Sites Reservoir Project – Recent Events

The proposed location of Sites Reservoir, a historic valley with important ecological attributes, including wetlands and habitat connectivity. Credit: Sue Graue.

Sites Project Authority Cuts Corners

FOR and a coalition of conservation organizations recently filed a letter objecting to the Sites Project Authority’s rushed application for regulatory streamlining. This application for acceptance into the SB 149 Infrastructure Streamlining Program would mean that this harmful project would receive a shortened judicial review period for litigation over their inadequate environmental documents.

Why it matters: (1) The State has not yet even issued guidelines yet for which to determine project eligibility, (2) Approval of SB 149 projects are at the sole discretion of Governor Newsom, who publicly supports Sites. Further, Sites does not meet the statutory criteria for an SB 149 project: (3) Sites is controversial and environmentally damaging, and has not prioritized water for ecological benefits, (4) Sites will have significant impacts to disadvantaged communities, and (5) Sites will set the state back on climate goals with excessive methane emissions.

Want to know more? Read the letter  |  Read the press release

In the News: Sites Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The LA Times recently published an exclusive story about how Sites Reservoir will emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially methane. The groundbreaking research referenced by that report was done by a team of scientists at Tell the Dam Truth, in partnership with FOR and Patagonia.

Today, October 31, the Sacramento Bee published an OpEd written by Gary Wockner, Ph.D., one of the lead scientists who worked on the Sites GHG Report. In his OpEd he explains how man-made reservoirs contribute to the climate crisis, and implores the state to “make public policy that does not exacerbate the situation.”

Want to know more? Read the OpEd  |  Read the GHG Report  |  Read the LA Times Article