Barnard Construction has been selected as construction manager-at-risk for California’s long-planned Sites Reservoir Project, securing a $1 million preconstruction contract for what is expected to be one of the largest water infrastructure developments in the state.
The Bozeman, Montana-based contractor was awarded the initial lump-sum preconstruction agreement for the more than $6 billion reservoir project, according to a Jan. 16 announcement from the Sites Project Authority. Overall costs for the project are estimated to range between $6.2 billion and $6.8 billion, based on figures from the California Water Commission.
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Planned for a site west of Maxwell in the Sacramento Valley, the 1.5 million acre-foot, off-stream reservoir is designed to capture excess flows from the Sacramento River during wet periods and store that water for use during drought conditions. The project scope includes construction of two large dams, nine smaller embankments and supporting infrastructure that will form the Sites Reservoir basin.
Barnard’s CMAR role begins with an initial phase of preconstruction planning under the $1 million agreement. During this stage, the contractor will collaborate with the Sites Project Authority on coordination efforts, conduct constructibility reviews of haul roads, participate in in-person workshops and attend two local community working group meetings, according to a draft contract reviewed by Construction Dive.
A second phase of preconstruction will commence once full project funding is secured and guaranteed maximum price construction packages are developed and awarded. In addition to the reservoir itself, the broader project includes construction of the three-quarter-mile Sites-Lodoga Bridge and a complex inlet and outlet system to manage water imports and exports.
The reservoir and roads package that Barnard would oversee as CMAR carries a bonding capacity of up to $3 billion, though that work has not yet been awarded, said JP Robinette, engineering and construction manager for the Sites Project Authority.
“That work has yet to be awarded,” Robinette told Construction Dive.
The project recently cleared a major regulatory milestone when the Trump administration issued a federal “record of decision” on Jan. 23, completing the environmental review process and authorizing the federal government to fund up to 25% of total project costs. The state of California has already committed $1.1 billion toward construction, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Despite the project’s progress, Barnard’s selection has drawn criticism from labor leaders. In December, the Nor Cal Carpenters Union questioned the firm’s experience with California dam projects and raised concerns about its ties to local labor.
Jay Bradshaw, executive officer for the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, told CBS News that he did not believe Barnard would be able to meet the project’s local hiring requirements.
Barnard disputed those claims in a letter sent to the Sites Project Authority, pushing back against what it described as inaccurate characterizations of its experience.
“While headquartered in Montana, Barnard has worked in California for nearly 40 years completing hundreds of projects. The other two proposers are headquartered in Nebraska and New York and overseas,” wrote Mike Fuller, Barnard vice president, in the letter.
Barnard did not respond to Construction Dive’s requests for comment.
Robinette said the contractor selection followed a rigorous evaluation process and emphasized that Barnard will be required to meet established workforce targets.
“I can assure you that the evaluation committee considered a multitude of factors, making its decision or recommending Barnard for negotiations, and they were the highest ranked contractor on the variety of criteria that was prioritized by the board,” Robinette said.
Under project requirements, at least 20% of labor must come from Yolo, Colusa and Glenn counties, while 50% of workers must reside within the broader Sacramento Valley, Robinette confirmed.
The project authority reiterated its position in a Jan. 16 report supporting Barnard’s selection.
“After reviewing these materials, Sites Authority Staff have determined that nothing presented to date changes the recommendation that Barnard is the highest ranked proposer offering the best value selection,” the report noted.
Physical construction on the Sites Reservoir is expected to begin in early 2027, with completion and full operation targeted for 2033, according to reporting from the Sacramento Bee.
Barnard’s portfolio includes heavy civil, hydropower and power delivery projects across the western U.S. Notable water infrastructure projects include the Chimney Hollow Reservoir in Larimer County, Colorado, and the Gross Reservoir Expansion in Boulder County, Colorado.
By bringing Barnard into the process early, the Sites Project Authority said it aims to leverage the contractor’s technical expertise and large-scale infrastructure experience to streamline the transition from preconstruction into full construction.
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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