LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA — The Lafayette Reservoir tower has almost reached its dramatically shortened new height, according to another detailed “stakeholder” construction update sent directly to Bay Area Telegraph.
EBMUD’s fourth monthly status report says crews have been systematically removing the concrete rings that formed the upper portion of the nearly century-old tower.
The original operating house was removed earlier this summer. Contractors then began cutting away 13 concrete rings from the tower’s stem, reducing the landmark’s height by approximately 40 feet.
As of EBMUD’s August 17 update, 10 of those 13 rings had been removed. The utility expected the final three rings to be gone and the tower to reach its new height by Friday, August 21.
We took a look on Friday the 21st, and the tower indeed seems to be at its final, shortened height, minus the rebuilt operating house.
That means the most dramatic portion of the tower’s visual transformation should now be essentially complete, although EBMUD has not yet separately confirmed that the final ring was removed on schedule.
What Happens to the Tower Next?
Reaching the new height is only one phase of the much larger Lafayette Reservoir Tower Safety Upgrade Project.
EBMUD and its contractor have already started fabricating a replacement metal operating house. Before it can be installed, crews must construct a new floor inside the remaining tower and build new corbels, which are structural supports for the building above.
The lightweight operating house is intended to resemble the historic structure that previously sat on top of the tower. EBMUD expects that work to be completed by November 2026.
The new operating house will not restore the tower to its original height. The finished structure will remain approximately 40 feet shorter than the landmark Lafayette residents knew for generations.
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The Project Will Not Be Finished This Fall
Here is an important distinction in EBMUD’s latest update: the tower may look substantially finished by the end of 2026, but the full safety project will continue for about another year.
As the permitted seasonal environmental work window closes later this fall, crews will pause work on certain tower components. They are scheduled to return during the next permitted window in spring 2027.
That phase will include installing new underwater slide gates and electric motor operators. Electrical work, testing and commissioning will then be completed before the tower returns to full operational service.
The overall project remains scheduled for completion in fall 2027, according to both the new update and EBMUD’s current project timeline.
Visitors May Face Short Delays
The reservoir remains open for fishing, hiking and picnicking during construction. EBMUD says no vehicle closures are currently planned in connection with the tower project.
Visitors may encounter flaggers at the park entrance and along the paved Lakeside Nature Trail as crews move equipment and construction materials. Pedestrians and drivers could occasionally be delayed for 10 to 15 minutes.
Demolition debris is being carried to shore and loaded onto trucks. Those trucks are leaving through the Acalanes Road onramp, allowing them to avoid downtown Lafayette.
Visitors should also expect construction noise around the tower, barge ramp and nearby trail. A separate wastewater collection system improvement project is happening at the reservoir concurrently through fall 2026.
What Will Happen to the Old Tower Pieces?
One especially interesting question remains unanswered.
EBMUD says it has heard from community members who want pieces of the original tower preserved. The utility is still exploring whether salvaged material can be turned into a historic token for the public.
No formal plan has been announced, but EBMUD says it will update community stakeholders once one is established.
For now, the tower remains surrounded by scaffolding and protective materials. But after the removal of its operating house and nearly all 13 concrete rings, Lafayette’s familiar reservoir landmark has already changed forever.
