Policy Brief Policy Brief: Tracking Where Water Goes in a Changing Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta By Greg Gartrell, Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak May 16, 2022 The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta supplies water to roughly 30 million Californians, over 6 million acres of farmland, and countless ecosystems. But the watershed’s climate is changing: recent decades have seen record warmth, higher evaporation, and declining snowpack. We track where the water is going—and how to adapt.
blog post What Every Californian Should Know About Groundwater By Sarah Bardeen Mar 22, 2022 In honor of World Water Day and its theme—“Groundwater—making the invisible visible”—we asked a handful of PPIC Water Policy Center staff to discuss groundwater and drought in California.
blog post A Shrinking River Inspires Growing Collaboration By Sarah Bardeen Jan 24, 2022 The Colorado River’s water level is dwindling. Water users are rallying to make cutbacks in a nearly unprecedented show of collaboration. But with major negotiations on the future of the river looming, will it be enough?
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 Creating Collaborative Recharge Partnerships in the San Joaquin Valley By Sarah Bardeen Oct 11, 2021 Bringing the San Joaquin Valley’s groundwater basins into balance by the early 2040s is going to be challenging, but two neighboring groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in Madera County are collaborating to move the process forward. Learn about their successes—and how things could be improved.
blog post Commentary: Ensuring Water Supplies for the San Joaquin Valley’s Cities Requires Cooperation By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak Oct 4, 2021 The San Joaquin Valley’s urban areas are staring down a potential water shortage, but creative partnerships and good planning could help them avoid it. Read our commentary on the issue for the Fresno Bee.
Report Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak, Henry McCann, David Mitchell ... Sep 15, 2021 As the San Joaquin Valley addresses groundwater overdraft under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), its urban utilities face unique challenges. Learn how to ensure a smooth transition for the region’s residents.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak, Henry McCann, David Mitchell ... Sep 15, 2021 This policy brief distills the key takeaways from our report about the challenges urban utilities in the San Joaquin Valley will face as they address groundwater overdraft under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Learn how to ensure a smooth transition for the region’s residents.
Report Improving California’s Water Market By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak, Brian Gray, Gokce Sencan ... Sep 14, 2021 Water trading and banking will prove important tools to help California bring its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A broad range of policy changes could help improve and expand California’s water market while protecting communities from harm.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Improving California’s Water Market By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak, Brian Gray, Gokce Sencan ... Sep 14, 2021 This policy brief distills key takeaways from our report on water trading and banking in California, and how they will help the state bring its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A broad range of policy changes could improve and expand California’s water market while protecting communities from harm.