its not an exaggeration to say that Californias Sacramento Valley rice farms are one of the main reasons why the Wests waterfowl populations buck a troubling trend. First conceived in the 1950s, the Sites Reservoir project was abandoned in the 1980s the twilight years of Americas big Western dam-building projects. The California Water Commission on Wednesday said the project is feasible, meaning it has met all of the requirements to remain eligible for public funding. Among changes to lessen the environmental impact, the reservoirs capacity has been downsized from 1.8 million acre-feet to 1.5 million. according to water agencies supporting the project, A massive project: How the reservoir will be built, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. California's water management infrastructure was predominantly developed in the 20th century and was not designed to operate under anticipated future climate conditions. Salmon benefits will be realized through the coordination of water releases from Northern Californias existing network of reservoirs. Yes, this exceptionally wet winter saved our birds, but we cant count on winters like that every year. Gov. Wednesday's vote by the California Water Commission means the lake named Sites Reservoir is eligible for about $800 million in taxpayer money, or about 20% of the project's price tag. However, with prudent investments in necessary water infrastructure, the impacts from the intermittent droughts that California experiences can be greatly mitigated and more effectively managed. Sites Reservoir Location View Photo Sacramento, CA A major boost was given today to a long-delayed plan to build a giant reservoir in Northern California to help the region to withstand. (AP File Photo/Adam Beam), Sites Reservoir Project Gets Boost From California Regulators, The Crash That Wasn't: Fresno Home Prices Climbing Again Despite High Interest Rates, Be on Lookout for Missing Reedley K9 Kona, a German Shepherd. Hardly a day goes by during which web pages of agricultural interests and petitions circulated by conservation groups dont feature some divisive development or fiery comment. 16, The Case for Sites Part IV: Jerry Brown, Sites Project Authority Executive Director, (530) 438-2309 U.S. Crime Supporters need about $4 billion to build it. If we didnt have all of that, this project would not be affordable, he said. As general manager of the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority, I know first-hand how impactful drought can be to California farms and ranches and how devastating it can be to the rural communities that rely on an agricultural economy that provides the food and fiber for our nation and the world. Victim IDd. Alcohol Believed a Factor in July 4 Clovis Pedestrian Death. About 160 miles of existing canals will be used to transfer water into and out of the reservoir, with plans to build just 20 miles of new conveyance, according to Brown. 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 its most beneficial for salmon runs and the Delta. Operator: USGS/USACE. The farther it travels, the more the water costs for the recipient, and for Metropolitan, Hawk said, the final cost per acre-foot will be roughly $1,000 to $1,300 considerably more than the average State Water Projects cost of $667 per acre-foot. California is taking steps toward a 2024 start of construction on the 1.5-million-acre-feet Sites Reservoir thanks to new funding. This reservoir will be operated to accommodate climate change and improve environmental and water supply system resilience. Thanks to an exceptionally wet winter, for the first time in years, farms and cities are receiving their full water supply because theres more than enough to meet the needs of people and the environment. Valley Boasts One of America's Great Skinny Dip Spots. (AP Photo/Adam Beam) SACRAMENTO Amid a severe drought, California . Valerie Pryor is the general manager of the Zone 7 Water Agency. Blogs Alcohol Believed a Factor in July 4 Clovis Pedestrian Death. He covers issues ranging from religion, culture and the environment to crime, politics and water. California has not built a major new reservoir since 1979. California just received 22 trillion gallons of rainwater last month, which could have filled Sites and provided a greater supply of water for the dry months, Garamendi told CalMatters. Californias water management infrastructure was predominantly developed in the 20th century and was not designed to operate under anticipated future climate conditions. Water would only be pumped from the Sacramento River into the Colusa County reservoir when flows are high, as they are this year, and at times when state regulators deem there is minimal risk to fish populations. Proponents say the Sites Reservoir is a necessary step to bolster Californias water supply, which is increasingly strained by drought as well as intense wet weather and flooding. 1, a water bond that authorized$2.7 billionfor new storage projects. Further, our aging and insufficient water infrastructure was developed prior to the population boom California has experienced over the last half century and is now being stressed beyond its capabilities. Off-channel reservoirs can cause less environmental harm because they dont block major fish migration routes. However, this snowpack has become less reliable due to the effects of climate change. National wildlife refuges will receive only 15% to 18% of their usual water supplies late in the season. Among 30 other beneficiaries, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California would get the largest share of the reservoirs water because it would pay the largest share of the projects development costs. Rice fields enrich the biodiversity of the region by providing habitat for more than 225 different species, and they are extremely important for the Pacific Flyways waterfowl. Northern California reservoirs, the foundation of both the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, are at historically low levels and continue to fall. Sites would make a small splash in Californias water supply: Major reservoirs now hold 50 million acre-feet and Sites would add only about 1.5 million more. Instead, the project must pump water from the nearby Sacramento River. Your email address will not be published. Jeff Sutton is vice chair of the Sites Project Authority and general manager of the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority. Like many other farmers in the region, hes seen his water deliveries reduced to a trickle. We are in the third year of a serious drought, and the frequency of drought has shifted from every 10 years to every few years., Were actually going to get the project done, Newsom said during a tour of Oroville Dam last month. As our climate continues to change, we can expect more of the same, and possibly worse if we dont make some meaningful changes to how we manage water in California. That water is needed for fisheries and water quality in downstream ecosystems and every time you take it out of the system you are having an environmental impact., Drought: California regulators advance major, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Drought: California regulators advance major reservoir project, California hotel workers suspend walkout as pay talks continue, California Senate race: Schiff reports $8.1M haul for quarter, Marin leads Bay Area in aging of population, census data say, Fourth of July trash at Lake Tahoe beaches to be cleaned up by robots, 30+ Bay Area Fourth of July fireworks displays for 2023, Mill Valley sued over affordable housing project, Tiburon family gets approval for cows on property, Bay Area enclaves face wave of 'builder's remedy' moves, Parades, pancakes pack crowds to Marin Fourth celebrations, Marin County to withdraw COVID general relief cushions, Marin DA's office swamped with murder sentencing relitigation, Dick Spotswood: California's $5B bailout for public transportation is a mistake, Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo defend titles at Nathans hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, Students expecting a fight to the death to get a spot in Stanfords new Taylor Swift class, Federal judge blocks portions of new Florida election law, Say goodbye to $1 vintage records: Thrift store chains are cashing in on vinyl resurgence, Sharks bite 3 Long Island swimmers on July 4, day after teen surfer attacked off Fire Island beach, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. This money is allocated under the assumption that operating the reservoir will provide recreation opportunities, ecosystem and water quality improvements and enhanced flood control for downstream communities. Also included is a pair of tunnels 23 feet wide and 3,000 feet long. Rep. John Garamendi, a Democrat from Walnut Grove, is one of many long-time Sites advocates who have grown impatient waiting for the new reservoir. If Sites Reservoir had been in place during that time, not only could we have avoided many of those flooding impacts, but we also could have captured and stored much of this excess runoff for use in a dry year like we are currently experiencing. A significant portion of the Sites Reservoir Projects annual water supplies will be dedicated to environmental uses to help improve conditions for Delta smelt and to improve Pacific Flyway habitat for migratory birds and other native species. In California, we have experience with droughts. The Sites Reservoir project is not going to solve all of our problems, said Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Reservoir Authority, and who is not related to the former California governor with the same name. Its Losing the 21st Century. Sites Reservoir is an insurance policy for future droughts. Sierra Club California also warns that the reservoir, about 10 miles west of the small town of Maxwell and Interstate 5, would facilitate development of the controversial Delta Conveyance Project, a.k.a.