diff --git a/src/adapter/src/coord/introspection.rs b/src/adapter/src/coord/introspection.rs
index e425a74df4d76..a74df59749519 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/coord/introspection.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/coord/introspection.rs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ impl Coordinator {
         let read_holds = self.acquire_read_holds(&id_bundle);
         let as_of = read_holds.least_valid_read();
 
-        let global_mir_plan = global_mir_plan.resolve(as_of);
+        let global_mir_plan = global_mir_plan.resolve(as_of, None);
 
         let span = Span::current();
         Ok(StageResult::Handle(mz_ore::task::spawn_blocking(
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/coord/sequencer/inner/subscribe.rs b/src/adapter/src/coord/sequencer/inner/subscribe.rs
index cf8fd1289dba8..3b674428a6887 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/coord/sequencer/inner/subscribe.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/coord/sequencer/inner/subscribe.rs
@@ -283,7 +283,10 @@ impl Coordinator {
 
         self.store_transaction_read_holds(ctx.session(), read_holds);
 
-        let global_mir_plan = global_mir_plan.resolve(Antichain::from_elem(as_of));
+        let global_mir_plan = global_mir_plan.resolve(
+            Antichain::from_elem(as_of),
+            determination.timestamp_context.timeline().cloned(),
+        );
 
         // Optimize LIR
         let span = Span::current();
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/optimize/copy_to.rs b/src/adapter/src/optimize/copy_to.rs
index dbc662e3fda99..f0a0a2dd498e3 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/optimize/copy_to.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/optimize/copy_to.rs
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ impl<'s> Optimize<LocalMirPlan<Resolved<'s>>> for Optimizer {
         };
         df_desc.export_sink(self.select_id, sink_description);
 
+        // Capture the timeline.
+        df_desc.timeline = timestamp_ctx.timeline().cloned();
+
         // Prepare expressions in the assembled dataflow.
         //
         // Resolve all unmaterializable function calls except mz_now(), because
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/optimize/index.rs b/src/adapter/src/optimize/index.rs
index 31c01b8e5dfb6..9e0ed7e6e9ed6 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/optimize/index.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/optimize/index.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ use mz_repr::explain::trace_plan;
 use mz_repr::GlobalId;
 use mz_sql::names::QualifiedItemName;
 use mz_sql::optimizer_metrics::OptimizerMetrics;
+use mz_storage_types::sources::Timeline;
 use mz_transform::dataflow::DataflowMetainfo;
 use mz_transform::normalize_lets::normalize_lets;
 use mz_transform::notice::{IndexAlreadyExists, IndexKeyEmpty};
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ impl Optimize<Index> for Optimizer {
         };
         df_desc.export_index(self.exported_index_id, index_desc, on_desc.typ().clone());
 
+        // TODO(sdht0): consider other timelines such as `TimelineContext::TimestampIndependent`.
+        df_desc.timeline = Some(Timeline::EpochMilliseconds);
+
         // Prepare expressions in the assembled dataflow.
         let style = ExprPrepStyle::Index;
         df_desc.visit_children(
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/optimize/materialized_view.rs b/src/adapter/src/optimize/materialized_view.rs
index a3d12c32246e4..57b9c8478e6e2 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/optimize/materialized_view.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/optimize/materialized_view.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ use mz_repr::refresh_schedule::RefreshSchedule;
 use mz_repr::{ColumnName, GlobalId, RelationDesc};
 use mz_sql::optimizer_metrics::OptimizerMetrics;
 use mz_sql::plan::HirRelationExpr;
+use mz_storage_types::sources::Timeline;
 use mz_transform::dataflow::DataflowMetainfo;
 use mz_transform::normalize_lets::normalize_lets;
 use mz_transform::typecheck::{empty_context, SharedContext as TypecheckContext};
@@ -247,6 +248,9 @@ impl Optimize<LocalMirPlan> for Optimizer {
         };
         df_desc.export_sink(self.sink_id, sink_description);
 
+        // TODO(sdht0): consider other timelines such as `TimelineContext::TimestampIndependent`.
+        df_desc.timeline = Some(Timeline::EpochMilliseconds);
+
         // Prepare expressions in the assembled dataflow.
         let style = ExprPrepStyle::Index;
         df_desc.visit_children(
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/optimize/peek.rs b/src/adapter/src/optimize/peek.rs
index 4f0fe2349f893..861b995e6fcc1 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/optimize/peek.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/optimize/peek.rs
@@ -306,6 +306,9 @@ impl<'s> Optimize<LocalMirPlan<Resolved<'s>>> for Optimizer {
             df_desc.until = Antichain::from_elem(until);
         }
 
