District plans new pipeline to divert excess winter water

Marin Water District is moving forward with plans for a new conveyance pipeline and pumping plant that will divert excess winter water from Sonoma County’s Russian River to a local Marin Water reservoir.

The District’s Board of Directors gave approval for staff to proceed with design and environmental review of the Winter Water Conveyance Project. When constructed, the project would provide the infrastructure needed to capture and move excess water to be stored in Marin Water’s reservoirs for later use, adding to the resilience of the North Bay’s overall water supply during droughts.

The project proposes a pumping plant and a 36-inch-wide pipeline running 13.2 miles from the North Marin Aqueduct to Marin Water’s Nicasio Reservoir. During dry years, the new infrastructure could replenish the District’s local water supply with as much as 3,800 acre-feet of stored water. Potential future phases of this project could increase replenishment of stored water to up to 8,100 acre-feet.

“This conveyance project is the most appropriate and logical next step for Marin Water to take in support of a comprehensive solutions package aimed at addressing the water supply needs of our customers,” said Matt Samson, Marin Water Board President. “The project’s implementation timeline will allow us to increase our water supply within a few years, buying time while we focus on additional projects that will ultimately provide sufficient water supplies to further protect us from severe drought. The project also offers the district flexibility when evaluating additional large scale projects, contributing to the overall resilience of our water supply.”

The project would mark the District’s largest water supply resiliency project in 40 years. Learn more about the Winter Water Conveyance Project at marinwater.org/WaterSupplyRoadmap.