The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) is pushing forward with a bold plan: a 13‑mile pipeline to capture water from atmospheric river events and send it straight into local reservoirs. The idea is to link the Russian River aqueduct near San Marin Drive in Novato to Nicasio Reservoir, boosting drought resilience for Marin County and easing pressure on aging infrastructure.
MMWD and North Marin Water District are talking about joining forces. They might share land near Stafford Lake for a pump station—a piece that’s sorely needed. If they can pull this off, the project could make water supplies a lot more reliable for folks in Novato, Nicasio, San Rafael, Fairfax, and probably a few places in between.
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Strengthening Marin County’s Water Security
Marin County deals with droughts all the time, so local agencies keep searching for ways to save more water when the rain actually comes. This atmospheric river capture pipeline would connect the Russian River’s big winter flows to the Nicasio Reservoir, letting them store that water for the dry months.
The pipeline would run along San Marin Drive, Novato Boulevard, and Point Reyes‑Petaluma Road. In its first phase, it could add up to 3,800 acre‑feet of water a year to the reservoir.
There’s even talk of a second phase. That could nearly double the capacity, up to 8,100 acre‑feet, letting Marin stash more water when the skies finally open up. Less dependence on outside sources during droughts? That’s the hope.
Collaborative Efforts Across Local Agencies
This whole thing hinges on agencies working together. North Marin Water District might offer up land near Stafford Lake for the pump station, which would solve a huge headache: finding a place to put it.
North Marin serves 61,000 people, mostly with water from Sonoma County. This pipeline could take some pressure off their system during those peak summer days.
Marin County Parks is interested, too. Stafford Lake Park’s got its own water problems thanks to a broken pipe, so fixing that could dovetail with the bigger water goals for the county.
Community Perspectives from Nicasio to Novato
People in Nicasio, that lovely rural spot set to get more water, have started weighing in. Some are worried about how much water the reservoir can actually hold, and they want MMWD to be more upfront about what’s happening.
As the talks continue, it’s clear that local input will shape how the project moves forward—especially when it comes to the environment and what the community really wants.
Over in Novato, where the pipeline would start, residents and businesses see a chance for a steadier water supply. Connecting to the Russian River aqueduct could help soften the blow of seasonal shortages and give farmers along Novato Boulevard a little more breathing room.
Economic Scale and Timeline
The price tag? Around $167 million. That’s a massive investment for Marin County—one of the biggest in recent memory.
Engineers and planners expect to finish design and environmental review by 2027. If all goes well with permits and money, construction could start soon after, and water might be flowing by 2029. That’s the optimistic timeline, anyway.
In places like San Rafael and Fairfax, which depend on MMWD’s reservoirs, long-term planning isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
Potential Benefits for Marin County Residents
The pipeline could bring a lot to the table for towns all over the county, including:
- Better drought resilience for cities like San Rafael and Mill Valley
- Less strain on North Marin’s existing pipes and pumps
- More storage in Nicasio Reservoir
- Chances for groups like Marin County Parks to fix old infrastructure
- More reliable water for farmers and ranchers along Novato Boulevard and Point Reyes‑Petaluma Road
A Project with Regional Impact
The physical infrastructure would mostly run between Novato and Nicasio. But honestly, the ripple effects could reach all corners of Marin County.
It might mean steadier supplies in places like Corte Madera and Larkspur. In dry years, Fairfax and San Anselmo could see fewer water restrictions.
This atmospheric river capture pipeline has the potential to change how Marin thinks about its most precious resource. Water security here feels more and more tangled up with unpredictable weather.
MMWD, North Marin Water District, and a handful of other stakeholders are teaming up on this. If they can capture extra winter water and save it for the dry stretch, the county might finally get ahead of the curve.
With 2029 not all that far off, folks from Novato to Nicasio are keeping a close eye on the project. They’re hoping that smart planning, real community input, and a bit of stubborn teamwork can actually deliver a water future that lasts.
Here is the source article for this story: MMWD courts partners for pipeline project
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