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.
blog post Ruling Muddies Waters on Clean Water Act By Brian Gray Sep 19, 2016 The California Supreme Court recently decided a case that could have profound consequences for the state’s efforts to protect water quality.
blog post New Laws Strengthen State’s Water Safety Net By Ellen Hanak, Henry McCann Oct 5, 2016 Several new laws will help communities lacking reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Report Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley: 2024 Update By Caitlin Peterson, Ellen Hanak, Zaira Joaquín Morales Jun 5, 2024 How much progress has been made on groundwater recharge in the San Joaquin Valley since 2017? This report shares the details of our latest groundwater recharge survey, which we conducted in 2023.
blog post Reducing Drought Risks in Rural Communities By Alvar Escriva-Bou Jan 10, 2019 California’s rural communities are disproportionately exposed to drinking water shortages during drought. Improved planning efforts can help.
blog post The Changing Face of California’s Water Leadership By Lori Pottinger Jun 26, 2017 California’s water managers face many challenges—from climate change to a growing population. We talked to Celeste Cantú about how the profession must change to better address these issues.
blog post Do You Know Where Your Water’s Been? By Lori Pottinger Oct 27, 2015 The twin challenges of water quality and quantity are leading to interesting solutions. We explore innovations in water re-use and treatment with David Sedlak.
blog post California’s Dairy Industry Faces Water Quality Challenges By Lori Pottinger May 20, 2019 Contaminated groundwater is an ongoing problem in the San Joaquin Valley. Solutions to nitrate pollution are especially difficult and expensive for the state’s dairies.
blog post Testimony: Adapting California’s Water Rights System to the 21st-Century Climate By Ellen Hanak, Brian Gray, Jeffrey Mount Feb 28, 2023 PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak and senior fellows Brian Gray and Jeffrey Mount testified before the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Informational Hearing, “How Should California’s Water Right System Adapt to a 21st Century Climate?” today. Read their prepared remarks.
blog post How California’s Water Bond Is Being Spent By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Ellen Hanak Dec 13, 2017 Looking at how the 2014 water bond is being spent gives insights into how bonds are turned into projects on the ground.
