In 2014, California voters approved a “ballot measure that allocates $2.7 billion for water storage projects.” One of the largest proposed projects, The Sites Reservoir, already has enough funding to begin construction, and when completed will have “a total capacity of 1.8 million acre-feet.”
So, how does this benefit local agricultural professionals and businesses? Here’s a breakdown:
First, it’s important to note that if The Sites Reservoir existed today, over 1,800,000 acre-feet of water would already be in storage. That’s over 586 billion gallons, which is enough water to serve 13.3 million Californians or 4.4 million California businesses and farms for one year.
Second, according to experts familiar with the project, the “benefits of the Sites project are expected to exceed costs by $61 million to $72 million annually.” The initial investment might sound like a lot, but the numbers don’t lie: this project will pay for itself in under a decade. Talk about significant value!
Lastly, construction of The Sites Reservoir will help ensure businesses and farmers have access to important water resources in future years when the climate is dry and there is less rainfall. This is especially good news since California is one of America’s largest agricultural producers (the state is responsible for 99% of the U.S. artichoke, walnut, and kiwi output).
This breakdown highlights more of the project’s benefits:
– Will increase Northern California’s water storage capacity by 23%
– Will supply water to farmers, even when there’s no water allocation
– Can be refilled by one or two major storms even during drought conditions
– Will provide enough water annually to serve 1.2 million CA-based farms and businesses
– Creates and protects agricultural jobs, because farms will continue to operate even in tough conditions
While the actualization of The Sites Reservoir is still a few years out (experts predict construction will begin in 2022 and end in 2029), the potential impact is undoubtedly exciting. Leave us a comment on our Facebook page to let us know how having access to more water will positively affect your business.
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