Ag Alert July 24, 2024

Farmers to benefit as Sites Reservoir nears fruition

By Fritz Durst From prolonged drought to excessive flooding, water conditions in California have been anything but consistent during the past few years. That’s a problem for one of the world’s leading agricultural regions. With climate change threatening one of California’s biggest industries, we need to invest in a truly resilient and reliable wa- ter future. We need Sites Reservoir. After the worst

selected by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature for streamlined judicial review under Senate Bill 149. We’re also thankful to have won a recent environ- mental court case, which found the final EIR fully complies with the California Environmental Quality Act. On the permitting front, the California State Water Resources Control Board deemed the project’s water right applica- tion complete. That moved Sites Reservoir through to the next phase of the process, during which the board will determine whether to issue a water right permit for the project. Finally, the project, which is 100% fund- ed by local, state and federal public dol- lars, has secured significant investments in the past few years. More than $517 million in federal funding is committed to the project. Sites is also eligible for $875 million in funding from the state under the Proposition 1 initiative approved by California voters in 2014. On top of these direct investments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also invited Sites to apply for a $2.2 billion loan through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. This low-interest loan will save millions of dollars during the life of the Sites Project. The project has hit many milestones during the past few years, and we’re ex- cited to be this close to the finish line. The state water board is considering the Sites Reservoir water-right permit, and we ex- pect that decision in 2025. With a permit in hand and other key requirements met, we hope to start con- struction in 2026. It’s time to build Sites now— and we are closer than ever. (Fritz Durst is a Yolo County farmer and chairman of the Sites Joint Power Authority. He may be contacted at fdurst@rd108.org.)

drought on record in 2022, historic, wet winters in 2023 and 2024 produced record rain that filled reservoirs and aquifers above av- erage levels. It was

Sites Reservoir is planned for this basin along the border of Glenn and Colusa counties. The facility is gaining momentum after withstanding court challenges and securing financing options.

Fritz Durst

a welcome change for California’s farms, which were relying on depleted wells and aquifers in the previous two years. But it wasn’t enough to overcome losses from the state’s large groundwater deficit. If it were already operational, Sites Reservoir—a 1.5 million acre-feet off- stream water storage project planned for rural Glenn and Colusa counties north of Sacramento—would be 100% full as of this past spring. As California is predicted to get more precipitation in the form of rain, we need to capitalize on wet periods and store ex- cess water for the inevitable dry periods that will follow. Thankfully, Sites Reservoir is specifically designed to adapt to our changing climate, providing significant benefits to our local agricultural economy. It will capture and store water during storm events for use during severe dry periods when it is needed the most, increasing the flexibility, reliability and resiliency of our statewide water supply.

The irrigation districts, urban water agencies and natural resource agencies investing in Sites Reservoir will have flexibility to use their storage space and stored water in a way that makes sense for their communities. For our farmers and ranchers, it will pro- vide additional water to sustain farming and food production, especially as hotter and drier weather becomes more frequent. By capturing and storing water during wet periods, farms will be able to tap into a savings account during dry periods instead of leaving land fallow or forgoing planting and seeding, as they’ve had to do in recent years. This will create a stronger agricul- tural economy, which creates a ripple of benefits for our rural communities that depend on this way of life. There will be economic benefits, too. Sites Reservoir will create an estimated 2,000 direct jobs at the peak of construction. The Sites Project Authority is committed to

training and hiring local workers and busi- nesses throughout construction, ensuring that Colusa and other Sacramento Valley counties benefit from this job creation. Once operational, Sites Reservoir will bring more people to Colusa County for camping, boating and similar activities, which means increased activity at local restaurants, retail stores and other businesses. We’re eager to deliver these benefits to California’s farms and communities, so last year, we set out to achieve significant funding, planning and permitting goals for Sites Reservoir. Thanks to collaboration, local engagement and support from our state and federal partners, we did just that. Last fall, after extensive review, we cer- tified the Final Environmental Impact Report for the project—one of the most comprehensive environmental analyses ever done for a water supply project. Sites Reservoir was also the first project

VOL. 51, NO. 27

July 24, 2024

AG ALERT ® weekly newspaper is an official publication of the CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU • CFBF.COM

@cafarmbureau

@calfarmbureau

agalert.com

Board of Directors (District 1) Ronnie Leimgruber; (2) Scott Hudson; (3) Mark Lopez; (4) Kevin Merrill; (5) Kevin Robertson; (6) Joey Airoso; (7) Lorna Roush; (8) April England; (9) Jay Mahil; (10) Jan Garrod; (11) Joe Martinez; (12) Paul Sanguinetti; (13) Jake Wenger; (14) Joe Fischer; (15) Clark Becker; (16) Garrett Driver; (17) Johnnie White; (18) Daniel Suenram; (19) Taylor Hagata; (20) Jim Morris; (21) Ronald Vevoda; (Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair) Trelawney Bullis. Advisory Members Jenny Holtermann, Chair, CFB Rural Health Department, Glenda Humiston, University of California Cooperative Extension. Letters to the editor: Send to agalert@cfbf.com or Ag Alert, Attn: Editor, 2600 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento, CA 95833. Include name, address, phone number, email address; 250-word limit.

Peter Hecht- Chief Editor, Publications

ADVERTISING: Brock Tessandori- Business Development Manager (916) 561-5585 Antonio Muniz- Sales Coordinator Classifieds: (916) 561-5570 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95833. Represented in the East and Midwest by J.L. Farmakis, Inc. Eastern office: Bill Farmakis 48 Topfield Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 (203) 834-8832; Fax: (203) 834- 8825. Midwest office: Russ Parker, P.O. Box 7, Albia, IA 52531 (641) 946-7646, Bob Brunker, 8209 NW 81st Ct., Kansas City, MO 64152 (816) 746-8814, Jennifer Saylor, 8426 N. Winfield Ave., Kansas City, MO 64153 (816) 912-2804, Laura Rustmann, 901 Lands End Cir, St. Charles MO 63304, (636) 238-8548. AG ALERT (issn 0161-5408) is published weekly except weeks of Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving,

Christmas; and with exceptions, by the California Farm Bureau, 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento CA 95833 (telephone: (916) 561-5570). Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, California. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AG ALERT, 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95833. The California Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in AG ALERT nor does the Federation assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an officer, di- rector, or employee of the California Farm Bureau Federation or its affiliates. No alcohol, tobacco or political advertising will be accepted. Shannon Douglass, President Shaun Crook, First Vice President Ron Peterson, Second Vice President

Christine Souza- Assistant Editor

Ching Lee- Assistant Editor

Caleb Hampton- Assistant Editor

Shawn Collins- Production Designer

Paula Erath- Graphic Designer

GENERAL INFORMATION: (916) 561-5570

agalert@cfbf.com

Printed on Recycled Paper

BPA Business Publication Member

2 Ag Alert July 24, 2024