Vote YES on Measure D: Water Supply, Conservation & Water Quality Bond
Safe. Reliable. Required. — November 3, 2026
Three critical pieces of our water system need attention now. They are required by regulatory mandate, federal court order, or state groundwater sustainability law. Voting YES on November 3 is how Ventura County keeps water flowing to our homes, our farms, and our future.
$350M
BOND CAP
237K
RESIDENTS DOWNSTREAM
40K+
LOCAL JOBS
30yr
BOND TERM
— ABOUT THE BOND
A responsible plan, years in the making.
United Water has spent years securing every outside dollar available — grants, low-interest federal loans through WIFIA, and State Revolving Fund financing. That work is already paying off, funding design and environmental work and helping cover construction costs. The Water Bond closes the remaining gap so we can finish what we've started.
Voting YES on Measure D on November 3 authorizes United Water to issue up to $350 million in general obligation bonds — a proven financing tool that lets a public agency invest in critical infrastructure upfront and repay it responsibly over 30 years, at about $10 a month for the average homeowner.
237K
RESIDENTS DOWNSTREAM
Live within Santa Felicia Dam's federally designated inundation zone. Lake Piru is also our region's largest aerial firefighting water source.
40K+
JOBS AT RISK
Supported by Ventura County's $3.5 billion farm economy — every job depends on reliable groundwater and surface-water deliveries.
$30M+
ALREADY SECURED
In outside grants and low-interest loans that reduce what local property owners pay. The District continues pursuing more.
— THE THREE PROJECTS
Three projects. Three mandates.
Each of these projects is required by regulatory mandate, a federal court order, or groundwater sustainability law. They are not discretionary investments — they must be completed. Bond funds are legally restricted to these projects and cannot be used for salaries, operations, or administrative expenses.
PROJECT 01
Santa Felicia Dam Safety Improvements
Santa Felicia Dam anchors the upper Santa Clara River watershed, storing water that flows to farms and communities throughout the county. Roughly 237,000 people live downstream. State and federal regulators, including the California Division of Safety of Dams and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, require seismic upgrades and spillway improvements to meet modern dam safety standards. This work is required, not optional.
$314M
COST ESTIMATE
PROJECT 02
Freeman Diversion Improvements
The Freeman Diversion is how United Water captures stormwater, imported water and surface water from the Santa Clara River and Lake Piru Reservoir and recharges the groundwater basin beneath it, sustaining both agricultural and municipal water supplies across the region. A federal court order requires fish passage upgrades. The improvements are also expected to increase annual groundwater recharge by 5,000 to 8,000 acre-feet per year, turning a legal requirement into a long-term water supply benefit.
$104M
COST ESTIMATE
PROJECT 03
Extraction Barrier & Brackish Water Treatment
Beneath the Oxnard Plain, seawater is moving inland. Decades of groundwater pumping have allowed saltwater to intrude into freshwater aquifers. This project helps stop the intrusion. It is a cornerstone of the region’s state-mandated Groundwater Sustainability Plan, and directly protects one of the most agriculturally productive areas in the state.
$51M
COST ESTIMATE
WHAT IT COSTS PROPERTY OWNERS
The tax rate is approximately $24 per $100,000 of assessed property value, per year. The bond is capped at $350 million and runs 30 years, from fiscal year 2028 through 2057.
~ $10
A MONTH
Median single-family home
$0
NEW
Renters pay nothing additional
"That's roughly $121 a year — for 30 years of safer, more reliable water across central Ventura County."
— ACCOUNTABILITY
Every dollar audited. Every project tracked publicly.
This isn't a blank check. The bond is built with the strongest accountability framework available to a California water district.
01
Legally restricted to the three projects
Bond proceeds can only be spent on Santa Felicia Dam, Freeman Diversion, and the Extraction Barrier & Brackish Water Treatment project. By law, the funds cannot be moved, repurposed, or redirected.
02
Independent annual audits
Independent audits are required for the life of the bond. Public progress reports are published every year and made available to every resident in the District.
03
Transparent by design
Project lists, construction timelines, milestones, and completion status are published publicly throughout the entire 30-year bond term. Voters can see exactly where the money goes.
04
Pursuing every outside dollar
Over $30 million in outside funding has already been secured. The District will continue pursuing federal grants, state grants, and low-interest loans — every dollar secured lowers what property owners ultimately pay.
— GET INVOLVED
Three ways to help pass the Measure D - United Water Bond.
Passing this measure requires two-thirds of voters to say yes. Every conversation, every endorsement, every vote matters.
Pledge Your Vote
Let us know you plan on voting YES on Measure D this November. We will send you a reminder when the time comes to cast your vote.
Endorse the Campaign
Add your name, business, or organization to the supporter list. We will feature you in mailers, social posts, and op-eds.
Volunteer or Donate
Help us reach every voter in the District before November. Your time, your dollars, or your network - all of it counts.