EBMUD To Update Lafayette City Council On Lowering Reservoir Tower

LAFAYETTE, CA — One of Lafayette's most iconic landmarks is about to undergo some major changes.

The Lafayette City Council on Monday will hear a report from the East Bay Municipal Utility District on its plans to lower the 170-feet-tall tower in the Lafayette Reservoir by 40 feet due to seismic danger.

The tower near the reservoir's northeast end was built in 1929. The reservoir was completed in 1933 and opened for recreation in 1966.

The tower and the conduits at the base of the tower function together as a spillway and outlet to control the reservoir levels, EBMUD

The utility says: "In the event of an earthquake, the tower is likely to sustain significant damage due to the lack of steel reinforcement in the concrete, and the conduits at the base of the tower would sustain damage from bending forces."

The tower is 40 feet higher than it should be because engineers decided the nearby dam should be lower than originally planned. EBMUD says it doesn't meet modern seismic design standards and would bend and break in an earthquake.

The conduits at the base of the tower would also become damaged. The tower and conduits wouldn't be able to function as an outlet and spillway. Which presents safety concerns for the dam.

The California Division of Safety of Dams, the state agency that regulates dam safety, has required EBMUD to address the tower's seismic safety and add an onshore valve operating system to improve response time in an emergency.

After extensive analysis, EBMUD plans to address the seismic risk to the tower by shortening it. The new tower will be 40 feet shorter — appropriately sized for the dam's height.

EBMUD is working with a consultant on the architectural details of the new tower, but the utility said they expect it to have an architecturally detailed parapet wall, with a beveled platform and corbels, which will ensure functionality.

EBMUD has also received community input and is evaluating the feasibility of a platform with a metal operating house.

Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2024 and last approximately one year.

Construction impacts are expected to be minimal. Some parking spaces will be temporarily used to store equipment and access to the reservoir may be suspended for short periods of time during large equipment deliveries.

EBMUD says they won't need to drain the reservoir, though minor tree work is anticipated, along with some temporary, localized widening of the access road.

To see more about the project, go to https://www.ebmud.com.

The Lafayette City Council meets at 6 p.m. Monday at Lafayette Library & Learning Center — Don Tatzin Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, in Lafayette. The meeting can be seen on Lafayette's YouTube Channel.

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