Lafayette Reservoir Tower
EBMUD’s iconic tower at the beautiful Lafayette Reservoir is in need of a seismic upgrade. A few years ago, EBMUD staff presented the Lafayette Reservoir Tower Seismic Retrofit Project to the Lafayette City Council featuring a tower shortened by 40 feet. The City Council and the community expressed grave concerns about the proposed design and the potential loss of the iconic tower that has symbolized Lafayette for decades.
A group of Lafayette residents who are renowned experts in this field volunteered to perform an independent review of the design for the City and found that the tower could be retrofitted at its current height and design. They also expressed concerns that the proposed shortening of the Tower would increase the seismic risk for the downstream residents in Lafayette in the event of a major earthquake. However, despite requests from the City and public input in favor of retaining the iconic look of the tower, EBMUD is moving forward with plans to shorten the tower by 40'.
EBMUD has provided the following schedule:
- Summer 2025 – Construction planning
- Fall 2025 – Site preparation
- Summer 2026 – Demolition and construction
- Fall 2027 – Project completion
Below, on the left is a photo of the present-day tower. Next, are three renderings of the shortened tower in high, average and low water elevations.
Background and Timeline since July 2023
July/August 2023: Committee members present their findings to the City Council concluding that the City of Lafayette and the broader regional recreational area which is served by the Reservoir would be better served if the existing tower could remain in its existing configuration while still providing the required necessary seismic improvements.
- Watch the recording of the July 24, 2023 presentation by the Citizen’s Committee to the City Council.
- The City Council accepted the recommendations of the Committee and sent a letter to EBMUD.
November 2023: EBMUD informs City via email that the tall tower concept was reviewed, and it was determined that it would not meet seismic requirements. The City requests a meeting with EBMUD and AECOM. Next, Committee members, EBMUD and AECOM hold virtual meeting.
February 2024: Committee sends EBMUD its report responding to discussions at the 11/28/23 meeting and concluding that the Committee’s recommended retrofit of the upper one half of the Tower utilizing only a modest addition of mild steel reinforcement will address seismic risk, life safety, code compliance, cost effectiveness and environmental sensitivity. This option would retain the Tower at its existing height.
- Read the Committee’s Report: Independent Structural Engineering and Architectural Commentary: Seismic Retrofit Study Update on Lafayette Reservoir Outlet Tower
- EBMUD sends letter to the City Manager disagreeing with the committee’s findings and offers to meet.
March 2024: Committee members and City Manager attend an in-person meeting with EBMUD and AECOM. EBMUD is asked for additional information to be reviewed by the Committee. EBMUD provides the requested information over the following weeks and the Committee begins its assessment.
April 2024: EBMUD emails the City Manager with its decision to resume the final design of the shortened tower. Committee members continue their review of the documents provided by EBMUD.
May 2024: Committee members submit their final report. Based on extensive review of EBMUD’s seismic analysis and conceptual design documentation, it is the consensus opinion of the committee members that that EBMUD’s proposed shortening of the Tower could increase the seismic risk for the downstream residents of Lafayette in a major earthquake, rather than lessening the risk. Council directs City Manager to draft a letter to EBMUD to ask them to stop the project from moving forward until the City has resolution on the safety issues and to appeal directly to the State of California Department of Water Resource’s Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) requesting a meeting to explore alternative solutions.
- Read the Committee’s May 13, 2024 Report: Lafayette Reservoir Outlet Tower – EBMUD Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit Studies Report (PDF)
- Watch the recording of the May 28, 2024 presentation by the Citizen’s Committee
August 2024: City Council members, the Committee and EBMUD representatives meet with officials from the State DOD to summarize the City’s position and to present the Committee’s findings expressing concerns about EBMUD’s plan and offering viable alternatives to retrofitting and saving the Reservoir Tower. Since the City and EBMUD are in disagreement about the approach, the City requests DSOD to conduct a 3rd party, independent peer review to help resolve the difference of opinion.. The City sends a letter to DSOD.
November 2024: DSOD sends response to the City stating the Project shortening solution as currently proposed satisfactorily addresses DSOD’s concerns about the tower’s seismic deficiency. DSOD does not offer to initiate a 3rd party peer review process. But DSOD has no objections if a dam owner (EBMUD) chooses to hire consultants to conduct peer reviews of design alternatives, proposed designs, or the incorporation of new design concepts. Considering the City’s concern with the Project, should EBMUD propose a different remediation alternative that is acceptable to DSOD, DSOD would allow EBMUD to delay the start of construction to 2027, however such alternative concept would need to be submitted to DSOD by April 1, 2025.
December 2024: At City Council’s direction, the City Manager asks EBMUD for a joint meeting of the EBMUD Board and the Lafayette City Council to receive public feedback on the shortened Tower design.
January 2025: City receives a letter from the EBMUD Board President stating that further public input would not be helpful, especially given the new deadlines imposed by DSOD to submit a remediation concept to DSOD by April 1, 2025 and not delay the start of construction past 2027.
April 2025: EBMUD updates website and provides the following schedule:
- Summer 2025 - Construction planning
- Fall 2025 - Site preparation
- Summer 2026 - Demolition and construction
- Fall 2027 - Project completion
October 2025: EBMUD hosts Community Update Meeting
October 2025: EBMUD hosts Community Update Meeting
Share your thoughts on EBMUD’s plans to shorten the Lafayette Reservoir Tower!
Questions and comments about the tower redesign should be emailed to EBMUD Community Affairs
To stay informed about this construction project, sign up for alerts from EBMUD at www.ebmud.com/lafayettetower