blog post Drought Watch: Priorities for Cities and Farms By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Mar 18, 2015 Cities need to do more to reduce landscape irrigation. For farmers, the options are somewhat different.
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: Treating Stormwater as a Resource By Ellen Hanak Mar 3, 2015 If it is done right, capturing stormwater in rain gardens and wetlands can filter out the pollution while storing the water for later use.
blog post Drought Watch: Regional Solutions By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Caitrin Chappelle Jun 27, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. Both the legislature and local water agencies have pushed the idea that state bonds should continue to provide dollars for integrated regional water management. But there might be a better way.
blog post Testimony: Funding to Promote Drought Resilience By Ellen Hanak Mar 27, 2014 PPIC senior fellow Ellen Hanak gave the Assembly Budget Subcommittee for Resources and Transportation an overview of state and federal emergency drought funding and suggested other fiscal measures that the legislature should consider to make California more drought resilient.
blog post Drought Watch: Roadblocks to Efficient Funding By Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle Mar 13, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought.Looming legal challenges may limit the ability of local agencies to make continued investments in modern, integrated water management—investments that would better prepare us for population growth, climate change, and future droughts.