More water storage is coming to the San Luis Reservoir.
The Bureau of Reclamation came to an agreement with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority on the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project on Wednesday.
The big picture: The new project will create 130,000 acre-feet of storage space in San Luis Reservoir, which is the nation’s largest off-stream reservoir.
- The expanded storage will produce additional water supply for two million people, over one million acres of farmland and 135,000 acres of Pacific Flyway wetlands and critical wildlife habitat.
- It’s also the first major water storage project to be approved in California since 2011.
Go deeper: In October 2022, the federal government announced a $25 million investment for the project as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, along with an additional $10 million in July 2023.
- The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act is also providing another $60 million for the expansion.
- Separately, the infrastructure law had previously provided over $100 million to the dam for a connected project that will increase the dam crest by 10 feet to improve seismic fortification.
- The deal between Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority is to add another 10 feet to expand capacity.
What they’re saying: San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Board Chair Cannon Michael praised the expansion project in a statement on Wednesday.
- “The ability to capture more water in the years it is available, particularly given California’s dynamic hydrology, is a critical component of a more secure future for the communities, farms and wildlife dependent on the Authority’s member agencies for their water supply,” Michael said. “We value our partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation and look forward to advancing this important water storage project.”
- Westlands Water District General Manager Allison Febbo added, “Reaching this moment is a testament to the strong commitment to addressing the critical issue of water security in the state. Water storage is vital for the state and this project stands to benefit millions of Californians, thousands of acres of farmland, and vital wildlife habitats.”
