Report Building Drought Resilience in California’s Cities and Suburbs By David Mitchell, Ellen Hanak, Ken Baerenklau, Alvar Escriva-Bou ... Jun 12, 2017 California’s urban water suppliers have become increasingly adept at drought management thanks to investments in diverse supplies, cooperative efforts with neighbors, and programs to manage water demand. But in the face of extreme hot and dry conditions, questions arose over preparedness for ongoing drought, and the state took the unprecedented step of ordering mandatory water conservation in 2015. This report looks at evolving state and local roles in managing urban water supply during drought, and lessons to help us better prepare for droughts of the future. This research was supported with funding from California Water Service, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
blog post Video: Building Urban Drought Resilience By Lori Pottinger Jun 19, 2017 California’s urban areas used a variety of tools to get through the latest drought. A panel of urban water experts explored successful strategies, and lessons learned to help prepare for future droughts.
blog post Video: Building Bay Area Drought Resilience By Lori Pottinger Jul 21, 2017 Local urban water experts discuss a range of supply and demand tactics used to build drought resilience in cities in the Bay Area.
blog post Testimony: Funding to Promote Drought Resilience By Ellen Hanak Mar 27, 2014 PPIC senior fellow Ellen Hanak gave the Assembly Budget Subcommittee for Resources and Transportation an overview of state and federal emergency drought funding and suggested other fiscal measures that the legislature should consider to make California more drought resilient.
Report Improving the Federal Response to Western Drought: Five Areas for Reform By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Feb 1, 2016 Coping with drought is a major challenge for the American West. The federal government is deeply involved in western water. The latest widespread drought has revealed both strengths and weaknesses in the federal role. This report proposes five pragmatic, near-term reforms that would enhance existing federal capacities and help western states better manage drought. Read a summary of the report’s policy recommendations. This research was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Report Policy Priorities for Managing Drought By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Mar 16, 2015 State, federal, and local water managers have worked diligently to reduce the economic, social, and environmental harm from the current drought. But as the drought continues, the challenges will grow more acute. California can learn from experiences to date—and from Australia’s response to its Millennium Drought—to better prepare both for the year ahead and for future droughts. State leaders should address weaknesses in four areas of drought preparation and response, by: 1) improving water use information, 2) setting clear goals and priorities for public health and the environment, 3) promoting water conservation and more resilient water supplies, and 4) strengthening environmental management.
event Building Drought Resilience in California’s Cities and Suburbs Jun 16, 2017 The recent drought was a stress test for California’s urban areas. It revealed good preparation by water agencies but also tensions between the state and local utilities brought on by state-mandated water conservation. Join PPIC Water Policy Center researchers and a panel of experts for a discussion about evolving state and local roles in managing urban water supply during drought, and lessons to help us better prepare for droughts of the future.
Report What If California’s Drought Continues? By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Aug 19, 2015 California is in the fourth year of a severe, hot drought—the kind that is increasingly likely as the climate warms. Although no sector has been untouched, impacts so far have varied greatly, reflecting different levels of drought preparedness. Urban areas are in the best shape, thanks to sustained investments in diversified water portfolios and conservation. Farmers are more vulnerable, but they are also adapting. The greatest vulnerabilities are in some low-income rural communities where wells are running dry and in California’s wetlands, rivers, and forests, where the state’s iconic biodiversity is under extreme threat. Two to three more years of drought will increase challenges in all areas and require continued—and likely increasingly difficult—adaptations. Emergency programs will need to be significantly expanded to get drinking water to rural residents and to prevent major losses of waterbirds and extinctions of numerous native fish species, including most salmon runs. California also needs to start a longer-term effort to build drought resilience in the most vulnerable areas.
event Building Bay Area Drought Resilience Jul 18, 2017 The recent drought was a stress test for Bay Area cities. It revealed good preparation by local water agencies but also tensions between the state and local utilities brought on by state-mandated conservation. Join a panel of regional leaders for a discussion about building cooperative solutions to improve drought resilience in the Bay Area. We'll discuss the Bay Area's role in regional water management and innovation, and in addressing ecosystem needs.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Josué Medellín-Azuara, Ellen Hanak, John Abatzoglou Apr 13, 2022 California’s agricultural sector is the nation’s largest: it generates more than $50 billion dollars in annual revenue and employs more than 420,000 people. The ongoing drought is taking a toll on agriculture, related sectors, and rural communities, but there are ways to increase resilience in a warming world.
