blog post California’s Ecosystems in Perpetual Drought By Lori Pottinger Aug 30, 2016 The state’s freshwater species are adapted to a "boom and bust” ecology, but human intervention and drought have taken away the "boom.” An expert interview with river scientist Ted Grantham.
Report Regulating Marijuana in California By Patrick Murphy, John Carnevale Apr 6, 2016 If California legalizes recreational marijuana, the state should develop a single highly regulated marijuana market—for medical and recreational uses. Key policy goals will also need to be addressed—including limiting the illegal market, protecting public health and safety, and raising revenue for the state
blog post A Pragmatic Reason to Protect Freshwater Fish By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle Dec 15, 2015 When species make the endangered species list, we’ve not only failed them, we’ve made it harder to manage water during drought.
blog post Managing Wildfires Requires New Strategies By Jeffrey Mount, Henry McCann Sep 23, 2015 As wildfires have ravaged drought-stricken California, experts say new tactics are needed to combat them long term.
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.
press release If Drought Continues: Environment and Poor Rural Communities Most Likely to Suffer Aug 19, 2015
blog post Drought: 10 Ways the Federal Government Can Help By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount May 28, 2015 Here is a short list of things the federal government can do to help California get through this drought and better prepare for future droughts.
Report Policy Priorities for Managing Drought By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Mar 16, 2015 State, federal, and local water managers have worked diligently to reduce the economic, social, and environmental harm from the current drought. But as the drought continues, the challenges will grow more acute. California can learn from experiences to date—and from Australia’s response to its Millennium Drought—to better prepare both for the year ahead and for future droughts. State leaders should address weaknesses in four areas of drought preparation and response, by: 1) improving water use information, 2) setting clear goals and priorities for public health and the environment, 3) promoting water conservation and more resilient water supplies, and 4) strengthening environmental management.
blog post Drought Watch: Essential Elements for a Water Bond By Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle Apr 24, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. As the legislature considers the final size and shape of this new bond, it is worth reviewing how bond funds have been used in the past and the areas that most need bond support in the future.
event Paying for Water in California Apr 10, 2014 About the Program California's latest drought highlights the need to improve how we manage and pay for our precious water resources. At this half-day event, participants will discuss where California's water finance system is failing, how we might fill the gaps, and whether significant reforms are needed to enable our water resources to support a healthy economy, society, and environment. This event follows the release of a new PPIC report, Paying for Water in California. This project is supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the California Water Foundation, an initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund. Questions? Contact Kelly Holt at events@ppic.org or (415) 291-4498.
