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Atmospheric River Capture (ARC) Project - Information for the City of Novato

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The Atmospheric River Capture (ARC) Project is a water supply resilience project designed to improve Marin Water’s reliability during dry periods. It would provide the infrastructure needed to deliver high flows from the Russian River during and following key winter storms to Nicasio Reservoir for storage, where the water can be used later during dry periods.

Why Regional Water Supply Collaboration Matters

ATMOSPHERIC RIVER CAPTURE (ARC) PROJECT Information for the Novato Community

North Bay and broader regional water systems are interconnected, and agencies regularly work together during droughts, emergencies, and other periods of urgent need to help maintain reliable water supplies. The proposed ARC Project would strengthen regional water resilience by capturing and storing excess winter water during specific storm conditions for later use during dry periods. By storing available winter water locally during wet periods, the project can help improve drought preparedness in Marin while supporting more flexible use of shared regional water supplies during future dry conditions.

HOW IT WORKS From Storm to Storage Even in dry years with below-average rainfall, intense atmospheric river storms can temporarily swell the Russian River with high winter flows. The ARC Project would operate during these dry year storm windows to capture and store water that would otherwise flow to the ocean.

Marin Water and neighboring agencies have a long history of working together to support regional water resilience during changing conditions, droughts and emergencies.

Winter water captured during key storm windows

PROJECT TIMELINE

The Russian River watershed is much larger than Marin Water’s Mt. Tam watershed. As a result, storms there can generate sustained runoff and elevated river flows – even in dry years – creating opportunities to capture water.

Estimated as of June 2026 and may change based on environmental review, property acquisitions and permitting.

2025-2026 Preliminary Design

Travels through existing North Marin Aqueduct

2025-2027 Environmental Review

(Environmental Impact Report prepared in compliance with the California Enviornmental Quality Act)

The captured winter water would travel through existing infrastructure already used by Marin Water. Today, this water flows directly to the distribution system, not into local reservoirs.

Conveyed to storage via new pipeline and pump system

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The ARC Project builds a new connection between the Aqueduct and Nicasio Reservoir, providing the missing link that allows for captured winter water to be stored for later use.

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Publish Draft EIR Anticipated fall 2026

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Public Comment Period for Draft EIR (45 days) Anticipated fall 2026

Stored in Nicasio Reservoir for later use Stored water would supplement Marin Water’s supply during extended dry periods. Diversions from the Russian River would be closely coordinated with weather forecasts and reservoir levels and would only occur when storage space is available and local conditions in the Russian River Watershed allow.

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Address Public Comments on Draft and Publish Final EIR Anticipated late 2026 / early 2027

2026-2027 Final Design & Permitting

MORE PROJECT INFORMATION Visit Project webpage marinwater.org/ARCproject

Scoping: Initiate Environmental Review with Notice of Preparation (NOP) & Public Outreach Comments on EIR scope collected March 13 – April 13, 2026

Email Project team ARCproject@marinwater.org

Watch Project video Scan code

2027-2030 Construction

KEY BENEFITS Improve Drought Resilience Captures excess winter water resulting from storm events, and stores it in local reservoirs for use during dry periods.

Drought Response (2021) – Residential Preparedness

During the most recent drought, Marin Water and North Marin Water District worked with the County of Marin and other partners to prepare for providing emergency potable water supplies for rural residents relying on wells that were at risk of running dry. These measures were ultimately not needed due to changing conditions.

Drought Response (2021) – Agricultural Use

Both water districts also worked with the County of Marin to support water needs in areas outside both districts’ service areas, including allowing West Marin ranchers to purchase and truck untreated reservoir water for agricultural use over several months during the drought.

Strengthen Regional Collaboration Strengthens regional water resiliency by leveraging infrastructure shared with neighboring agencies, creating opportunities for more efficient use of shared water sources and mutual aid during future dry periods.

Align with Community Priorities Marin Water is coordinating with local agencies as the project develops to identify opportunities, where feasible, to align the project with local priorities and provide added community value.

Marin Water is proposing to construct the Atmospheric River Capture Project, a water supply project designed to improve reliability during dry periods. Because portions of the proposed project would be located in and around the Novato city limits, this fact sheet focuses on what the project could mean for the community, including potential construction impacts, proposed facilities, and upcoming opportunities for input as the environmental review process continues. THE FULL PROJECT AT A GLANCE What Would Be Built New infrastructure would connect the North Marin Aqueduct to Nicasio Reservoir, allowing captured winter flows to be stored for use during dry periods.

Novato Landslide (2023)

A landslide in Novato raised concerns about access to local water supply. Marin Water coordinated with North Marin Water District and was prepared to support emergency interconnections if needed to help maintain service for North Marin Water District customers.

Future Opportunity – Stafford Lake Winter Water Storage

The ARC Project would include infrastructure connecting to Stafford Lake, creating a potential future opportunity for North Marin Water District to more efficiently capture and store available winter water during key storm events. By leveraging infrastructure used by both agencies, this could support additional drought resilience and more efficient use of available regional winter water sources.

Future Opportunity – Supporting North Bay Water Resilience

By allowing Marin Water to store water captured during key winter storm events for later use, the ARC Project could help reduce reliance on shared regional water supplies during droughts. This added flexibility may help support broader North Bay water resilience during periods when water supplies are limited.

*This connection to Stafford Lake creates a potential future opportunity for North Marin Water District to more efficiently capture and store available winter water during dry periods.

The full Project would include a 13.2-mile pipeline, two pumping stations, a dechlorination facility and points of delivery at both Stafford Lake and Nicasio Reservoir.


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