State approves Sites Reservoir project despite tribal opposition

The State Water Resources Control Board has granted the final water-right permit for the Sites Reservoir project, which will be located in Glenn and Colusa counties in Northern California, according to the New York Post.

The reservoir is designed to store 1.5 million acre-feet of water taken from the Sacramento River during high-flow periods, providing supply for over 4.5 million homes for one year during droughts, the outlet reported.

California Governor Gavin Newsom described the project as a smart investment to secure water for communities, farms, and wildlife when it is most needed.

The project is an off-stream reservoir, meaning it will not sit on a major waterway or directly disrupt river flows or fish habitats, the report noted.

However, Native American tribes with historical ties to the area have strongly opposed the reservoir, stating it would erase cultural heritage sites. Representatives from the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians and the Chhé’ee Fókaa Band of Northeastern Pomo described the project as cultural genocide and destructive, respectively, according to the New York Post and Los Angeles Times.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between water infrastructure development and indigenous cultural preservation in Northern California.