By Jerry Brown, Executive Director, Sites Project Authority
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sites Project Authority—the governing body created in 2010 to advance the longstanding vision for an off-stream reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. What began as an idea to strengthen California’s water resilience has grown into a project on the verge of starting construction. Over the past 15 years, the Sites Reservoir Project has reached major milestones driven by a commitment to community, affordability, collaboration, and opportunity. Working together, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable water future for our farms, communities, and fish and wildlife.
Key Milestones Along the Journey
We’ve made remarkable progress and have a lot to celebrate—especially in the last few years. Here’s a look back at major milestones along the way:
- 2010: The Authority was formed by local leaders in Colusa and Glenn Counties, launching a collaborative effort to address California’s water challenges.
- 2014: Voters passed Proposition 1, securing $2.7 billion for water storage projects statewide and paving the way for Sites to receive substantial state funding.
- 2018: Sites Reservoir received $816 million in state funding from the California Water Commission, the largest award to any project under Proposition 1, along with $449 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both of these came with strong support from NCWA and other similar organizations from across the state.
- 2019: Based on environmental review feedback, the project went through a rigorous value planning process focused on making things more affordable, permittable, and buildable. These adjustments set the course for future success.
- 2023: Sites Reservoir became the first project certified under Senate Bill 149, streamlining judicial review of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) legal challenges. The Authority also achieved a critical environmental milestone with certification of its Final EIR/EIS, which affirmed the project complies with California’s rigorous environmental laws.
- 2024: The California courts upheld the Project’s CEQA certification, affirming our rigorous environmental review process. The State Water Resources Control Board initiated hearings to consider the project’s water right.
- Through summer 2025: Federal funding committed to the project reached $780 million and state Prop 1 funding reached $1.09 billion. Together, the state and federal government cover about one third of the project benefits. The other two thirds are allotted to 22 local water agencies, and there is a waiting list of 15 others. A shortlist of internationally recognized contractors advanced to the next phase of procurement, with selection of a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor for the reservoir and roads package expected this fall.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this 15-year milestone, we’re also looking ahead to the next chapter. Later this year, we anticipate securing a water right permit, another critical step toward construction. Each of the participating agencies in Sites will be making a big decision about their participation in the project early in 2026. By late 2026, we expect to break ground on Sites Reservoir, moving the project from planning and permitting to a reality.
We couldn’t have gotten this far within this amount of time without the support of our regional and statewide partners. From local landowners and community leaders to state and federal partners, the broad and diverse support for the project underscores the significant benefits it will provide to our communities, farms, and environment.
Sites Reservoir is more than a water infrastructure project; it’s a generational investment in resilience and sustainability for the North State that serves to better all of California’s future. We look forward to the next 15 years when we expect to be filling the reservoir and possibly be delivering the first acre-foot of water.
Yes Jerry, good progress. A little frustrating though considering that the Sites Reservoir was first proposed when Eisenhower was President in the 1950s, 70 years ago. As the chief consultant for the state senate select committee overseeing the Calfed water program, I remember standing in what will be the bottom of the lake with Lester Snow. Back then, he was the Executive Director of the Program. It was 1998 when he told me that the Sites Reservoir would start by the year 2000. I still hope to see water in Sites in my lifetime.