California water board approves permit for Sites Reservoir project

Detractors of the reservoir includes environmentalists and Native tribes that say they're being ignored in favor of "Big Agriculture."SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California’s water board on Wednesday granted a permit to the Sites Reservoir project, a 1.5 million acre-foot lake intended as an answer to the problems of a changing climate and the state’s evolving water needs.The decision by the State Water Resources Control Board was a crucial step to make the long-simmering project a reality. Officials said the reservoir in Colusa County would allow diversions of up to 986,000 acre-feet of water annually, or enough for 8.4 million people a year.The board voted unanimously to approve the permit and an accompanying decision.“This is a pretty monumental decision here,” vice chair Dorene D’Adamo said, adding: “This has been a lengthy and complex process.”Cost estimates call for billions of dollars to construct the project, with an expected operational date in 2035.Supporters say it’s a critical component needed to capture more water during future heavy-rainfall events, which are expected because of climate change.“This weather whiplash is not an aberration,” said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the state’s Natural Resources Agency. “It is the new normal.”However, opponents pointed to environmental and tribal concerns, saying the water board should scrap the project or alter the permit before approving it.The board made some changes to the written decision, inserting clarifying language about required unimpaired flows and consultation with Native American tribes.Support and opposition for the project closely mirrored arguments made at last week’s marathon board meeting that ended in approval of an updated plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It’s a massive watershed that provides drinking and municipal water to some 30 million people, along with irrigation water for 4 million acres.The Bay-Delta plan update creates new pathways for affected water agencies, imposing waterflow requirements depending on the regulatory pathway chosen.The plan affects Sites Reservoir, which opponents said should require 55% minimum unimpaired flows — a point countered by board member Sean Maguire, who said a range of 45% to 65% is in the plan. Many opponents argued the board should include the 55% requirement in the permit and not rely only on the plan.Eric Buescher, with the San Francisco Baykeeper, said the board should not only list such conditions in the permit but make it enforceable as well. He argued the Delta is in crisis and needs increased flows.“The permit should say that,” he added.Keiko Mertz, policy director with Friends of the River, said the reservoir was senseless as it destroys sacred tribal lands and harms fish and other species.“Sites will be extremely expensive,” she said, giving an estimate of between $6.8 billion to $9 billion.State officials in 2024 estimated the cost at $4 billion.Theresa Moore, treasurer of the Chhé’ee Fókaa Band of Northeastern Pomo, told board members the Sites project was built on lies and racism. She called the board the mouthpiece of Big Agriculture and profiteers, noting it approved the Bay-Delta plan despite many tribe members opposing it.Moore said the board highlights its supposed partnerships with tribes, then discards their input.Sammi Jerry said the project felt like a desecration of tribal sites, arguing that those rights are being stripped away.“Too often our voices are ignored, our concerns are dismissed,” she said.Mertz added that tribes have described the board’s tribe consultation as checking a box, suggesting mitigation or reparations for affected tribes.Many others, including union members and water agencies, supported the project. Union members said the project would provide jobs.“This is going to be an extremely economic beneficial project for the region,” said Matt Goody, with Local Union 228.Charles Wilson, with the Southern California Water Coalition, argued Sites Reservoir is an investment needed by the state. He said California will face a test: capturing water during heightened rain events as it experiences the effects of climate change.The state must have both environmental stewardship and a reliable water supply, he added.“We need to get this right,” Wilson said. “It’s time to move forward.”Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads