The DEIS/DEIR has violated the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) which requires that the Bureau of Reclamation consult with and fully consider recommendations from the U.S. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. A baby hawk fell from a 100-foot tree in S.F.s Golden Gate Park. Disclaimer: The Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. Many environmental organizations and governmental agencies are opposed to the project and it is certain to face years of legal challenges should it move forward. Sites Reservoir is a potential new offstream reservoir that would be located about 78 miles northwest of Sacramento in the eastern foothills of the California Coast Range. Kelly M. Grow California Department of Water Resources. But the probability of any major new water project is always small in California.. Belatedly, increasing storage is moving upward on the political agenda. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife, which must issue permits, said the original plan would take too much water out of the Sacramento River, harming salmon, steelhead and other species. Kurtis Alexander is an enterprise reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, with a focus on natural resources and the environment. For the Terminal Regulating Reservoir, a planned new off-stream reservoir, Geosyntec developed the plan and designs, including performing hydraulic analyses for design of the emergency spillway. 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Safe Site has a wide range of equipment and unparalleled experience -35+ years -which allows us to be more effective than others in the industry. Then theres money. Geosyntec is the project lead for the configuration and design of the two regulating reservoirs. Sites Reservoir Water Right Application Moves Forward Maxwell, Calif. - The Sites Project Authority (Authority) received notification from the [] Press Release: Governor Newsom Includes Sites Reservoir in Building More, Creating Jobs Initiative May 19, 2023 Private Utility Locating, Vacuum Excavation & Mapping. Proposition 1, which passed with 67% voter approval, authorized $7.1 billion of bond funding for water projects, the largest chunk of which was earmarked for storage, about $2.7 billion. Gavin Newsom has weighed in, too, pledging to expedite the construction of new storage facilities by providing additional funding and removing permitting barriers, not unlike his predecessor, Jerry Brown, who similarly tried to accelerate the work. Were in a climate emergency and we need to start acting with some urgency here, said Adrian Covert, senior vice president of public policy for the Bay Area Council, which advocates for businesses in the Bay Area. The cost of building reservoirs has skyrocketed as new reservoir sites have become trickier to engineer. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The proposed Sites Reservoir is an offstream facility that would not dam a major river nor block fish migration or spawning. The Sites Reservoir would be approximately 12,000 to 14,000 . @media(min-width: 800px) { .example_responsive_1 { width: 728px; height: 90px; } } Before joining the Chronicle, Alexander worked as a freelance writer and as a staff reporter for several media organizations, including The Fresno Bee and Bay Area News Group, writing about government, politics and the environment. Under the new approach, the price tag will be cut roughly 40% from $5.1 billion to $3 billion. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Uinta/Wasatch/Cache National Forest Campgrounds. Any large-scale water storage project is complex and requires a high degree of planning, engineering, construction, significant financing, and coordination with existing water infrastructure and operations, said Paul Cambra, spokesman for the California Water Commission, which is in charge of awarding the bond money. Its entirely possible that climate change will not only change the mix of precipitation more rain and less snow but reduce the overall volume of water that falls on California, thus making more storage even more crucial while forcing us to rethink the entire pattern of water use. The reservoirs size will shrink from 1.8 million acre feet to 1.5 million acre feet. Local News | As an off-stream reservoir, Sites escapes at least some of the traditional opposition to big water projects from environmental groups, but there is some criticism that it could be used to divert water during low precipitation periods. But home values in this ZIP code are inching closer to their peak from last summer, according to Zillow data. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Sites Reservoir Project - CEQAnet . The hope was to amass water in wet times and save it for dry times. Our technicians are proficient in the operation and interpretation of all types of . Utah Outdoor Activities is your online resource to the Utah outdoors. Sites Reservoir Project Public Draft EIR/EIS - Bureau of Reclamation Millsite State Park also offers access to excellent off-highway vehicle and mountain bike riding areas. In non-emergency flood conditions, Shasta Dam releases are restricted to 79,000 cfs at the tailwater of Keswick Dam (79,000 cfs is the estimated safe channel carrying capacity of the Sacramento River For continually updated information on H.R. A secluded 435-acre lake at the mouth of scenic Ferron Canyon awaits visitors who love water-oriented activities. Two new major reservoir proposals were initially selected to receive bond money, but one of the projects on the San Joaquin River didnt get enough to move forward, leaving the 13-mile-long Sites as the biggest venture. Chico State department has critical part in restoration of river channel Plans to . 1.8 million acre-foot off-stream storage reservoir on the west side of the Sacramento Valley outside the city of Maxwell. However, despite the urgency of the situation one underscored by thecurrent drought California politicians have been lackadaisical about doing what needs to be done. Simple logic tells us that as climate change alters precipitation patterns, California must expand its capacity to capture and store water. