The Santa Fe Irrigation District has approved the design contract for the Larrick Reservoir Seismic Retrofit Project. Built in 1964, the Larrrick Reservoir is an above-ground, pre-stressed concrete tank located in Solana Beach, near the fire station. A recently completed evaluation of the site determined that a seismic retrofit of the roof and areas supporting the roof, upgrades to the pump station, surrounding drainage areas, and upgrades to the exterior of the tank were necessary to ensure the reservoir’s continued ability to serve the City of Solana Beach. This reservoir and pump station provides 95% of the District’s service to customers west of Interstate 5.
The project's design phase will last through the beginning of the first half of 2026. During this time, the District will engage the community to facilitate dialogue on the construction timeline, aesthetics, environmental review, and community concerns. This design phase is the first phase of the project and occurs before the project is put out to bid for construction. At this time, the District has begun an environmental review of the site to determine the requirements to meet local and state regulatory standards for construction and long-term water supply operations.
On a parallel track, the District is also working with the City of Solana Beach to evaluate how to incorporate the community’s request for a pocket park on the Larrick Reservoir site. The City of Solana Beach will manage the public input on the pocket park as the lead agency for the design, regulatory work, review, and final construction. Due to limits on water districts by the California Constitution under Proposition 218, the District cannot provide funding for the development and construction of the pocket park. However, the two entities are working together to develop an agreement on the use of the land for this neighborhood asset. They are committed to engaging the community during the process.
“The Board and the District are committed to being good neighbors not only during construction, but as our facilities continue to live in perpetuity in the community, ” said Michael T. Hogan, Board President. “As we embark on the first phase of this project, we look forward to engaging the community to learn more about their concerns, while keeping them informed about the importance of the water operations of this facility. Our customers are our number one priority, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to them.”
After input is considered for the Larrick Reservoir Project, the final design will be completed in the Summer of 2026, and the project bid will be sent out. The project is tentatively set to start construction in the Winter of 2026.
During construction, the District and the City of Solana Beach will coordinate the timing of the pocket park development. The District will continue providing updates to customers and the City of Solana Beach on final design, construction progress, and anticipated completion as the project moves forward, while making every effort to minimize impacts to nearby residents. A community forum will be held at the beginning of 2026, and a notice will be sent to surrounding residents. Additional information will be posted on the SFID website sfidwater.org.