LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – The iconic Lafayette Reservoir Tower will soon drop to a fraction of its size, as EBMUD shaves 40+ feet off the nearly century-old tower.
It’s a project that many locals thought (and perhaps hoped) would never actually happen.
Now, though, construction netting is up around the top of the tower, windows appear to have been removed, demolition seems to be beginning, and the project is poised to move ahead.
East Bay Municipal Utility District says it’s moving forward on the major seismic retrofit of the Lafayette Reservoir outlet tower, a landmark that the agency says must be shortened and strengthened to meet modern dam-safety requirements.
The concrete tower — built in 1929 and best known for its gazebo-like top — is slated to be chopped down to its smaller size as part of a DSOD-approved project designed to improve earthquake resilience and protect downstream communities.
Basically, EBMUD says that if the tower ever failed, it could compromise the dam. If the dam cracked, a tidal wave of water would flood much of Lafayette, and areas as far away as Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.
A big quake, the agency says, could start a chain reaction that risks such a failure. The map above shows when each town would be inundated, and how many feet of water would flood homes and businesses. Thousands would likely die. Cheery stuff!
Thus, the drive to modernize the reservoir.
The tower is also taller than the reservoir ultimately needed, EBMUD says: construction began with plans for a higher dam, but the dam height was reduced during construction — leaving the tower about 40 feet higher than necessary for the final reservoir configuration.
That’s part of the charm, of course. The strangely tall tower sticks out, and that’s made it a distinctive part of the town for generations.
EBMUD says the plan is to keep the overall historic look of the tower’s top as closely as possible. The agency also says the reservoir does not need to be drained for the work, but visitors should expect some localized tree work and temporary access-road widening for construction staging.
EBMUD puts the project cost at about $14 million, funded by ratepayers, with the design approved by the California Division of Safety of Dams.
On its project page, EBMUD lists construction planning in summer 2025, site preparation in fall 2025, major demolition and construction in summer 2026, and completion in fall 2027 — with a reminder that timing can change due to weather or other factors.
That aligns with what we’re seeing on the ground.
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EBMUD also says the reservoir will be closed during key construction periods and that some parking spaces may be temporarily used for equipment.
Again, we’re seeing construction equipment at the reservoir–both for this and other projects related to sewer work–and netting surrounding the tower, suggesting that the demo has begun.
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The proposed shortening has been contentious locally, with some residents and city leaders arguing the tower should be retrofitted without changing its height.
EBMUD has responded that it evaluated multiple height-preserving alternatives over decades and that more recent community-proposed options did not meet safety standards; in a 2024 statement, the agency said a further alternative that keeps the tower taller would be unlikely to win DSOD approval and would not be a good use of ratepayer funds.
Visitors may have noticed fresh signage at the reservoir outlining the “Lafayette Reservoir Tower Seismic Upgrade,” along with a new community meeting date. EBMUD says it will host a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to walk residents through construction impacts, access changes, and the anticipated schedule.
If you want to join by Zoom, here’s the spot: https://www.ebmud.com/about-us/construction-and-maintenance/construction-my-neighborhood/lafayette-reservoir-and-water-system-upgrades
We’ll be following this project very closely and providing regular updates. Join my free 925 News newsletter now so I can keep you updated.
