Sites Reservoir: Water for Dry Years
Now more than ever, California needs innovative solutions to ensure we have a sustainable water supply. Our climate has changed, and we need more storage as the West gets drier and hotter to ensure we have enough water to meet our needs.
Sites Reservoir is a unique, multi-benefit water storage project that will capture and store water from major storms, so water is available to California’s communities, farms, and environment during dry periods.
The water that Californians use for drinking, recreating and protecting the environment moves through a system that is arguably the most complex in the world.
Sites Reservoir Benefits
- Reliable dry-year water supply for California’s communities, farms and environment
- Dedicated environmental water for native fish, migratory birds, and their habitats
- Adaptable to climate change
- Contribution to California’s renewable energy goals
- Flood management
- Recreational opportunities
- Job creation, including a large skilled workforce during construction
Sites Reservoir Fast Facts
Creates additional 1.5 million acre-foot off-stream storage for drier periods
Increases Sacramento Valley water storage capacity
Creates reliable supplies for environmental, agricultural, and municipal uses
30 participating agencies representing communities across California
A Part of the Sacramento Valley
Sites Reservoir would be located on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, near Maxwell, California – a rural farming town in Colusa County, approximately 65 miles northwest of Sacramento. The Sacramento Valley is known for its farming community, rich agricultural benefits, and natural beauty. The region’s acres of grassland surrounded by rolling foothills make it an ideal location for off-stream water storage. The proposal is widely supported by local community leaders, residents, as well as state water managers and water agencies from the Bay Area to Southern California.
A Bird’s-Eye View of California’s Water Future
Join JP Robinette, Engineering and Construction Manager for the Sites Project Authority, for a drone tour of the future Sites Reservoir site. Discover how the project leverages existing water infrastructure to capture water from the Sacramento River and deliver it to our participants. More than just a reservoir, Sites is a climate-resilient investment in California’s future.
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Sites Reservoir's 2025 highlights:
✅ Key state & federal wildlife permits
✅ CMAR procurement launched
✅ Construction Workforce Policy adopted
✅ $480M+ in new funding secured
Explore the full Annual Report ➡️ http://bit.ly/4uy6VBY
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Sites Reservoir reached major milestones in 2025, putting the project on the path toward construction.
✅ CA Department of Fish & Wildlife approved the Project’s Master Streambed Alteration Agreement
✅ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued its Biological Opinion for federal endangered species compliance
✅We launched a procurement process to select a CMAR for the Reservoir and Roads Package, including shortlisting top applicants
✅ We adopted a Construction Workforce Policy to support a skilled regional workforce
✅ The project secured more than $480M in new state and federal funding commitments
Each milestone brings us closer to delivering a 21st‑century reservoir that will provide water reliability, operational flexibility, and environmental benefits for generations to come.
Learn more about the project’s progress and what’s ahead for Sites Reservoir at the link in our bio.
Today, we launched a competitive procurement process to select a Construction Manager at Risk to construct the up to $2 billion conveyance infrastructure package for the Sites Reservoir Project. Qualified firms are invited to apply by July 29. Learn more at the link in our bio.
California voters passed Prop 1 to invest in water storage that benefits people and the environment. Sites Reservoir will be the first and only reservoir in the state to have dedicated environmental water to support wildlife and ecosystems.
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
Sites Reservoir is built to work with the Sacramento Valley`s existing local infrastructure. More than 100 miles of existing canals and pipelines will help capture and deliver water where it`s needed most.
Visit SitesProject.org to learn more.
California’s working lands do more than grow food; they sustain whole ecosystems. Up to 500,000 acres of rice fields help support wildlife each year. Water from Sites Reservoir will support local farmland that doubles as a resting spot for the Pacific Flyway.
#BuildSitesNow
Sites Reservoir will store 1.5 million acre-feet of water, increasing Northern California`s storage capacity by up to 15%. It`s a key part of California`s Water Supply Strategy to expand storage by 4 million acre-feet statewide.
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
As climate change continues, California’s water supply faces growing risks. That’s why Sites Reservoir is designed to capture water during heavy storms and save it for dry years, when it’s needed most by farms🌾, families🏡, fish🐟, and fowl 🦆.
#BuildSitesNow
Did you know Sites Reservoir is 100% publicly funded by local, state, and federal dollars? The communities served by the agencies investing in the project will directly benefit.
Learn more at SitesProject.org.
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Sites Reservoir reached major milestones in 2025, putting the project on the path toward construction.
✅ CA Department of Fish & Wildlife approved the Project’s Master Streambed Alteration Agreement
✅ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued its Biological Opinion for federal endangered species compliance
✅We launched a procurement process to select a CMAR for the Reservoir and Roads Package, including shortlisting top applicants
✅ We adopted a Construction Workforce Policy to support a skilled regional workforce
✅ The project secured more than $480M in new state and federal funding commitments
Each milestone brings us closer to delivering a 21st‑century reservoir that will provide water reliability, operational flexibility, and environmental benefits for generations to come.
Learn more about the project’s progress and what’s ahead for Sites Reservoir in our 2025 Annual Report: bit.ly/4uy6VBY
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
What percentage of the water is dedicated to agriculture? I've heard it is zero.
Has any property been purchased from the public for this project?
Milestones for what money laundering since nothing has been built yet been talked about for years