The Sites Reservoir reached a major milestone this week as the State Water Resources Control Board approved the project’s final water right permit. The decision puts California on track to build its largest new reservoir in more than 50 years. The permit moves California closer to building a reservoir designed to capture water during wet periods and save it for dry years. Located in Glenn and Colusa counties, Sites Reservoir is designed to capture water from the Sacramento River during eligible high-flow periods and store it for use during prolonged dry conditions. The project would add 1.5 million acre-feet of water storage capacity. Once complete, Sites Reservoir will:

• Capture and store high flows from the Sacramento River during large storms and wet winters, providing flood management benefits.
• Deliver water to wildlife refuges, including the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
•  Provide up to 200,000 acre-feet of water for use during emergency-declared droughts.

“This is an important day for Sites Reservoir and for California,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors. “Sites has been decades in the making, and today we are closer than ever to making it a reality. With this decision, we’re ready to move forward and turn years of planning into action.” Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom stated “Honestly, it is hard to believe we have gotten this far. I won’t rest until the first load of concrete is being poured, but this is a huge step in making this reservoir a reality.”