PROJECT BACKGROUND
Forest Lake Reservoir in Pebble Beach, California, is a man-made reservoir with a history spanning more than 135 years. Constructed in 1888 by the Pacific Improvement Company, owned by the railroad magnates known as the “Big Four,” the reservoir was developed to increase the water supply for the luxurious Hotel Del Monte, the growing communities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, and future development in Pebble Beach. It soon became a vital component of the Monterey Peninsula’s early water infrastructure, storing millions of gallons of water for domestic use.
In 1998, ownership of the reservoir was transferred from California-American Water to the Pebble Beach Community Services District (PBCSD). Between 2005 and 2006, the reservoir underwent a major $11 million rehabilitation project to support the region’s long-term water conservation goals. As part of the upgrade, a 65-mil Hypaflex® CSPE liner system was installed in 2004 in a custom tan color selected by the owner and later named “Pebble Beach Tan.”
The rehabilitation transformed Forest Lake Reservoir into a recycled water storage facility that now supplies irrigation water to Pebble Beach’s world-renowned golf courses, significantly reducing reliance on potable water supplies. In addition to supporting irrigation, the reservoir serves as a critical firefighting resource, providing a readily available water source for helicopter refill operations during wildfire emergencies and aiding regional fire suppression efforts.
Today, Forest Lake Reservoir stores approximately 115 million gallons of recycled water and continues to play an important role in water conservation across the Monterey Peninsula. Although it appears to be a natural lake, it is an engineered reservoir that has supported the region’s development, sustainability initiatives, and environmental stewardship for more than 135 years.
2026 CONDITION ASSESSMENT
During a site visit on July 1, 2026, Layfield conducted a walk-around inspection of the reservoir perimeter and performed a visual assessment of the liner system, and was pleased to observe that the Hypaflex® CSPE liner remains in excellent condition after 22 years of service. This inspection once again confirms the exceptional durability, long-term performance, and resilience of Hypaflex® CSPE under demanding field conditions, reinforcing its proven ability to provide reliable, long-term containment in critical water infrastructure applications.
22 YEARS OF PROVEN PERFORMANCE
After more than two decades of continuous operation, the Hypaflex® CSPE liner remains a testament to Layfield’s commitment to engineering geosynthetic solutions that stand the test of time. At Forest Lake Reservoir, its continued performance demonstrates that true sustainability is measured not just in years, but in decades of proven reliability.
