Rural land near unincorporated Sites, Calif., to be used to build the 1.5 million-acre-foot Sites Reservoir. The project has moved closer to reality in recent years after seven decades on the shelf.The decades of what some have dubbed “water wars” may be approaching a climactic point as climate change, economic evolution, stagnant population growth and environmental consciousness compel decisions on California’s water future.
The latter is not only the smallest of the three uses but has been remarkably stable — even declining somewhat, despite decades of high population growth — thanks to intensive conservation programs. of water, the real conflict in recent years, particularly during periods of drought, has pitted agricultural interests against environmentalists over the flows needed to nurture fish and other wildlife.
“Good management and policy for this situation requires organized serious attention and consistent long-term policy, without complacency or panic,” the UC study concludes. issued by the Newsom administration calling for 4 million acre-feet of new water storage, another 1.