NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The decadeslong effort to build a new reservoir in neighboring Colusa and Glenn counties took a step forward on Tuesday.
As a result of a streamlining law implemented last year, the Sites Reservoir project cleared a major hurdle, overcoming a California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, challenge and gaining full approval from the Yolo County Superior Court.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a package of bills to accelerate critical infrastructure projects across California that will help build the state’s 100% clean electric grid, ensure safe drinking water and boost the state’s water supply, and modernize our transportation system.
That package included SB 149, which allows the governor to certify qualifying infrastructure projects for judicial streamlining under CEQA.
The governor’s infrastructure streamlining law requires that courts must decide CEQA challenges within 270 days to the extent feasible. Tuesday’s decision occurred within 148 days.
“California needs more water storage, and we have no time to waste – projects like the Sites Reservoir will capture rain and snow runoff to supply millions of homes with clean drinking water. We’re approaching this work with urgency, everything from water storage to clean energy and transportation projects,” Newsom said.
The Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet seasons and store it for use during drier seasons — holding up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, enough for three million households’ yearly usage.
It has received a total of $46.75 million in early funding from the state. In all, Sites is eligible for $875.4 million of Proposition 1 funding. Total project cost is estimated at $4 billion.
The Governor’s Office said the project will help California maintain a resilient water supply in the face of climate change, weather extremes and water scarcity.
“Sites Reservoir is critical to California’s Water Supply Strategy and meeting our goal of expanding above and below ground water storage capacity by 4 million acre feet,” the Governor’s Office said in a statement.
By streamlining permitting, cutting red tape and allowing state agencies to use new project delivery methods, the infrastructure package seeks to maximize taxpayer dollars and accelerate timelines of projects throughout the state, while ensuring appropriate environmental review and community engagement.
The package will take full advantage of an unprecedented $180 billion in state, local, and federal infrastructure funds over the next ten years while creating an estimated 400,000 good-paying jobs, the Governor's Office reported.
Sites Reservoir project clears hurdle
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