Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation

Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Richard Howitt, Peter Moyle, Ariel Dinar, Brian Gray, and Barton “Buzz” Thompson

Executive Summary Full Report Technical Appendix

This research was supported with funding from S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Pisces Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, and Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority.

Related Event Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation → Resources for the Future Event – Water Conflicts and Resolution: Economy vs. Environment? → Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation → Managing California’s Water: Economy vs. Environment? →

California has struggled to manage its water effectively for more than 30 years. Today, the state needs to consider a set of wide-ranging reforms-for the benefit of the economy and the environment.

To view individual chapters, click on the links below.

Introduction

Floods, Droughts, and Lawsuits: A Brief History of California Water Policy

California Water Today

Drivers of Change

Urgent and Fundamental Challenges

Reconciling Ecosystems: Reversing Declines in Native Species

Orchestrating the Management of Water Scarcity, Quality, and Flooding

Managing Water as a Public Commodity

Effective and Adaptive Governance

Pathways to Reform

A Way Forward