Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Future of Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak, Spencer Cole, Josué Medellín-Azuara Feb 8, 2023 Agriculture is a key driver of the regional economy in the San Joaquin Valley, but water for irrigation is an ongoing—and growing—concern. Our latest research offers the most accurate, nuanced, and localized look at where fallowing may need to occur—and details the policy and management actions that could lead to better outcomes.
blog post Video: A Conversation with California’s Legislative Leadership By Mary Severance Feb 3, 2023 At our first in-person Speaker Series event in three years, State Senate leaders—Toni G. Atkins, President pro Tempore, and Brian Jones, Minority Leader—talked with PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye about their legislative priorities for 2023.
blog post Adapting to a Water-Scarce California By Ellen Hanak Jan 9, 2023 With the arrival of a series of atmospheric rivers, drought-weary Californians are now confronting the weather whiplash that’s a hallmark of our state’s climate. But the current deluge won’t erase California’s water challenges. PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak reflects on what happened with California’s water in 2022—and explores how to manage the resource in our increasingly volatile climate.
blog post New Beginnings By Tani Cantil-Sakauye Jan 4, 2023 Tani Cantil-Sakauye, PPIC’s new president and CEO, previews our upcoming research and highlights PPIC’s role in providing trusted, nonpartisan insights on the most pressing challenges facing our state.
blog post California’s 2022 Fire Season: “A Remarkably Different Year” By Sarah Bardeen Dec 12, 2022 This year’s fire season was relatively quiet—a welcome change of pace for fire-weary Californians. But what does it mean in the larger scheme of things? We asked UC Berkeley professor Scott Stephens for insights.
blog post California’s Water and Energy Systems Are Inextricably Linked By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Gokce Sencan, Andrew Ayres Dec 6, 2022 Water and energy are intimately connected in California: the water system is a major energy user, and our energy sector relies heavily on water for power generation. Population growth and climate change will likely increase pressure on both systems, but a few key actions could make them more resilient.
blog post Video: Surplus and Shortage—California’s Water Balancing Act By Sarah Bardeen Nov 28, 2022 After three years of virtual events, our annual fall conference returned to an in-person format in Sacramento on Friday, November 18. The upshot? Good people, good food, and three vital panel discussions about managing water in California’s changing climate. Read our recap!
blog post Climate-Challenged California Must Learn to Thrive with Less Water By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Nov 16, 2022 Managing water in our increasingly volatile climate is becoming more challenging: even if we do everything right, water supplies are likely to decline. The grand challenge for 21st-century water management in California is learning to thrive with less.
blog post How Are California’s Cities Managing the Drought? By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Annabelle Rosser, Ellen Hanak Oct 31, 2022 Though urban water agencies have failed to meet Governor Newsom’s call for a 15% voluntary reduction in water use, they’ve avoided major supply disruptions so far. Are cities failing to manage the current drought—or are we focusing on the wrong metrics?
Report Solar Energy and Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Annabelle Rosser, Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou ... Oct 25, 2022 Hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigated farmland may come out of production in the San Joaquin Valley in coming decades. At the same time, the state needs to ramp up renewable energy generation to meet climate goals. Could solar development on fallowed land help the valley’s residents? Our new report examines the challenges and opportunities.
