November 15, 2021 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. - As part of a continuing effort to increase resiliency and operational flexibility throughout California, the Bureau of Reclamation and Sites Project Authority have released the Sites Reservoir revised/supplemental draft environmental documents, beginning a 60-day public comment period for the proposed project. Also known as the North of Delta Offstream Storage project, Reclamation and the Sites Project Authority have been investigating building a 1.3-to-1.5-million-acre-foot reservoir in rural Colusa and Glenn counties in Northern California.

Sites Reservoir is a proposed multi-benefit, off-stream water storage facility. The project will be designed to capture and store storm water and flood flows from the Sacramento River, after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met. Water will be banked for release primarily in drier years, such as 2021.

“We are pleased to partner with Sites Project Authority on this unique off-stream storage project to create much needed water storage in California,” said Reclamation Regional Director Ernest Conant. “The multi-beneficial Sites Reservoir would provide operational flexibility and more reliable water delivery to benefit California farms, communities, and the environment.” 

Two virtual public meetings have been scheduled to review the proposed alternatives and accept public comments:

• Wednesday, Dec. 15, 6-8 p.m., Zoom webinar, https://sitesproject.org/environmental-review/
• Thursday, Dec. 16, 9-11 a.m., Zoom webinar, https://sitesproject.org/environmental-review/

The public review and comment period will extend to Jan. 11, 2022. The Sites Reservoir Project Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php—Project_ID=29024 or https://sitesproject.org/resources/environmental-review/. Written comments must be received by close of business Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, and may be received at the virtual meetings, emailed to EIR-EIS-Comments@SitesProject.org; mailed to Sites Project Authority, P.O. Box 517, Maxwell, CA  95955, or Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2830, Sacramento, CA  95825.

“We’ve been working diligently and thoughtfully during the past year to develop and refine a proposed water storage project that meets the needs of people and farms, while providing maximum benefit to the environment,” said Fritz Durst, chair of the Sites Project Authority. “And there is no time like the present, in a year when we are experiencing relentless drought, for us to advance a reservoir project that will make us more resilient in the face of harsh, dry conditions.”

A significant portion of Sites Reservoir’s annual water supplies will be dedicated to environmental uses, such as improving conditions for Delta smelt; helping preserve cold-water pool in Shasta Reservoir later into the summer months to support salmon development, spawning, and rearing; and improving Pacific Flyway habitat for migratory birds and other native species.

For questions about the Sites Reservoir project or meetings, contact Alicia Forsythe, Sites Project Authority, at 916-880-0676, aforsythe@sitesproject.org, or Vanessa King, Reclamation, at 916-978-5077, vking@usbr.gov.

Learn more about the project at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nodos/ and https://sitesproject.org/.

Sites Reservoir Project Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Source: Bureau of Reclamation