sacramento river
California pushes forward with Sites Reservoir construction
Despite the largest dam removal project in U.S. history underway, the federal government has allocated $216 million for California's first major new reservoir in fifty years.
In short:
- The proposed Sites Reservoir will require two main dams and will inundate 14,000 acres of grassland, primarily sourcing water from the Sacramento River.
- Advocates claim the project will address climate change by storing winter rainwater, but critics argue it endangers vital salmon habitats and serves wealthy agribusiness interests.
- The project, fast-tracked by the governor, is structured like real estate, allowing stakeholders to buy water shares.
Key quote:
"These winter flows are the only thing that’s keeping these really at-risk species alive and these ecosystems functioning."
— Ann Willis, California director of American Rivers
Why this matters:
The reservoir project highlights ongoing conflicts between water management and environmental conservation. It raises concerns about prioritizing economic interests over ecological health and equitable water distribution.
Will California get enough rain to fill its pricey new reservoir?
Named for the small community it will eventually inundate, the Sites Reservoir will divert water from the Sacramento River during high flow conditions via two existing canals and a new pumping station.
Winter-run Chinook in the Sacramento seeing lowest survival rate ever
Conservationists say time running out to save endangered salmon in Sacramento River
California funds new dams to protect against future drought
For the first time since California's dam-building boom ended nearly a half century ago, state officials on Tuesday approved a windfall of cash for new water storage projects, setting the stage for at least a mini-resurgence of reservoir construction.