event Farming in a State of Extremes Apr 21, 2022 California’s agricultural sector is the nation’s largest: it generates more than $50 billion dollars in annual revenue and employs more than 420,000 people. But the ongoing drought is taking a toll on agriculture, related sectors, and rural communities. Join us for a panel discussion about the drought’s impacts on farming regions—and how the state and other actors can best respond to looming challenges.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Josué Medellín-Azuara, Ellen Hanak, John Abatzoglou Apr 13, 2022 California’s agricultural sector is the nation’s largest: it generates more than $50 billion dollars in annual revenue and employs more than 420,000 people. The ongoing drought is taking a toll on agriculture, related sectors, and rural communities, but there are ways to increase resilience in a warming world.
blog post Could Rangeland Return to the Central Valley? By Caitlin Peterson Mar 28, 2022 As Central Valley farmers confront the need to fallow some farmland to comply with SGMA, we interview two experts about a possible alternative to fallowing: converting formerly irrigated farmland into rangeland. It would keep the land economically productive—and might bring other benefits.
blog post Testimony: Implementing SGMA at Ground Zero—Challenges and Opportunities for the San Joaquin Valley By Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou Feb 15, 2022 PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak testified before an informational hearing on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in Sacramento today (February 15, 2022). Read her prepared remarks.
blog post 2021 Year in Review By Mark Baldassare Dec 16, 2021 The past year has been another deeply challenging one for California and the nation. As 2021 draws to a close, president and CEO Mark Baldassare reflects on the role PPIC has played in providing essential information—and fostering constructive dialogue—on the critical policy issues facing our state.
blog post What’s Really Important? Putting Recent Water News into Perspective By Sarah Bardeen Dec 8, 2021 Last week, three major stories about California’s water supply dominated the news. We asked PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak and senior fellow Jeff Mount to share their perspectives on what’s really important about these stories.
blog post After Wildfire, How Do We Rebuild for a “Resilient Recovery”? By Sarah Bardeen Nov 29, 2021 At least one in 12 California homes is at high risk of burning in a wildfire—yet state and local land use policies still incentivize rebuilding in the wildland-urban interface. It doesn’t have to be that way, says the author of a new report.
event Seizing the Drought: Water Priorities for Our Changing Climate Nov 15, 2021 The PPIC Water Policy Center will convene a diverse group of experts to discuss how to tackle the highly disruptive effects of climate change on our water system. It’s clear that we must step up our game to cope with the increasingly severe, warm droughts that are coming our way. This year’s conference will identify immediate actions we can take to boost the state’s resilience.
event Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley Sep 30, 2021 The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) will help the San Joaquin Valley address groundwater overdraft while also building its climate resilience. This will require hard work, not only by farmers—the largest groundwater users—but also by the valley’s urban water utilities. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and state and local experts for a panel discussion about how to ensure a smooth transition for the region’s residents.
event Improving California’s Water Market Sep 23, 2021 As California works to bring its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), water banking and trading are important tools to help manage the transition—but aging infrastructure and complex regulations are limiting expansion. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and state and local experts for a panel discussion on how to improve California’s water markets while protecting communities from harm.
