August 1, 2017

WG Urges CA Water Commission to Support Sites and Temperance Flat Reservoir Projects

As part of the regulatory process for distribution of $2.7 billion in water storage funds authorized by Proposition 1 – the 2014 water bond – the California Water Commission is currently accepting project applications through August 14, 2017.

WG has submitted comments to the Commission in support of both the Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat Reservoir projects. The WG comments note that California voters approved the 2014 water bond with the expectation that the state would build new water storage projects.

In fact, the official ballot argument in support of Proposition 1, signed by Governor Jerry Brown and others, stated that the water bond, “invests in new storage increasing the amount of water that can be stored during wet years for the dry years that will continue to challenge California.”

WG also noted the crucial link between surface storage capacity and groundwater recharge, especially in light of changing precipitation and runoff patterns due to climate change and the forthcoming requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

“As surface water storage projects, Sites and Temperance Flat provide the only means of capturing and storing heavy snowmelt and rain runoff – especially in wet years – that can be later utilized for groundwater recharge.”

The proposed Sites Reservoir, an off-stream facility that would store excess flows from the Sacramento River north of the Delta, would add up to 1.8 million acre feet of capacity, while Temperance Flat Reservoir, which would be located on the San Joaquin River, would create an additional 1.26 million acre feet of water storage.

Click here for a more detailed look at the regulatory process governing implementation of the 2014 water bond.

Please contact Dave Puglia at (949) 885-2252 for more information.