Oxnard, CA (September 10, 2026) — United Water Conservation District (United Water) announces with deep sadness that Board President Lynn E. Maulhardt died today.
Maulhardt represented Division 4, the northeast portion of the City of Oxnard, and had served on United Water’s Board of Directors since 1985, a tenure of more than four decades, including multiple terms as Board President. He was most recently re-elected in November 2024, with a term set to run through December 2028.
“Lynn understood that protecting this valley’s water meant protecting the relationships behind it,” said Mauricio Guardado, General Manager of United Water. “He built trust with farmers, cities, regulators and neighbors alike, because he knew that’s how you actually secure a resource for the long term. He spent four decades making sure Ventura County’s farms and families could count on this water, and count on each other. I’ve lost a mentor and a friend today, and this District has lost one of the most steadfast champions it has ever had.”
A fourth-generation Ventura County farmer whose family has worked the land since 1869, Maulhardt was a managing partner of a local farming operation and a longtime, dedicated voice for the region’s agricultural and water communities.
“Lynn gave this District 40 years of his life because he truly believed in what United Water stands for,” said Catherine Keeling, United Water Board Vice President. “He had an unshakable faith in this District’s mission to protect the valley’s water for future generations, and he worked every single day to honor that. Serving alongside him was a privilege, and I will miss him greatly.”
Recently awarded Ventura County Association of Water Agencies’ Lifetime Achievement Award, Maulhardt chaired the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency from 1987 to 2017, three decades of leadership in one of the region’s most consequential groundwater sustainability efforts. He was a Vietnam War veteran and a retired commercial airline pilot, and held a B.S. in Physics from Loyola University Los Angeles and a Master’s in Management and Human Relations from Webster University.
