The CALLEGUAS WATERSHED brackish groundwater PROGRAM (PROGRAM) includes a suite of three capital projects aimed at desalting brackish groundwater to facilitate the development of local, drought…

The Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation awarded Calleguas Municipal Water District $30,332,105 on February 23, 2026, under the WaterSMART Water Recycling program (CFDA 15.504) to develop brackish groundwater desalting infrastructure in the Calleguas Creek Watershed in Ventura County, California.

The award funds three capital projects designed to desalt brackish groundwater and create a drought-resistant local water supply. The program will produce 4,684 acre-feet per year at a cost of $4,713 per acre-foot, lower than alternative approaches evaluated. Calleguas Municipal Water District leads the effort in conjunction with partner agencies Camrosa Water District, the City of Camarillo, and Ventura County Waterworks District No. 1. The projects address water quality challenges from elevated salt and nitrate levels and climate-related supply impacts affecting agricultural and urban communities. Infrastructure includes the Calleguas Regional Salinity Management Pipeline, which disposes of brine produced by enhanced water treatment and manages excess recycled water when demand or storage is insufficient.

Performance occurs in Thousand Oaks, California. The period of performance runs from the award date through February 20, 2029. Environmental and cultural resource compliance is required before ground-disturbing activities commence.

The CALLEGUAS WATERSHED brackish groundwater PROGRAM (PROGRAM) includes a suite of three capital projects aimed at desalting brackish groundwater to facilitate the development of local, drought resistant water supply. The PROGRAM is proposed by the CALLEGUAS municipal water district (CALLEGUAS), in conjunction with partner agencies CAMROSA water district (CAMROSA), the city of CAMARILLO (CAMARILLO), and ventura county waterworks district no. 1 (VCWWD1). The location of the PROGRAM is in the CALLEGUAS creek WATERSHED (WATERSHED) in ventura county, california, which serves as a vital ecological resource, culturally significant location, and crucial water source for both agricultural and urban communities in the area. The WATERSHED also faces many challenges, including water quality issues due to salt and nitrate levels and climate change related impacts to water supply. CALLEGUAS and regional partners have led efforts to alleviate water quality issues and build local supplies in the WATERSHED, including development of the CALLEGUAS regional salinity management pipeline (CRSMP), which disposes of brine produced by enhanced water treatment and manages excess recycled water when there is insufficient demand or storage available. These projects will produce 4,684 acre-feet per year (AFY) at a cost of $4,713 per acre foot (AF), less than both alternatives explored, including the no project and moorpark desalter alternatives.