Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Reclamation and Sites Project Authority released final plans to create new off-stream water storage in the Sacramento Valley. The Sites Reservoir would increase water storage capacity in our region by up to 15 percent.
“This finalized plan between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Sites Project Authority is a significant step forward in increasing water storage in our region,” said Thompson. “I have long supported this project, and as a State Senator, I appropriated the first funds for Sites Reservoir. I was proud to have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provided millions of dollars in investments to make this project a reality.”
“Investing in Western water infrastructure is a top priority for Reclamation and the Biden Administration as witnessed by the commitment of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “We are proud to support projects that will provide operational flexibility and more reliable water delivery to benefit farms, communities, and the environment. We stand in partnership with the State of California and the JPA with projects like Sites Reservoir.”
“This is a really big step forward for the Sites project and another example of how state and federal agencies are working together to build our water resilience amidst climate change,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Sites Reservoir promises to help us adjust to intensifying floods and droughts by storing water in big, wet winters like we just had for use during the dry years that we know will return. The environmental review that has just been completed for the project will guide how this project can operate in alignment with existing water and environmental management, as well as other water infrastructure. We have no time to waste to put these climate solutions into place.”
A $30 million investment to the project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in October 2022 and an additional $30 million in July 2023. The project was also authorized $173.7 million from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, for a total of $233.7 million in federal contributions to date