The volume of water in Folsom Lake is about 70 percent below normal for this time of year. Seventh District Congressman Ami Bera visited the Lake Thursday and says the proposed Sites Reservoir project in Colusa County would reduce demand for water from Folsom Lake.
"The urgency of now -that's why we're down here. We're going to continue talking about Sites. That is one I think the Governor supports, Senator Feinstein supports, there's broad congressional support. So, instead of talking about it, let's actually do it and get the process moving forward. Because, it will still be another six years before we can actually start storing water."
Bera says political support for the Sites project increases as the drought continues.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says there are 142,000 acre-feet of water in Folsom Lake. Emergency pumps that were installed in September would likely be used if the water line drops drop to 120,000 acre feet.
That's equivalent to a vertical drop of eight feet.
The agency also says recent rains had little effect on California reservoir levels because the ground soaked up the water before it made it to the lakes.
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