December 11, 2025
Mayor Washington and Council Members
City of American Canyon
4381 Broadway Street, Suite 201
American Canyon, CA94503
Dear Mayor Washington and Council Members:
On behalf of the Northern California District Council of Laborers, we are writing to bring attention to our serious concerns with the contracting process for the upcoming Sites Project Reservoir Package (“Project”). As your agency is expected to purchase a significant allocation from this Project, we believe you share our interest in ensuring it is built on time and in a manner that provides real environmental and economic benefits to the entire State, including the large local construction workforce that will be required.
It appears the Sites Project Authority is intending to enter a contract with Barnard Construction Company, Incorporated (“Barnard”) of Montana to be the Construction Manager at Risk (“CMAR”) for the Project, which will encompass 50% of the larger Sites Project. The selected CMAR will be responsible for significant preconstruction and construction services, including two new dams, seven saddle dams, three dikes, a spillway, a diversion tunnel, four bridges, and five construction access road bridges. The Project requires the CMAR to self perform construction of the two new dams.
Based on our review of Barnard’s history and experience, the Northern California District Council of Laborers is concerned that Barnard lacks the requisite experience and capacity to successfully perform a project of this magnitude.
Barnard Lacks Ties to the Local Community and Workforce A project of this scale will require thousands of highly skilled construction workers. Barnard is a Montana domiciled contractor with no ties to the local community or workforce. They lack relationships with local union hiring halls and reputable apprenticeship programs necessary to train and supply a qualified workforce.
Instead, Barnard will likely import a significant portion of its workforce from out of state, reducing construction career opportunities for local workers and providing no lasting economic benefit to surrounding communities. Reliance on an out of area workforce, particularly one without experience on projects of this size and complexity in California, adds uncertainty and risk.
Barnard Lacks Experience in Comparable California Projects Our research indicates Barnard has completed only one dam project in California: the Los Vaqueros Dam expansion (2010–2012), which was approximately one tenth the size of the Sites Project. There is no meaningful comparison between the two.
Reservoir and dam construction in California is uniquely complex due to terrain, seismic considerations, and regulatory requirements. Awarding a project of this magnitude to a contractor without substantial California based experience introduces significant risk for water agencies and users.
Barnard Was Terminated on a Previous CMAR Reservoir Contract The Lower Colorado River Authority selected Barnard as a CMAR for the Arbuckle Reservoir Project in 2013. After Barnard performed preconstruction and updated cost estimates, the LCRA “decided to end cost negotiations and terminate the CMAR contract.” We encourage your agency to review this matter further.
Other Bidders Possess the Requisite Experience and Capacity Two other prequalified teams, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and Flatiron Dragados Obayashi Joint Venture, submitted proposals. Each has decades of experience constructing dams and major water infrastructure projects in California and nationwide. Both have successfully delivered complex projects at or above the scale of the Sites Project.
Given the magnitude of this Project, it is concerning that the Authority has chosen to negotiate only with Barnard, a firm with limited California dam experience.
Conclusion
If the Sites Project Authority is genuinely committed to its stated values, we encourage you to request a review of Barnard’s Statement of Qualifications to ensure they meet the Authority’s standards, your agency’s standards, and the expectations of your community.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Oscar De La Torre
Business Manager
Northern California District Council of Laborers
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