Interior Region 10 California-Great Basin

Sites Reservoir

Sites Reservoir is a proposed 1.5 million acre-foot offstream reservoir in Northern California that will increase the state’s water storage capacity, improve water supply reliability, and enhance ecosystem benefits. Located in the Sacramento Valley west of the town of Maxwell, the reservoir is designed to store water diverted from the Sacramento River during high-flow periods for use in dry years. Led by the Sites Project Authority, Reclamation is a federal partner working with the Authority and other local and state stakeholders to advance the project.

In The News

Mar 27, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Mar 9, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Feb 20, 2026	Changes to Sites Reservoir Public Negotiation Schedule
Feb 19, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Feb 17, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Feb 10, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Feb 5, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Jan 28, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Jan 22, 2026	Changes to Sites Reservoir Public Negotiation Schedule
Jan 16, 2026	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Dec 2025	Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation session scheduled for December 17th is canceled
Dec 2025	Sites Reservoir Project Public Negotiations Dec. 3, 2025
Dec 2025	Sites Reservoir Project Public Negotiations Dec. 2, 2025
Nov 2025	Sites Reservoir Project Public Negotiations Nov. 21, 2025
Sep 2025	Reclamation continues Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions
Aug 2025	Initial Sites Reservoir Project public negotiation sessions postponed
Apr 2025	Reclamation announces additional funding to create new water storage in California
Nov 2023	Reclamation and Sites Project Authority finalize plans to create new water storage in Northern California
Dec 2021	Reclamation and Sites Project Authority extend public comment period for proposed water storage project
Nov 2021	Reclamation and Sites Project Authority roll out environmental documents and announce public meetings for new water storage project
Nov 2018	USDA loans $449 million to improve Northern California water supply
Nov 2017	Public meetings for Sites Project draft environmental review documents
Aug 2017	Offstream storage project in Northern California takes critical step forward
Dec 2013	Reclamation Releases Progress Report on the North-of-the-Delta Offstream Storage Investigation
Feb 2012	Statement of Michael Gabaldon, Director Technical Resources U.S. Department of the Interior Before the Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water and Power U.S. House of Representatives on Water for Our Future and Job Creation: Examining Regulatory and Bureaucratic Barriers to New Surface Storage Infrastructure
Oct 2006	North-of-the-Delta Offstream Storage Investigation Initial Alternatives Information Report Available

Important Documents

Partnership Agreement

Reclamation Exhibits

• Reclamation Exhibit 1
• Reclamation Exhibit 2
• Reclamation Exhibit 3
• Reclamation Exhibit 4
• Reclamation Exhibit 5
• Reclamation Exhibit 6
• Reclamation Exhibit 7

Sites Project Authority Exhibits

Sites Exhibit 1

Sites Exhibit 2

• Reclamation Involvement in Governance of Sites Reservoir Project
• Noncontract Costs Definition
• Spend Plan Based on Cash Payments and "In-Kind" Service

Sites Exhibit 3

• Reclamation Inkind Services
• Sites PA Article 3

Sites Exhibit 4

Sites Exhibit 5

• Reclamation Inkind Services
• Allowable Costs; Approval, Documentation, and Cost Allocation

Sites Exhibit 6

• Partnership Agreement: Exhibit I: First Right of Refusal
• Federal Participation in the Sites Project

Sites Exhibit 7

• Project Specification Information
• Sites Project Facilities Map
• Payment Formulas
• Project Facilities Hierarchy
• Wind Up Provisions for Partnership Agreement

Sites Exhibit 8

• Proposed Partnership Agreement and B&O Definition Comparison: 2.26.25
• Sites Article 3 Funds Language
• Exhibit B: Sites Project Information, Interest and Sites Project Facilities
• Exhibit E: Lease and Sale Capacity, Sites Water Sales and Exhanges, and First Right of Refusal
• Exhibit H: Allowable Costs; Approval, Documentation, and Cost Allocation
• Sites Wind-Up Provision

Sites Exhibit 9

• Sites Partnership Agreement Article 13 Water Measurement
• Exhibit B: Sites Project Specific Information, Capacity Interest and Sites Project Facilities
• Exhibit C: Payment Formulas
• Exhibit E: Lease and Sale of Capacity, Sites Water Sales and Exchanges, and First Right of Refusal
• Exhibit X: Reclamation Involvement in Governance of Sites Reservoir Project

Final Environmental Impact Report/Final Environmental Impact Statement

Final Feasibility Report for the North of Delta Offstream Storage Investigation

• Main body
• Appendix A – Plan Formulation
• Appendix B – Engineering
• Appendix C – Economics
• Appendix D – Real Estate
• Appendix E – Recreation
• Appendix F – Fish
• Appendix G – Modeling Assumptions for Operations Plan
• Appendix H – Hydropower
• Appendix I – Draft Risk Assessment Report
• Appendix K – Implementation
• Appendix L – Cost Allocation
• Appendix M – Sites Reservoir Project Environmental Feasibility Summary Report

For More Project Information

• Sites Fact Sheet
• Sites Project Authority
• Department of Water Resources - Statewide Infrastructure Investigations
• Proposition 1 Water Storage Investment Program – Sites Project

The existing Tehama-Colusa Canal would be used to help convey Sacramento River water to Sites Reservoir

Contacts

Allison Jacobson
Project Manager
Phone: (916) 978-5075

Last Updated: 3/30/26