Senator Jim Nielsen, is blasting Senate Democrats for killing his proposal to fully fund and build Sites Reservoir.
The latest attack falls on a notice Aug. 26 to the Sites Project Authority from the California Water Resources Board that the project’s application for water rights was incomplete, due to a failure of the Authority to show sufficient water flow from the Sacramento River to fill the reservoir once built.
Sites Reservoir is proposed as a 1.5 acre feet storage project that could convey water runoff in wet years for use during dry years, providing water to an estimated 3 million households per year.
“California is in the third year of a devastating drought,” Nielsen said in a statement. “The state budget is flush with money. Doesn’t it make sense to get large-scale, above ground water storage funded and built? What’s most frustrating is that voters overwhelmingly approved building water storage via Proposition 1 back in 2014. Not one shovel has been turned. Not one drop of water has been stored.”
Nielsen said the decision of state leaders not to fully fund the project is shamefully irresponsible and shortsighted.
“The future of our children and grandchildren depends on a reliable water supply,” he said.
Nielsen offered amendments to Assembly Bill 2201, which would have established the Water Storage and Conveyance Fund to provide $2.6 billion to fully fund Sites Reservoir and $685 million to repair the Friant-Kern/Delta-Mendota Canals and the San Luis Field/San Joaquin Divisions of the California Aqueduct.
As for the water rights application, Sites officials are reportedly undeterred and will work to strengthen the application to meet the SWRCB’s 60-day deadline. ■