Construction Updates

About This Project

Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) is rehabilitating its existing desalination system on Reservation Road — infrastructure that was originally constructed in 1996 and last operated in 2003.

Why the desalination plant is being rehabilitated now

MCWD has a reliable, diversified water supply today and a long-range plan to responsibly add new sources over time as the community grows. Good engineering practice avoids overbuilding so the District brings capacity online in planned steps, when and as it is needed. This rehabilitation is one of those steps, adding 300 acre-feet per year of locally produced water. It has been identified in MCWD's Urban Water Management Plan and has been part of the District's Regional Urban Water Augmentation Project since 2008 and is approved under CEQA.

This project:

• Diversifies the water supply portfolio and improves long-term supply reliability.
• Supports groundwater basin sustainability by reducing dependence on local groundwater basins.
• Gives MCWD the supply flexibility to help support low-income housing growth required of local cities and the County.

What you see on the beach

Work on the beach involves cleaning and rehabilitating the existing intake well, re- installing a vault and wellhead, and replacing an old pipeline from the beach well under the parking lot to the treatment plant. The pipeline work will require trenching on the beach to replace the old pipeline. Steel construction plates are temporarily placed on the beach to protect the beach and prevent equipment from becoming stuck. The plates are planned to be removed by the week of March 30. A protected walkway will be maintained throughout construction to preserve public beach access and protect sensitive areas of the dunes from both construction equipment and foot traffic.

What you will soon see on the bluffs

Work on the bluffs involves rehabilitating the brine discharge well on District property, approximately 40 feet above the beach. This work falls within MCWD's existing property line and within the footprint of existing infrastructure.

Parking lot work

In order to support our community and continued access to the beach, pipeline connections between the beach and the treatment plant will be made using horizontal directional drilling beneath the parking lot. This technique eliminates the need for open trenching and ensures that vehicle and pedestrian access to the beach remains open throughout construction.

Construction Timeline

March 2026 — Beach construction begins

Intake and discharge well rehabilitation begins. Construction plates placed on beach. Protected pedestrian walkway established. Biologists are monitoring the Snowy Plover until work is completely cleared off the beach, around mid-May.

Mid-April 2026 — Decrease footprint on the beach

Steel plates in the beach work area are removed by about mid-April. The work footprint is significantly reduced but work continues on the beach as the well head vault construction begins.

Mid-May 2026 — Intake Well rehabilitation complete

New vault and wellhead are installed. Beach well work finishes by about mid-May and the Beach is returned to its previous grade as required by the permit with State Parks.

March 2026 through May 2026 — Bluff and parking lot work

Brine discharge well rehabilitation at the District's Reservation Rd facility. Parking lot directional drilling. Desal Plant facility work.

May 2026 — Phase I Complete

Intake well rehabilitation complete and water quality testing will begin as Phase II design is underway.

September - December 2026 — Phase II construction begins

Work on the Reverse Osmosis (RO) building.

First Quarter of 2027 — Full rehabilitation complete

The desalination system is online and delivering 300 acre-feet of new water per year.

Environmental Protections

MCWD takes its stewardship of the beach environment seriously. Multiple layers of regulatory oversight and proactive monitoring are in place throughout this project.

Snowy Plover monitoring

A professional wildlife biologist is on-site conducting daily monitoring for the Western Snowy Plover, a threatened shorebird that nests in this area. MCWD is working with Point Blue Conservation Science who partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over two decades on monitoring and protecting the Snowy Plovers along the Monterey Bay and is considered the leading expert in the region. State Parks has reviewed and approved the monitoring program. Biologists are monitoring the Snowy Plover until work is completely cleared off the beach, around April 30.

Monterey Spineflower

The pipeline and infrastructure route has been specifically relocated away from any potential habitat for the Monterey Spineflower, an endangered plant species. MCWD is also working to comply with the intent of the City of Marina's draft Coastal Land Use Plan biological resource policies, including working with a qualified biologist to identify Environmentally Sensitive Habitat.

Permits and regulatory compliance

All necessary permits were in place prior to construction starting. A Notice of Exemption under CEQA was filed with the state on September 25, 2025, as this is the rehabilitation of an existing facility. MCWD holds a Right of Entry permit from California State Parks that sets requirements for the work and requires restoration of all affected areas to their natural condition. The existing Coastal Development Permit is current and the rehabilitation work complies with all its terms.

Sea level rise and managed retreat

MCWD has accounted for sea level rise and ongoing wave erosion in the project design. This project is part of the District's managed retreat strategy for facilities located west of Highway 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there heavy equipment and steel plates on the beach?

The steel plates protect the sand from equipment and prevent construction machinery from becoming stuck in soft beach sand. They are temporary measures required only during active well rehabilitation work on the beach and will be removed once that phase is complete — anticipated by the end of March.

Can I still access the beach during construction?

Yes. MCWD is required to maintain public beach access throughout construction. A protected, dedicated pedestrian walkway is in place for the duration of beach-side work. The parking lot will also remain 100% accessible, as pipeline work there uses underground drilling rather than open trenches.

