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If you’ve visited Marina State Beach recently, you may have noticed steel construction plates and equipment on the sand. This is part of Marina Coast Water District’s rehabilitation of its existing Reservation Road desalination system — last operated in 2003.
This is not a new plant. MCWD is cleaning, repairing, and upgrading the 30-year-old wells and infrastructure to bring the system back into service, adding 300 acre-feet of locally produced water per year to our supply.
What to expect
• The steel plates on the beach are temporary — planned for removal by the week of March 30.
• A protected pedestrian walkway is in place. The beach and parking lot remain fully accessible.
• Work on the bluffs above the beach begins in late April.
• The most visible construction on the beach will be fully complete by approximately April 17, 2025.
• The full project will be online and delivering water by the first quarter of 2027.
This rehabilitation is one step in MCWD’s long-range water supply plan, which has been in place since 2008 and approved under CEQA. The District’s approach is deliberate: bring capacity online in planned steps, when and as it is needed — not before. This project diversifies our water supply, supports groundwater basin health, and helps meet the water needs of our growing service area.
We take our environmental responsibilities seriously. A wildlife biologist from Point Blue Conservation Science is on-site every day monitoring for the Western Snowy Plover.
In addition, the pipeline and infrastructure route has been specifically relocated away from any potential habitat for the Monterey Spineflower, an endangered plant species.
All permits are in place, and every disturbed area will be fully restored when construction is complete.
This project reflects our commitment to building a sustainable, reliable water supply for our community — one carefully planned step at a time. We take our responsibility to protect the beach environment just as seriously, and we are proud to be doing this work in a way that safeguards the natural resources our community values.
Stay informed — we'll share updates as the project moves forward.
See full project details, the construction timeline, environmental information, and FAQs are on our website here.
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