An Opinion Piece from the Lafayette Citizen’s Technical Advisory Committee
04/22/2025
EBMUD PLANS UNNECESSARY DEMOLITION OF
HISTORIC LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR TOWER
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is planning to demolish the historic tower that has stood above the Lafayette Reservoir for nearly 100 years, reducing the tower to a short stump protruding above the water. That plan, prepared in the name of seismic safety, is being pursued against the wishes of the City of Lafayette and despite an expert independent review that finds the demolition to be unnecessary for safety reasons. After months of failed negotiations with EBMUD, it is time for the residents, businesses, and leadership of the surrounding communities to raise their voices to protest the plan going forward.
The Lafayette Reservoir and Tower are part of a year-round, day-use park ideal for hiking, jogging, fishing, boating, and picnicking. According to EBMUD, the park draws over a million visitors a year. The iconic tower, topped by a charming operating house and casting reflections on the calm waters of the reservoir, is a central landmark of the park.
The tower has developed unquestionable cultural and economic value. Visitors are commonly seen taking selfies in front of the photogenic tower, and many retreat to nearby towns where they dine and shop. It is not surprising that numerous business websites, realtor brochures, and the City of Lafayette home page feature photos of the unique tower.
Everyone agrees that public safety of the tower is a high priority. A Lafayette Citizen’s Technical Advisory Committee, all residents of Lafayette and nationally recognized experts in the field of earthquake engineering, voluntarily collaborated on behalf of the City of Lafayette for over two years to study EBMUD’s proposals and identify viable alternatives. EBMUD has chosen to disagree with the alternatives, impose false barriers, and espouse misrepresentations rather than earnestly exploring a seismic retrofit that preserves the historic tower.
The public should be aware that there is indeed a safe, simple, proven, and cost-effective solution that retains the tower in its current form.
For its part, the City of Lafayette has stated its opposition to the planned demolition, but other factors have prevented the City from taking a more assertive stance. Based on the discussion of the Lafayette City Council at their March 24th meeting, it appears that the Council is fearful of possible retribution from EBMUD and therefore has chosen to “roll over” instead of protecting this significant cultural and economic asset. Most local residents seem unaware of the planned demolition and the engineering options for preserving the tower, which explains why there has not been an uproar over the EBMUD plan. But let’s be clear about one thing: Once the tower is quietly demolished in summer 2026, it will be too late to act.
The Lafayette Citizen’s Technical Advisory Committee feels compelled to inform the public about the proposed demolition and alternatives. We call on you – residents, businesses, chambers of commerce, city councils, community leaders, and those with expertise in historic preservation, from Lafayette and the surrounding communities – to raise your voices and demand better decision making from EBMUD and our leaders.
The Lafayette Citizen’s Technical Advisory Committee
Gordon Chong, Fellow American Institute of Architects
Mason Walters, Structural Engineer
Jack Moehle, U.C. Berkeley Structural Engineering Faculty
Loring Wyllie, Structural Engineer
Matt Bertics, Structural Engineer