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Ground Penetrating Radar & Concrete Scanning. Thank you for visiting and for your ongoing support! Interactive map of water levels for major reservoirs in California Officials said the Sites Project Authority also was invited to apply for a $2.2 billion low-interest loan through the Environmental Protection Agencys Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program earlier this year. The proposed Sites Reservoir is an offstream facility that would not dam a major river nor block fish migration or spawning. So, late last month, the agency planning the reservoir, the Sites Project Authority, issued new plans. The proponents water yield figures for SITES are fundamentally flawed, having not factored in evaporation from such a large reservoir surface, drought, and continued impacts from Climate Change. Some water agencies have worried that the price theyll have to pay for future reservoir water will be too high as project operators seek to recover their costs. Description of the Sites Reservoir Project Alternatives . Southern Californias recent construction of more storage capacity is one reason it is less affected by the current drought than Northern California. Sites Reservoir Project - Alternatives Analysis and Feasibility-Level 's best affordable restaurants, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The SITES concept has been ruled out many times in the last 20 years because the MEASURABLE COSTS were HIGHER THAN THE ASSUMEDBENEFITS. Officials said Wednesday that the Sites Reservoir project, which could provide 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, was awarded $80 million in federal funding from the Bureau of Reclamation via the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. However, California municipal customers saved over 600,000 acre-feet of water in less than three months in the drought through conservation. The SITES proposal is advertised as shovel ready and is being fast-tracked however it has still not gone though the full review process required under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act). The facility will receive and release water through a system of new pipelines and existing canals connected to the Sacramento River, with operations driven by two pumping plants, which will also serve as power generating plants. Sites Reservoir is a proposed multi-benefit, off-stream water storage facility, located north of Sacramento in rural Colusa and Glenn counties. Thats why this project is probably in trouble.. Sites Reservoir awarded $80 million in federal funds You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. The project promotes state goals of regional self-sufficiency in water use. Construction of Sites Reservoir would also necessitate construction of a bridge or bypass road to connect Maxwell with the community of Lodoga. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Geosyntec is a consulting and engineering firm that works with private and public sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Additionally, the actual amount of water the projects would hold would be far less because the reservoirs wouldnt consistently fill. He frequently writes about water, wildfire, climate and the American West. Reservoir siting and alternatives analysis; Reservoir facilities layout and configuration; Embankment dam evaluation and design; Spillway hydraulic analysis and design; Dam and appurtenances exploration planning; Evaluation and design of deep excavations, ground improvement, and stockpiling/staging. Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Staff Photographer / The Chronicle, Skiing in July: Photos show huge crowds mobbing Tahoe slopes. The expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Brentwood is slated to receive bond money from the state. But Sacramento Valley farmers already have groundwater and senior water rights. Download : Download high-res image (547KB) . Brown is confident that the Sites Reservoir will be built now that The Environmental Protection Agency, on Thursday, March 17, 2022, signaled its intent to loan nearly $2.2 billion to the Sites . The water storage currently taking place for the community of Folsom could be helped by the existence of Sites, he continued., The Vacaville ReporterGaramendi says storage vital for Solano, state Sites, considered for decades and studied since the 1990s, is the largest of the proposed reservoir projects being discussed for California, drawing Sacramento River water through canals instead of disrupting the river flow outright., The Marysville Appeal-DemocratBipartisan plan for Sites Reservoir introduced Long hailed as a solution to California water issues, the proposed Sites Reservoir took a bipartisan step forward on Wednesday. To me it just shows its a project thats struggling to pay for itself, said Ron Stork, a senior policy advocate for Friends of the River, a group that opposes the project. Amid drought, California advances major new reservoir project - Los Miss Manners: I just learned this rule about the anthem. proposed Sites Reservoir in the Sacramento Valley, How fireworks smoke could impact Bay Area air quality today, Newsom updating states opioid plan to encompass rising threat of tranq, Here are S.F. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Sites Reservoir would increase Northern California's water storage capacity by up to 15 percent. What's taking so long to build a California reservoir? - CalMatters Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Potential significant impacts to endangered and threatened species: Sacramento River Chinook salmon, Bank Swallows, Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beatles, Yellow-billed cuckoos. 3. Last week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency invited sponsors of the Sites Reservoir project, which has been on the back burner for decades, to apply for a $2.2 billion loan that would cover roughly 40% of the projects estimated cost. The injection module . News - Sites Reservoir The Project would consist of a new, offstream storage reservoir with a capacity of up to 1.8 million acre-feet (MAF). Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. All Rights Reserved. So far, 21 agencies have put up $27 million for planning and studies. Excavators should contact a private utility locator to locate and mark the private utilities in the area. Safe Site Utility Services is a full service subsurface utility locating firm (level D, Level C, Level B, Level A). While completing the Prop. Sites Reservoir: California's drought insurance policy Funks Reservoir; 3,372 AF capacity (same as A) Holthouse Spillway and Stilling Basin . Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander. Others include the expansion of two reservoirs in the Bay Area, Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County and Pacheco Reservoir in Santa Clara County. For other projects, including the Pacheco Reservoir,it could be several more years. Also, when cold water is released from reservoirs for fish, that water could be stored near Maxwell, [Thad Bettner, manager of Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District said]. From highly scientific studies to large construction projects, our staff has extensive experience, the latest tools and technologies, and dedication to client service. Plans to build an 18-mile pipeline east to the Sacramento River to fill the reservoir were dropped in favor of using existing canals. Reservoir) on the T-C Canal are needed to fill Sites Reservoir reliably. We took to heart what people told us and said we need to take a step back and re-evaluate this, he said. For more outdoor activities, please connect with us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Along with increasing the states water storage capacity, the Sites Reservoir project will be able to provide water during drought years by saving it when its abundant from wet years and major storm events, officials said. To win broad support for the bond measure in 2014, Prop. ADVICE: Are North Americans wimps when it comes to pain tolerance? But they have alternatives, like building local reservoirs, expanding recycled water and conservation, and cleaning contaminated groundwater, which may be cheaper. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The project, which has been in the works for more than 60 years, hopes to turn the Sites Valley, located 10 miles west of Maxwell where Colusa and Glenn counties meet, into a state-of-the-art off-stream water storage facility that captures and stores stormwater flows in the Sacramento River after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met for release in dry and critical years for environmental use and for communities, farms and businesses statewide to utilize when needed, the Appeal previously reported. Latest Attack on Proposed Sites Reservoir - Not Enough Water . It does not store any personal data. Congressmen Garamendi and LaMalfa Introduce Water Storage Bill for (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This article may include affiliate links. When youre talking about storage projects and dams, they are going to last 100 years and you want to get it right and caution is appropriate. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Proposed Sites Reservoir would: Provide water for up to 1.5 million homes Officials said Jan. 4 that the Sites Reservoir project, which could provide 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, was awarded $80 million in federal funding from the Bureau We only recommend products or services we personally use. Prop. For each reservoir, the current water level (updated daily) is shown along with the historical average and the total reservoir capacity. Thank you for reading! SACRAMENTO Amid a severe drought, California regulators on Wednesday voted to advance what could be the state's first major new water storage project in decades, despite warnings from tribal and. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Funks Reservoir is an existing reservoir, which will be modified, and the Terminal Regulating Reservoir is a new reservoir. The Project would require modifications to the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District system and the Tehama-Colusa Canal to move water into and out of the reservoir. They also were awarded a $439 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Construction of Sites Reservoir would bring California one major step closer to a drought-proof water system. Thank you for reading! Why hasnt it gotten built? As much clamor as there has been for more storage, however, water experts warn that it may not be the panacea that advocates profess, specifically reservoirs. The BORs DEIS/DEIR fails to include their mandatory FWCA report which must document that those steps were taken. Geosyntec remained flexible and agile, rapidly responding to schedule compressions, repeatedly adjusting the team and approach to ensure delivery on schedule. Does not provide adequate public benefit for public dollars that may be spent on the project. Sites will serve to capture and store stormwater and flood flows in the Sacramento River, after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met, for release primarily in drier years, such as . A Flexible Storage Solution Sites Reservoir does not rely on snow-melt but captures winter runoff from uncontrolled streams below the existing reservoirs in the Sacramento Valley. 1. