California Construction News staff writer
The Sites Project Authority has launched a competitive procurement process with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Reservoir Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to construct the $3-billion Sites Reservoir project and roads in the Sacramento Valley.
For more information about the RFQ, visit www.sitesproject.org/procurement.
Firms meeting the stated qualification criteria are invited to submit their statements of qualifications by March 10. A short list of qualified respondents will then be requested to submit detailed proposals and sit for interviews. The selected firm is expected to be awarded a Phase 1, Pre-construction Services scope of work to assist the Authority with construction preparations in the fall of 2025. Construction services would be authorized in a separate, later work phase and occur in 2026 with completion of construction anticipated by the end of 2032.
“This next step in our contracting process marks a critical milestone for Sites Reservoir as it progresses from planning to construction,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors.“As one of the largest water infrastructure projects currently under development in California, Sites is a significant opportunity to enhance water reliability for the benefit of our communities, farms, and environment.”
The proposed reservoir’s conveyance facilities would include the use of existing Tehama Colusa Canal and Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District Canal diversion and conveyance facilities, plus a proposed new diversion and discharge pipeline.
Sources of water would be Funks Creek and Stone Coral Creek, which would be impounded by the proposed reservoir and the Sacramento River. Operation of the proposed reservoir would be in cooperation with the operations of existing Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) system facilities.
The project overcame a significant legal obstacle in late 2024, following a recent appellate court decision, a victory for the project which the state fast-tracked last year by streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process.
The ruling by the Third District Court of Appeal decision and an earlier trial court ruling from June 4, 2024, cleared the way for the reservoir’s development. The expedited timeline was part of California’s new infrastructure streamlining law, which mandates courts to resolve CEQA challenges within 270 days, where possible.
“We can’t waste anymore time with frivolous lawsuits to hold up major infrastructure projects, especially building more water storage,” Governor Newsom said. “The Sites Reservoir project will capture more rain and snow to supply millions of homes with clean drinking water.”
The site is designed to capture water during wet seasons and store it for drier times, holding up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water—enough to supply 3 million households annually. It has received $46.75 million in early state funding and is eligible for $875.4 million in Proposition 1 funding, with a total estimated cost of $4 billion.
The project plays a crucial role in California’s Water Supply Strategy, aiming to increase water storage capacity by 4 million acre-feet, helping the state adapt to climate change and water scarcity. More details about the project can be found at build.ca.gov.