Wren Crowe 
Drove my chevy to the levy
| Project | Funding Allocated | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sites Reservoir | $200 million | Future reservoir to capture & store water during wet seasons. |
| San Luis Reservoir | $115.5 million | Expansion of the existing reservoir to increase storage. |
- Trump reversed his previous federal spending freeze, allowing funds initially approved under Biden to proceed.
- Governor Newsom praised the funding but political tensions over water management persist.
- The Sites Reservoir project, estimated at $4 billion, aims to supply over 4.5 million homes annually.
The funding is designated for two key projects:
- Sites Reservoir: $200 million has been allocated to this future reservoir in Colusa County2.
- San Luis Reservoir: The remaining funds will go towards expanding the existing San Luis Reservoir1.
These funds were originally approved during the Biden administration and were part of the spending freeze implemented by Trump13. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) announced that the Trump administration would be “investing over $315.5 million to develop water storage in the future Sites Reservoir and the existing San Luis Reservoir”1.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort with the Trump Administration to advance crucial infrastructure for improved water storage3. The Sites Reservoir project, with a total estimated cost of $4 billion, aims to capture water during wet seasons and store it for use during dry periods, potentially supplying over 4.5 million homes for a year3.
This funding release has elicited mixed reactions, with some expressing relief that the funds are now available, while others have raised concerns about the manner in which the bureau communicated the release1. The decision highlights the ongoing challenges and political complexities surrounding water management in California.
Citations:
- https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-reverses-plan-california-reservoirs-water-supply-federal-funding-freeze-2037441
- https://krcrtv.com/news/local/trump-administration-releases-3155-million-for-state-water-projects
- https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/02/25/governor-newsom-issues-statement-on-federal-investments-in-sites-reservoir/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVI9IMxjBW4
- https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/climate/trump-california-water-dams-reservoirs/index.html
- https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5287016/farmers-are-worried-after-trump-released-billions-of-gallons-of-water-in-california
- https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5302718/trump-funding-freeze-includes-payments-to-keep-the-colorado-river-flowing
- https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lamalfa-celebrates-trump-administrations-funding-sites-reservoir
- https://www.watereducation.org/aquafornia-news/thursday-top-scroll-trump-administration-releases-315-million-blocked-funding-two
