Garamendi Applauds Governor Newsom’s Expedited Permitting for Sites Off-Stream Reservoir Project

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) applauded Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of expedited permitting for the Sites Off-Stream Reservoir Project in Glenn and Colusa Counties, California. Garamendi represented the proposed project area for Sites Reservoir in Congress from 2013 through 2022 and served as the first-ever Deputy Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton, where he oversaw the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 

“The last major reservoir built in California was Diamond Valley in 1999. Our state has simply outgrown our water storage infrastructure, which is under ever-increasing strain due to climate change. Governor Newsom’s announcement puts California back in the reservoir building business. In Congress, I have worked to secure more than $2.7 billion in federal funding to build the off-stream Sites Reservoir in addition to the $816 million from the 2014 State Water Bond approved by California voters. The Governor’s announcement yesterday brings us one step closer to breaking ground on this off-stream reservoir, helping California realize a truly drought-resilient water system. I look forward to working with Governor Newsom, his Cabinet Secretaries Crowfoot, Blumenfeld, and Ross and U.S. Commissioner of Reclamation Camille Touton to get this done," said Garamendi. 

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