The "Dos Amigos" pumping plant, San Luis Canal, part of the California Aqueduct system; Los Banos, central California. Image by Sundry PhotographyOPINION – The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California recently adopted what could be a revolutionary policy, providing a lens through which to consider how to spend precious ratepayer dollars.
An artist's rendering of the proposed Sites Reservoir complex. (Image: California Department of Water Resources)Sites Reservoir has been talked about for decades, but now that project officials — and backed by 70 major allies — have formally submitted an application for state bond money, the question arises: Will this $5 billion project actually come to pass? The proposed surface reservoir would be located in Colusa County, but is competing with 11 other applicants for part of a $2.7 billion coffer of state money devoted to water storage projects.