Fact Sheet Water Use in California By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson Apr 19, 2023 To understand California’s water, start here. Water use in California varies dramatically between wet and dry years: learn who’s using California’s water, where, and how much.
Fact Sheet Climate Change and California’s Water By Jeffrey Mount, Daniel Swain, Paul Ullrich Sep 4, 2019 Managing water is at the forefront of climate change adaptation in California. Changes are needed to prepare the water system for a more volatile climate.
Fact Sheet Water Use in California’s Communities By Andrew Ayres, Caitlin Peterson, Annabelle Rosser Apr 19, 2023 Even as California’s population has grown by millions, its per-capita water use has declined. Communities are finding ways to boost resilience in the face of climate change.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Jul 28, 2021 Key findings from the current survey include: One in four Californians name water supply and drought as the state’s top environmental issue; 63% say water supply is a big problem in their region. Majorities approve of the way Governor Newsom and President Biden are handling environmental issues. About six in ten (63%) are very concerned about climate change increasing the severity of wildfires and drought. Majorities across party lines favor prioritizing alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen.
Report Priorities for California’s Water By Jeffrey Mount, Letitia Grenier, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson ... Nov 1, 2023 California has made great strides in preparing for a drier, hotter future, but it remains a challenge to harness the bounty of wet years while also reducing flood risk. How did California’s water sector manage the unusually wet 2023 water year—and what lessons can we glean for the future?
Report Managing Wastewater in a Changing Climate By Caitrin Chappelle, Henry McCann, David Jassby, Kurt Schwabe Apr 16, 2019 California’s wastewater sector helps protect public health and the environment. It is also the source of recycled water. But climate change is bringing water scarcity and other pressures to the sector. Shifts in policy and planning can help prepare the sector for a more volatile future.
Fact Sheet California’s Water Market By Ellen Hanak, Gokce Sencan, Andrew Ayres Aug 30, 2021 Water marketing is an important tool for managing drought and water scarcity in California. Reforms could help strengthen the market.
Report Water Stress and a Changing San Joaquin Valley By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Richard Howitt, Peter Moyle ... Mar 1, 2017 The San Joaquin Valley—California’s largest agricultural region and an important contributor to the nation’s food supply—is facing growing water stress and a number of related environmental and public health problems. Large parts of the valley have become dependent on unsustainable pumping of groundwater. Tackling these linked issues with cooperative, coordinated approaches is key to success. This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the TomKat Foundation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Report Allocating California’s Water: Directions for Reform By Brian Gray, Ellen Hanak, Richard Frank, Richard Howitt ... Nov 17, 2015 California’s water allocation system hampers its ability to meet the state’s needs, especially in times of drought. At its heart is an unusually complex array of water rights. This report summarizes challenges and suggests reforms to strengthen the state’s ability to weather droughts and shifting economic demands for water, while maintaining the existing seniority of water rights. Read a summary of the report’s policy recommendations. This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