+        // Capture the timeline.
+        df_desc.timeline = timestamp_ctx.timeline().cloned();
+
         // Construct TransformCtx for global optimization.
         let mut transform_ctx = TransformCtx::global(
             &df_builder,
diff --git a/src/adapter/src/optimize/subscribe.rs b/src/adapter/src/optimize/subscribe.rs
index 047cbcb76d493..8d69505df8271 100644
--- a/src/adapter/src/optimize/subscribe.rs
+++ b/src/adapter/src/optimize/subscribe.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use mz_ore::soft_assert_or_log;
 use mz_repr::{GlobalId, RelationDesc, Timestamp};
 use mz_sql::optimizer_metrics::OptimizerMetrics;
 use mz_sql::plan::SubscribeFrom;
+use mz_storage_types::sources::Timeline;
 use mz_transform::dataflow::DataflowMetainfo;
 use mz_transform::normalize_lets::normalize_lets;
 use mz_transform::typecheck::{empty_context, SharedContext as TypecheckContext};
@@ -297,7 +298,11 @@ impl GlobalMirPlan<Unresolved> {
     /// We need to resolve timestamps before the `GlobalMirPlan ⇒ GlobalLirPlan`
     /// optimization stage in order to profit from possible single-time
     /// optimizations in the `Plan::finalize_dataflow` call.
-    pub fn resolve(mut self, as_of: Antichain<Timestamp>) -> GlobalMirPlan<Resolved> {
+    pub fn resolve(
+        mut self,
+        as_of: Antichain<Timestamp>,
+        timeline: Option<Timeline>,
+    ) -> GlobalMirPlan<Resolved> {
         // A dataflow description for a `SUBSCRIBE` statement should not have
         // index exports.
         soft_assert_or_log!(
@@ -316,6 +321,9 @@ impl GlobalMirPlan<Unresolved> {
             self.df_desc.until.join_assign(&sink.up_to);
         }
 
+        // Capture the timeline.
+        self.df_desc.timeline = timeline;
+
         GlobalMirPlan {
             df_desc: self.df_desc,
             df_meta: self.df_meta,
diff --git a/src/compute-client/src/as_of_selection.rs b/src/compute-client/src/as_of_selection.rs
index fe1b84dc55663..bac2052d263a5 100644
--- a/src/compute-client/src/as_of_selection.rs
+++ b/src/compute-client/src/as_of_selection.rs
@@ -997,6 +997,7 @@ mod tests {
             initial_storage_as_of: Default::default(),
             refresh_schedule: Default::default(),
             debug_name: Default::default(),
+            timeline: None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/compute-client/src/controller/instance.rs b/src/compute-client/src/controller/instance.rs
index fb84afa3be0f3..a9c03aca47ca6 100644
--- a/src/compute-client/src/controller/instance.rs
+++ b/src/compute-client/src/controller/instance.rs
@@ -1342,6 +1342,7 @@ where
             initial_storage_as_of: dataflow.initial_storage_as_of,
             refresh_schedule: dataflow.refresh_schedule,
             debug_name: dataflow.debug_name,
+            timeline: dataflow.timeline,
         };
 
         if augmented_dataflow.is_transient() {
diff --git a/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.proto b/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.proto
index 95e0351fe34db..d81da248e38e8 100644
--- a/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.proto
+++ b/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.proto
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import "repr/src/antichain.proto";
 import "repr/src/global_id.proto";
 import "repr/src/refresh_schedule.proto";
 import "repr/src/relation_and_scalar.proto";
+import "storage-types/src/sources.proto";
 
 package mz_compute_types.dataflows;
 
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ message ProtoDataflowDescription {
     mz_repr.antichain.ProtoU64Antichain until = 7;
     optional mz_repr.antichain.ProtoU64Antichain initial_storage_as_of = 9;
     optional mz_repr.refresh_schedule.ProtoRefreshSchedule refresh_schedule = 10;
+    optional mz_storage_types.sources.ProtoTimeline timeline = 11;
 
