Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

New Water Storage Project Proposed

  •  Bob Moffitt 
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

A bill authored by Republican Doug LaMalfa and Democrat John Garamendi would fund a feasibility study and, depending on the results, authorize construction of a new reservoir. LaMalfa says the lake would be created by flooding Sites Valley west of Maxwell.

"It's surrounded on pretty much all sides by hills and small mountains. It has a couple of passes there. You would put a dam in one main pass to block water from exiting and a couple little saddle dams where there are some humps."

About a dozen people live in the valley. They are divided over the project. Some like Jackie Kerhoulas have been hearing about it for decades.

Jackie-31914

Jackie Kerhoulas 91, says she’s been hearing about the project since 1945. She’s not going to worry about having to move until the day comes. Bob Moffit / Capital Public Radio

"If we'd use it for what we say we're going to use it for, fine," Kerhoulas says. "But they'll send it down to Los Angeles so they can each have a swimming pool in their backyard and fill it every day if they want to."

Early estimates for the project are a cost of three-to-four billion dollars and a construction time of five years to complete.

About a dozen people would be displaced by the project.

Garamendi says if the project is found to be feasible, the bill would authorize construction of a reservoir that would hold nearly two million acre feet of water. 

The Garamendi hopes the bill will be voted on sometime this fall.

"That will give the kind of flexibility for agricultural purposes, for water in the river," Garamendi says. "And it also allows the Shasta and Oroville and Folsom reservoirs to be re-operated so that you're actually creating more water capacity, storage capacity in those reservoirs."

Sites Reservoir

 

Related Stories

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio; Associated Press, file

    Climate change whiplash could mean more flooding, water-management challenges in California

    January 28, 2022

    Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.

  •  Photo by Nina Riggio for CalMatters

    Winged warning: Migrating birds hit hard by California’s drought

    November 11, 2021

    As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.

  • AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file

    Water Shortages: Why Some Californians Are Running Out In 2021 And Others Aren’t

    June 23, 2021

    Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.

  • Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

    As Drought Intensifies, State Warns Users To Stop Pumping Water From Major Rivers

    June 17, 2021

    About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

  • Josh Edelson / AP Photo

    California’s Reservoirs Face Dangerously Low Levels

    June 5, 2021

    Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.

 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

    Related Stories

  • Bob Moffitt / Capital Public Radio

    Congressman Supports Sites Project In Colusa County To Help Folsom Lake

    Thursday, November 12, 2015
    Water levels at Folsom Lake are 15 percent of capacity and about 30 percent of average for this time of year. Congressman Ami Bera toured the area Thursday.
  • Study Urges Thorough Review Of Water Storage Projects

    Thursday, November 20, 2014
    As the forecast for a wet December improves, a new study says only so much water can be stored by future dam or reservoir projects in California.

 droughtcapitolwater

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

More Stories

Lauren Justice / Cal Matters

California becomes the first state to phase out toxic hexavalent chromium

May 30, 2023

Fred Greaves for Solving Sacramento

An experience for all: Sacramento area performing arts venues find new ways to take patrons with disabilities on the stage’s journey

June 2, 2023

Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

Tax on short-term rentals like Airbnb could fund California affordable housing

June 2, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.