Proposed water right permit is still pending in separate action
From the State Water Resources Control Board:
The State Water Resources Control Board issued a water quality certification for the proposed Sites Reservoir Project in Northern California, satisfying one of the major requirements for construction of a 1.5 million-acre-foot water storage facility that would be the largest built in California in more than 50 years.
The off-stream reservoir in Glenn and Colusa counties, near the community of Maxwell, would divert water from the Sacramento River when flows are relatively high, storing it for farms, cities and the environment.
The water quality certification is separate from the Sites Project Authority’s related water rights application, which the State Water Board will consider at its Nov. 4 public meeting. While the water right proceeding focuses on the diversion and use of water for the project, the certification focuses on project construction.
The state and regional water boards are responsible for protecting the state’s water quality, including through issuance of water quality certifications under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. Certifications must ensure compliance with water quality standards and other appropriate requirements of state law. If the state issues a certification with conditions, those conditions are incorporated into the federal permit or license.
The authority applied to the State Water Board for certification in September 2025, and, though not required, the board issued a draft certification for public review and comment earlier this year.
Background:
The proposed Sites Reservoir would store water from the Sacramento River for future uses, including agriculture, municipal, and fish and wildlife preservation. Increased water storage from the project would contribute to statewide goals of strengthening climate resilience and long-term water reliability by adding up to 9 million acre-feet of new water supply or capacity by 2040. The project would use existing infrastructure to divert water from the river near Red Bluff and Hamilton City and store it 17 miles west in Glenn and Colusa counties. New and existing facilities would transfer water into and out of the reservoir, ultimately releasing water back to existing canals or the river system for use by storage partners.
The State Water Board’s mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper resource allocation and efficient use for present and future generations.