     string debug_name = 8;
 }
diff --git a/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.rs b/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.rs
index df4793d86400b..7226a69c7150e 100644
--- a/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.rs
+++ b/src/compute-types/src/dataflows.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use mz_proto::{IntoRustIfSome, ProtoMapEntry, ProtoType, RustType, TryFromProtoE
 use mz_repr::refresh_schedule::RefreshSchedule;
 use mz_repr::{GlobalId, RelationType};
 use mz_storage_types::controller::CollectionMetadata;
+use mz_storage_types::sources::Timeline;
 use proptest::prelude::{any, Arbitrary};
 use proptest::strategy::{BoxedStrategy, Strategy};
 use proptest_derive::Arbitrary;
@@ -72,6 +73,8 @@ pub struct DataflowDescription<P, S: 'static = (), T = mz_repr::Timestamp> {
     pub refresh_schedule: Option<RefreshSchedule>,
     /// Human readable name
     pub debug_name: String,
+    /// The timeline of the dataflow.
+    pub timeline: Option<Timeline>,
 }
 
 impl<T> DataflowDescription<Plan<T>, (), mz_repr::Timestamp> {
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ impl<T> DataflowDescription<OptimizedMirRelationExpr, (), T> {
             initial_storage_as_of: None,
             refresh_schedule: None,
             debug_name: name,
+            timeline: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -543,6 +547,7 @@ where
             initial_storage_as_of: self.initial_storage_as_of.clone(),
             refresh_schedule: self.refresh_schedule.clone(),
             debug_name: self.debug_name.clone(),
+            timeline: self.timeline.clone(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -560,6 +565,7 @@ impl RustType<ProtoDataflowDescription> for DataflowDescription<FlatPlan, Collec
             initial_storage_as_of: self.initial_storage_as_of.into_proto(),
             refresh_schedule: self.refresh_schedule.into_proto(),
             debug_name: self.debug_name.clone(),
+            timeline: self.timeline.into_proto(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -582,6 +588,7 @@ impl RustType<ProtoDataflowDescription> for DataflowDescription<FlatPlan, Collec
                 .transpose()?,
             refresh_schedule: proto.refresh_schedule.into_rust()?,
             debug_name: proto.debug_name,
+            timeline: proto.timeline.into_rust()?,
         })
     }
 }
@@ -717,6 +724,8 @@ proptest::prop_compose! {
         initial_as_of in proptest::collection::vec(any::<mz_repr::Timestamp>(), 1..5),
         refresh_schedule_some in any::<bool>(),
         refresh_schedule in any::<RefreshSchedule>(),
+        timeline_some in any::<bool>(),
+        timeline in any::<Timeline>(),
     ) -> DataflowDescription<FlatPlan, CollectionMetadata, mz_repr::Timestamp> {
         DataflowDescription {
             source_imports: BTreeMap::from_iter(source_imports.into_iter()),
@@ -743,6 +752,7 @@ proptest::prop_compose! {
                 None
             },
             debug_name,
+            timeline: timeline_some.then_some(timeline),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/compute-types/src/plan/lowering.rs b/src/compute-types/src/plan/lowering.rs
index e9dc039f7f2bf..6262ac286fcdc 100644
--- a/src/compute-types/src/plan/lowering.rs
+++ b/src/compute-types/src/plan/lowering.rs
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ impl Context {
             initial_storage_as_of: desc.initial_storage_as_of,
             refresh_schedule: desc.refresh_schedule,
             debug_name: desc.debug_name,
+            timeline: desc.timeline,
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/src/compute/src/render.rs b/src/compute/src/render.rs
index e41c94ca33fbc..a0eb2db181817 100644
--- a/src/compute/src/render.rs
+++ b/src/compute/src/render.rs
@@ -199,10 +199,14 @@ pub fn build_compute_dataflow<A: Allocate>(
         .map(|(sink_id, sink)| (*sink_id, dataflow.depends_on(sink.from), sink.clone()))
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-    let expire_at = compute_state
-        .replica_expiration
-        .map(Antichain::from_elem)
-        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let expire_at = if dataflow.timeline == Some(Timeline::EpochMilliseconds) {
+        compute_state
+            .replica_expiration
+            .map(Antichain::from_elem)
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    } else {
+        Antichain::new()
+    };
 
     let until = dataflow.until.meet(&expire_at);
 
diff --git a/src/compute/src/server.rs b/src/compute/src/server.rs
index 81808034faac8..49003d86a804a 100644
--- a/src/compute/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/compute/src/server.rs
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ impl<'w, A: Allocate + 'static> Worker<'w, A> {
                         debug_name: dataflow.debug_name.clone(),
                         initial_storage_as_of: dataflow.initial_storage_as_of.clone(),
                         refresh_schedule: dataflow.refresh_schedule.clone(),
+                        timeline: dataflow.timeline.clone(),
                     })
                     .map(ComputeCommand::CreateDataflow)
                     .collect()