Plans for California's largest reservoir in approximately 50 years have ignited fury among some residents, with tribal representatives labeling the project a "cultural genocide." The State Water Resources Control Board approved a permit for the proposed Sites Reservoir, which is designed to hold 1.5 million acre-feet of water diverted from the Sacramento River. The reservoir has the capacity to supply water for 4.5 million homes annually and is promoted by outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom as a "smart investment" necessary for the state's water security.
However, critics voiced strong opposition during a 10-hour meeting in Sacramento, asserting that the northern Sacramento Valley project would inundate ancestral tribal territories and destroy significant cultural sites. Amanda Mitchum, an official with the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, stated that the reservoir's approval would signify the "erasure of our past generations and our generations to come," adding that it would "literally be covering up the footprints and trails that my father walked with his mother."
Julian Palmisano, a water specialist for tribal nations, described the proposal as a potential "scar" on future generations. Kasil Willie, policy director at Save California Salmon, echoed these concerns, criticizing the project for the "sacrifice of tribal cultural resources" and calling for more robust safeguards. "We've been advocating and asking for protections for cultural resources from the state water board," Willie said.
The Sites Reservoir would be California's first new reservoir since the completion of New Melones Lake in 1979. The project's estimated cost has fluctuated, with a projection of $6.2 billion last year, up from a previous estimate of $4.5 billion. Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Reservoir Project Authority, stated that the current cost estimate is around $7 billion, attributing the increase to escalating construction costs similar to inflation.
The Sites Project Authority initially applied for a water permit in March 2022 and has revised its proposal multiple times in response to criticism. Brown maintained that the permit process underwent the "most comprehensive and complete review of this kind of request that's ever occurred in California," emphasizing that efforts were made to understand and address concerns, though acknowledging that "trade-offs have to be made."
Governor Newsom called the reservoir a "priority," stating that "the state can't afford to keep waiting for the water storage we need" and that the approval signals California's ability to advance major infrastructure projects. Wade Crowfoot, California's natural resources secretary, commented that the state's water system "was built for a climate that no longer exists" and that capturing water during wet periods is essential for adapting to worsening droughts, which Sites Reservoir aims to achieve.