(Sacramento, CA) — Governor Newsom is praising a court ruling that rejected a challenge of Sites Reservoir. Environmental advocates have argued that California’s plan to build a reservoir in a valley north of Sacramento would harm the Sacramento River’s ecosystem and fish species.

In December, groups filed a lawsuit that claimed the Sites Project Authority violated the California Environmental Quality Act by approving the reservoir. But in a ruling last week, a judge sided against the environmental groups. Newsom praised the ruling.

Plans for the project include two large dams and nine smaller dams that would hold water that is diverted from the Sacramento River.