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 Drought Watch: Roadblocks to Efficient Funding By Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle Mar 13, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought.Looming legal challenges may limit the ability of local agencies to make continued investments in modern, integrated water management—investments that would better prepare us for population growth, climate change, and future droughts.
blog post Will Groundwater Sustainability Plans End the Problem of Dry Drinking Water Wells? By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou May 14, 2020 Overpumping of groundwater has caused domestic wells to go dry in the San Joaquin Valley. Many sustainability plans do not propose ways to mitigate this problem.
blog post California’s Latest Drought in 4 Charts By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Jeffrey Mount, Michael Dettinger May 3, 2021 California is in drought again. Knowing what’s different and what’s similar compared to the past major drought can help us better prepare the most vulnerable sectors.
blog post Drought Watch: Regional Solutions By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Caitrin Chappelle Jun 27, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. Both the legislature and local water agencies have pushed the idea that state bonds should continue to provide dollars for integrated regional water management. But there might be a better way.
Report California’s Water: Managing Droughts By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Nov 12, 2018 California is prone to multi-year droughts. Diverse, coordinated approaches are needed to stretch our water supply, ensure safe drinking water for at-risk communities, and protect the natural environment during dry periods. This brief describes the major effects of drought, and outlines adaptation strategies to manage them.
blog post Drought Watch: Lessons from Kansas By Ellen Hanak, David Mitchell Jun 5, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. Bonds alone can’t do the job of meeting our critical water needs. Now’s the time—during, not after the drought—to consider a broader package of solutions.
blog post Video: Water Stress in San Joaquin Valley By Lori Pottinger Mar 14, 2017 Expert panels discuss how the valley can address growing water stress and the changes it will bring to the region’s farms, communities, and economy.
