Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Los Angeles Times

    California drought resurrects decades-old plan for controversial Sites Reservoir

    by Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times Jun 02, 2022 6 minutes
    Worsening drought has renewed interest in a controversial proposal to transform Sites Valley, about 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, California, into a $4- billion reservoir storing stormwater for use by farmers, the environment, and Southern California in dry years.

    MAXWELL, Calif. — A long-dead proposal to flood a bucolic valley north of Sacramento and create a massive reservoir for thirsty Southern California is finding new life — and opposition — amid the effects of climate change and worsening drought.

    First conceived in the 1950s, the Sites Reservoir project was abandoned in the 1980s — the twilight years of America’s big Western dam-building projects. Now, decades later, a Southwestern megadrought and historic water restrictions in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties are fueling renewed interest in the plan, much to the dismay of environmentalists.

    Recently, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California appropriated $20 million for project planning, saying the reservoir would make the region’s water supply more resilient in times of drought.

    The proposal has also gained bipartisan support led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, $816 million from a voter-approved bond and more than $2.2 billion in loans offered by state and federal agencies.

    “Drought is pushing this project forward,” said Rep. John Garamendi,

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from Los Angeles Times

    Los Angeles Times5 min read
    Climate Change Is Central To Both Pope Francis And California Gov. Newsom. But Do Catholic Voters Care?
    ROME — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's speech on climate change at the Vatican this week gives him an opportunity to align himself and his party with Pope Francis, an influential figure among American Catholics and a leader in the fight against global
    Los Angeles Times2 min readCrime & Violence
    In Effort To 'Regain Public Trust,' LA County Announces 66 Probation Officers Put On Leave
    LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Probation Department has announced that 66 officers have been put on administrative leave this year in a series of cases that include allegations of sexual misconduct and the use of excessive force. The announcem
    Los Angeles Times4 min read
    Doyle McManus: A Lesson From Presidents Biden And Trump — The New Normal Is Nonstop Crises
    A poll published by the Economist this month included a finding that was striking yet unsurprising: Almost 7 in 10 Americans believe things in the country have spun out of control. That's a problem for President Joe Biden, who campaigned in 2020 offe

    Related Books & Audiobooks