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Box 993777 Redding, Ca 96099-0027 All rights reserved. To get the state bond money, the project must lock in 75% of its outside funding and finish its draft environmental studies by Jan. 1, 2022. SITES Reservoir - EcoShasta | S.E.A. This bipartisan legislation was developed with local stakeholders, primarily the Sites Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a regional consortium . (August 2008) Please add to this list from the below sources. More of the same will not provide relief from severe drought but Sites Reservoir is a new source of drought year water that will provide tangible benefits to Californias environment, people and farms, Durst said. Home prices in most of the Bay Area remain below the highs set a year ago. Sites Reservoir - Wikipedia MWL: Maximum water level . Along with construction sequencing and methods, Geosyntec identified, evaluated, and selected stockpile areas and haul routes to accommodate sediments and excavation spoils. 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Former dams Baldwin Hills Reservoir (1947-1963) failed December 14, 1963 St. Francis Dam (1926-1928) failed March 12, 1928 San Clemente Dam, intentionally removed in 2015 - 2016 because of environmental issues. The Congressmen jointly developed the bill with local stakeholders, primarily the Sites Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a regional consortium of local water agencies and counties who joined together in 2010 to advocate for the project. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Sites Reservoir is a proposed multi-benefit, off-stream water storage facility, located north of Sacramento in rural Colusa and Glenn counties. Heres where California reservoir levels stand after the rains this week, Where to see native salmon splash, jump during their peak season in Bay Area creeks, Home prices in one Bay Area ZIP code are close to hitting a new high. 4300, the Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2014. A hydro-power pumping station was cut. Low near 55F. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Even if the overall amount of precipitation remains unchanged, we will receive more of it in the form of rain and less as snow, which means the natural reservoir of the Sierra snow pack will decline as a water source. His recent work has examined the impacts of drought, threats to public lands and wildlife, and the nations widening rural-urban divide. With the warming climate, the state is not only seeing more intense droughts, alongside more intense storms, but more of the precipitation is falling as rain instead of snow. Local News | Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement The project has multiple challenges, however. Brown is confident that the Sites Reservoir will be built now that The Environmental Protection Agency, on March 17 signaled its intent to loan nearly $2.2 billion to the Sites Project. 1.1 Schematic diagram of a reservoir showing the various storage zones. Sites Reservoir is an environmentally beneficial, off-river reservoir that will capture excess water from major storms and save it for drier periods, helping California's farms, businesses and cities continue to supply reliable water when other sources are low. They got half, $816 million. Once completed, Sites Reservoir would provide 1.9 million acre feet of water storage capacity for California and would help residents prepare for droughts like the one currently hurting the state. Once completed, Sites Reservoir would provide 1.9 million acre feet of water storage capacity for Northern California and would help residents prepare for droughts like the one currently impacting the state. Table 1 lists the variables that are passed from the injection module back into the CO 2 PENS system-level model. This Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared . But its not as steep at $3 billion as it would be at $5 billion., Sites Reservoir project scaled back to reduce, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Sites Reservoir project scaled back to reduce costs, Chico State department has critical part in restoration of river channel, Wyandotte Creek groundwater agency seeks new tax, Untroubled waters at Lake Oroville | Photos, Vina groundwater agency hosts informational workshop, Orland residents come out to celebrate Independence Day, Longtime Chico radio personality Marty Griffin retires, Independence Day events in Butte, Glenn counties, Williams restaurant Louis Cairo's destroyed in fire, Reparations plan stymied even before it's revealed | California Focus, Letter: A call for hunters to help with water, Woman leaves $1.7 million gift to local foundation, Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo defend titles at Nathans hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, Students expecting a fight to the death to get a spot in Stanfords new Taylor Swift class, Federal judge blocks portions of new Florida election law, Say goodbye to $1 vintage records: Thrift store chains are cashing in on vinyl resurgence, Sharks bite 3 Long Island swimmers on July 4, day after teen surfer attacked off Fire Island beach, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Potential increased groundwater use from replacing surface water diverted to SITES. The probability of it happening at this price is much higher, Lund said. It should be revised to address these issues and recirculated for public comment. This fact sheet was developed from public comment submitted by the above organizations.SEA: Shasta Environmental Alliance www.ecoshasta.org. The Project would use existing infrastructure to . Congressmen Garamendi and LaMalfa Announce Sites Reservoir Water New mega reservoir in final planning phase for California - KTVU FOX 2 Sites Reservoir Before the dam was built, there was an old dam at the site to service a flourmill, hence the reservoir name. 1s earlier rounds of funding aided a smattering of water projects that werent necessarily designed for storage but help put water underground. No Feasibility Report has yet been done to answer questions about reservoir operations, cost, amount of reliable water supply, specific beneficiaries, etc.
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