Our Northern California Construction team recently completed a series of complex and highly integrated scopes at Lagoon Valley, a one-of-a-kind conservation community that puts the land, ecology, and long-term resiliency first—before buildings are ever placed.
Lagoon Valley represents a fundamentally different approach to development. Instead of asking where can we build the most, the project began with a more thoughtful question: where should we never build?
That philosophy has resulted in the preservation of more than 1,300 acres of wild open land, the creation of a new wildlife wetland preserve, and a community design that balances environmental protection, social well-being, and housing needs—a true triple-bottom-line approach.
A Rare and Forward-Thinking Model
With only an estimated 40 conservation communities nationwide, Lagoon Valley stands apart. The planning team studied best practices across the U.S. and Northern Europe to shape a community centered on walkability, sustainability, and climate resilience.
A major focus of conservation living is fire and flood protection, both of which were thoughtfully engineered into the landscape:
Flood resiliency:
Lagoon Valley includes 156 acre-feet of on-site stormwater storage distributed throughout the valley. This system captures runoff from surrounding watersheds, holds it, and releases it slowly—significantly reducing downstream flooding impacts that historically affected the area.Fire defensibility:
Rather than a standard 100-foot buffer, the community incorporates 600–700 feet of irrigated, defensible landscape zones, creating a robust perimeter designed to protect both residents and preserved open space from wildfire risk.
Scope of Work – A True Multidisciplinary Effort
Our NorCal Construction team delivered a wide range of infrastructure, landscape, and environmental scopes throughout the community, including:
Lagoon golf course wire fencing
Lagoon mitigation areas and split-rail fencing
Drainage and mitigation improvements
Streetscape and entry features
Sales center landscape installation
Fire station landscaping
Neighborhood phases (NBHD K1 – phased and private areas)
Wetland replanting and habitat restoration
Private roadway and valley infrastructure enhancements
Each scope required precision, coordination, and a deep understanding of environmental sensitivity—exactly the type of work our teams excel at.
Team Leadership
This project was led by our NorCal Construction Division, under the leadership of:
Dudley Mallinson, Division Leader
Greg Caron, Business Development
Barry Nietch, Operations Manager
Stephanie Farr, Senior Project Management
Supported by a highly trained field crew, the team executed complex work while upholding the integrity of the land and the long-term vision of the community.
Looking Ahead
Lagoon Valley is a powerful example of what’s possible when development, conservation, and technical expertise come together. As we continue to pursue similar projects throughout Northern California, this work showcases our strength, knowledge, and capability in conservation-based, infrastructure-forward communities—projects where environmental stewardship and performance matter as much as craftsmanship.
We’re proud of the work completed at Lagoon Valley and excited to build more communities like it—where thoughtful planning delivers lasting peace of mind for residents, municipalities, and the land itself.
