An additional $30 million in funding has been allotted from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the Sites Reservoir project, bringing the total in Federal funding from the Bureau of Reclamation for construction of the Sites Reservoir to roughly $134 million.
“Sites Reservoir creates new resiliency for California in the face of climate change,” said Fritz Durst, chairman of the Sites Project Authority. “Through Sites, we are building smarter infrastructure that will provide water supplies for people, farms and the environment when it’s needed most.”
Project advocates say the project will provide “significant public benefits, including environmental, flood control and recreational benefits.”
“We appreciate that our federal partners continue to recognize the importance of Sites Reservoir and the positive impact it will have on California,” added Durst.
The Sites Reservoir project is an off-stream facility that does not dam a major river system and would not block fish migration or spawning. Sites captures and stores stormwater flows from the Sacramento River – after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met – for release primarily in dry years.
The Sites Reservoir Project is locally led by the Sites Project Authority which is made up Sacramento Valley water districts, cites and counties.