This week, Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA-03) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2014. This legislation would authorize a feasibility study and construction of Sites Reservoir, approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell in Colusa County.
This legislation sets a deadline for completion of the feasibility study, and if deemed feasible, authorizes construction of the storage reservoir. Additionally, this legislation creates a process by which a non-federal sponsor could develop the project.
Once completed, Sites Reservoir would provide 1.9 million acre feet of water storage capacity for Northern California, and would help residents prepare for droughts like the one currently impacting the State. This legislation was developed with local stakeholders, including the Sites Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a regional consortium of local water agencies, as well as Glenn County and Colusa County, who joined together in 2010 to advocate for the project.
For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.