San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority: B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project.

Assembly Member Soria's proposal to fund critical infrastructure improvements for the B.F. Sisk Dam project would appropriate $455.5 million from California's General Fund to the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, specifically targeting required modifications to State Highway Route 152.

The funding addresses approximately half of the estimated costs for highway improvements necessary to complete the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. According to the bill's findings, the dam expansion would increase the San Luis Reservoir's current 2-million-acre-foot capacity by 130,000 acre-feet - a volume sufficient to supply water to nearly 400,000 households annually. The reservoir serves as a central hub for both the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project, providing water storage that supports over 750,000 acres of farmland and enables operational flexibility for nearly 2.5 million acres of cropland.

The measure comes as part of a larger $1 billion dam modification initiative that has secured federal funding for safety improvements and capacity expansion. The bill's findings note that during exceptionally wet years, such as 2017 and 2023, the reservoir reaches capacity, limiting opportunities to capture additional water for use during drought periods. Many communities that rely on water delivered through the reservoir's south-of-Delta facilities are classified as disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged, facing challenges related to drinking water access and economic stability during periods of reduced water supply.