California Water Regulators Greenlight Sites Reservoir Permit
The California State Water Resources Control Board has granted approval for a permit facilitating the construction of the Sites Reservoir, marking the state’s first significant reservoir project in over a decade.
Details of the Project
The ambitious plans for the reservoir include the construction of two primary dams reaching heights of approximately 300 feet, alongside nine smaller auxiliary dams. This infrastructure will enable the collection of water diverted from the Sacramento River, inundating an estimated 15,000 acres in a valley located northwest of Sacramento.
Unanimous Approval Amidst Controversy
Following a contentious discussion, the board reached a unanimous decision late Wednesday to approve the water rights permit for the Sites Reservoir, situated near the community of Maxwell. Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel emphasized the necessity of such projects amidst increasingly severe droughts and floods, stating, “Sites is built for exactly that.”
State Officials Support Climate Adaptation Efforts
State officials, along with managers of water agencies, assert that the $7 billion reservoir will play an essential role in California’s strategy to address the challenges posed by climate change. Governor Gavin Newsom hailed the decision, highlighting it as a significant step toward revitalizing large infrastructure initiatives in the state. He characterized the project as a wise investment, urging, “Now it’s time to get shovels in the ground.”
Project Timeline
Construction of the Sites Reservoir is slated to commence next year, with completion anticipated by 2034.
Opposition Voices Concerns
However, opposition to the project is robust, primarily from environmentalists and advocates for fishing. Critics argue that the reservoir’s construction would largely divert essential water resources from the Sacramento River, posing potential risks to salmon and other native fish populations. They label the initiative a costly misstep that would primarily benefit agribusiness and influential entities. Concerns were raised about the reservoir potentially raising temperatures in the river, exacerbating algae blooms, and jeopardizing the aquatic ecosystem within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Environmental Perspectives
Keiko Mertz, policy director of the environmental organization Friends of the River, criticized the project’s viability. “Sites Reservoir doesn’t make any sense because of its high cost, relatively low yield, and significant negative impacts,” Mertz stated, asserting that the reservoir would only contribute about half a percent to California’s water supply, on average.
Cultural Impact on Native Communities
Indigenous activists have also expressed strong opposition, warning that flooding the valley would lead to the destruction of sacred sites and ancestral burial grounds. They assert that such actions represent a continuation of cultural erasure.
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