Measure D passed with more than 55% support! On June 2, voters in parts of Santa Clara County had a direct say in the future of our region’s lands, water, and wildfire safety—and they said YES to nature and long-term resilience. Thank you to everyone who voted for this voter-sponsored initiative.
Why Measure D Matters
For more than 30 years, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority has protected over 30,000 acres of open space and farmland. But while the Authority has doubled the land it manages over the past decade, local funding has remained unchanged, even as climate change and wildfire risk have grown. Measure D closes that gap, delivering about $17 million a year in stable, dedicated funding to keep this work moving.
It will provide critical funding to continue protecting and restoring nature, improving wildfire resilience, safeguarding clean water, supporting wildlife habitat and agriculture, and ensuring accessible, climate-resilient open spaces for future generations. And all funds stay local, with independent oversight and annual audits.
What Was at Stake
Without this funding, the Open Space Authority’s ability to maintain and restore the lands already in its care—and take on new ones—would have been severely limited. That risk extends to partners like the Peninsula Open Space Trust, which relies on the Authority for long-term stewardship of land it acquires. If Measure D hadn’t passed, wetlands would have been left unrestored ahead of extreme storms, and grasslands would have been left unmanaged ahead of fire season. Healthy, resilient land is what allows these natural systems to protect our communities in the first place.
A Community That Chose to Invest
Green Foothills endorsed and worked to pass Measure D, which was championed by Ken Yeager, Peninsula Open Space Trust Board Member, Shiloh Ballard, Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Director, and me, and sponsored by the POST Action Fund. We’re deeply grateful to every resident and community leader for supporting Measure D with us. It reflects the community’s commitment to uplifting environmental stewardship despite economic challenges. It’s a victory for nature and for all of us in the Santa Clara Valley.
