The intakes being used for diverting water into Sites Reservoir include state-of-the-art fish screens to protect fish.
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Infrastructure + Get AlertsAs two of the top three investors in California's Sites Reservoir Project, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District were critical partners in its approval, which will benefit Pass Area communities by capturing and storing water for later use.
The Sites Reservoir Project is a 1.5 million acre-foot off-stream water storage project that will improve water reliability throughout California. Located north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the project would provide water supply and environmental benefits during dry periods. The Sites Project Authority — as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act — certified the project’s final Environmental Impact Report and approved the project at a meeting in November 2023.
An artist’s rendition of the proposed reservoir.
SGPWA and SBVMWD were present at the meeting, with SGPWA General Manager Lance Eckhart making the first motion to certify the EIR, followed by a second from SBVMWD General Manager Heather Dyer.
“We are proud to be part of such a historic move to strengthen our state’s water resources,” says SGPWA President Larry Smith. “SGPWA has backed the Sites Reservoir Project since its inception and today there is a waiting list for participation. We are grateful to be a partner in this project, which will advance reliability for residents across California, including our own Pass Area communities.”
SGPWA and SBVMWD have supported the project over the past 10 years, securing both agencies the promise of these increased supplies. Many other agencies in California now must wait for a possible allocation from this important new water supply source.
“After decades of planning, we are excited to see this project move forward to the final planning stages to prepare for construction,” says SBVMWD President Paul R. Kielhold. “Capturing and storing stormwater via Sites Reservoir will provide enhanced water resiliency for residents not only locally, but across the entire state.”
For additional details on the Sites Reservoir Project, visit sitesproject.org. To learn more about SGPWA, visit sgpwa.com. For more information about SBVMWD, visit sbvmwd.com.