Is this a new desalination plant, or something else?

This is a rehabilitation of an existing facility — not new construction. The desalination system was built in 1996 and operated successfully until 2003. MCWD is cleaning, repairing, and upgrading existing wells and infrastructure to bring the system back into service. No new wells are being drilled.

Was this project properly reviewed under environmental law?

Yes. A Notice of Exemption (NOE) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was filed with the state on September 25, 2025. Because this is the rehabilitation of an existing facility — not new construction — the project qualifies for this exemption. The filing is publicly available at the CEQA Net database. All required permits from State Parks and other agencies are in place.

What protections are in place for wildlife, especially the Snowy Plover?

Daily on-site monitoring for the Western Snowy Plover is being conducted by Point Blue Conservation Science who partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over two decades on monitoring and protecting the Snowy Plovers in the Monterey Bay and is considered the leading expert in the region. California State Parks has reviewed and approved the monitoring approach. The Monterey Spineflower's potential habitat has also been avoided by carefully routing all pipeline infrastructure. Biologists are monitoring the Snowy Plover until work is completely cleared off the beach, around April 30.

Will this change what the beach looks like?

No. All beach areas disturbed by construction will be restored to their natural condition, as required by MCWD's Right of Entry permit with State Parks. The existing beach well will remain below ground, and the bluff-side equipment will remain in the existing area and largely out of sight from the beach.

Why is MCWD adding desalination capacity now?

MCWD has a reliable water supply today and a long-range plan — the Urban Water Management Plan, last updated in 2020 — to add new sources in a stepwise manner as the community grows and needs increase. Good engineering practice means not overbuilding: the District brings capacity online when and as it is needed. This rehabilitation adds 300 acre-feet per year of locally produced water, further diversifying the communities' water portfolio. The project is identified in MCWD's current Regional Urban Water Augmentation Project which was approved under CEQA in 2008.

How long will the disruption on the beach last?

The most visible beach construction — including the steel plates — is expected to be fully complete by approximately April 17, 2026. Work will continue on the bluffs and in the parking lot through 2026, but this will be less visually impactful. The full project, including treatment facility work, will be complete and operational by the first quarter of 2027.

Who approved this project and what permits does MCWD hold?

MCWD holds a valid Coastal Development Permit, a Right of Entry permit from California State Parks, and has completed CEQA review via Notice of Exemption. State Parks has reviewed and approved the Snowy Plover monitoring plan. The desal project has been identified in MCWD's Urban Water Management Plan and approved through the Former Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) supply planning process dating back to 2008.

Water Supply: Adequate Today, Planning for Tomorrow

MCWD provides customers with high-quality, reliable water today. The District's approach to water supply is based on sound planning. It builds on a diversified portfolio and adding new sources in deliberate, cost-efficient steps over time as community needs grow.

The Regional Urban Water Augmentation Project (RUWAP)

In 2008, MCWD developed RUWAP — a long-range plan to provide a sustainable, diversified water supply for the Fort Ord redevelopment area and the broader community. The plan identifies a portfolio of sources to be brought online in sequence, when needed:

• Pure Water Monterey — Phase I — (600 acre-feet per year [AFY]) In service since 2022
• Pure Water Monterey — Phase II — (827 AFY) In service since 2025
• Reservation Road Desalination Rehabilitation — (300 AFY) To be online by about April 2027
• Indirect Potable Reuse Project — (1,120 AFY) Actively in planning the next major step
• Garrison Ocean Desalination — (1,500 AFY) Planned for future phases

Smart, stepwise growth — not overbuilding

MCWD's approach reflects good engineering practice: sizing projects to meet actual near-term needs, then build the next increment when the time is right. This avoids unnecessary cost to ratepayers and ensures each project is operationally justified. The Urban Water Management Plan — most recently updated in 2020 — identifies when each new supply source will be needed based on projected demand through 2040 and beyond.

Refitting an existing plant is faster, lower cost, and lower risk

The Reservation Road plant was constructed in 1996 and successfully operated through 2003 before being placed on standby. Rehabilitating existing infrastructure is significantly faster, less expensive, and less disruptive than building new facilities. Technology has also improved substantially since 1996, so the District expects better performance and efficiency from the refitted system.

Supporting the broader community and a sustainable environment

MCWD's water supply planning serves more than its direct customers. As the designated Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), MCWD is responsible for the long-term health of the local groundwater supply. As a County Water Agency, we support water suppliers and communities across Monterey County by providing interagency support through mutual aid agreements, interties, and water wheeling agreements. Our many initiatives even include projects like our project with the Central Coast Wetlands Group to protect Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems and promote sustainable management.

Documents

Notice of Exemption (NOE) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Urban Water Management Plan

Photos

Questions & Updates

We are committed to keeping the community informed throughout this project. We'll share updates as the project moves forward. If you have questions or would like to receive updates directly, please reach out.