A New Wave of Reservoir Construction Set to Begin in California

Two massive water storage projects have been awarded $2.6 billion in funding from Proposition 1.

1 minute read

April 25, 2018, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Northern California

Zack Frank / Shutterstock

Dale Kasler reports: "the California Water Commission released updated plans for allocating nearly $2.6 billion in bond funds approved by voters during the depths of the drought."

Just how that many will be spent marks the significance of this story: the funding will enable a "multibillion-dollar wave of reservoir construction" in the state.

Sites, a $5.2 billion project straddling the Glenn-Colusa county line, and the $2.7 billion Temperance Flat reservoir east of Fresno would become the two largest reservoirs built in California since Jerry Brown's first stint as governor in the 1970s.

The funding originates from Proposition 1, a water bond approved by California voters in 2014. The funding allocation process enabled by Proposition 1 has been contentious, as explained by Kasler in the article. Last time Planetizen checked in with the funding process, 12 projects (adding up to $13 billion) had applied for the $2.6 billion funding allocation announced last week.

The article includes a lot more detail about the politics of the Proposition 1 funding, as well as the current status of the Sites and the Temperance Flat reservoir projects.

Friday, April 20, 2018 in The Sacramento Bee

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

4 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

5 hours ago - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

6 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

7 hours ago - CNU Public Square