blog post Yesterday’s Dams Face Tomorrow’s Floods By Jeffrey Mount Feb 15, 2017 The crisis at Oroville Dam raises broad concerns about the way California should manage its dams in the future.
blog post Why We Need Working Floodplains By Lori Pottinger Feb 22, 2018 Floodplains are hard-working landscapes when they’re allowed to “act naturally.” An expert interview looks at efforts to get them working again.
Report Adapting California’s Water Management to Climate Change By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund Nov 17, 2008 Among the potential impacts of climate change, accelerated sea level rise and a reduced Sierra snowpack are the most certain. Both will pose significant challenges for water supply and flood management. Water utilities have already begun to plan for these changes, but flood control agencies are lagging behind and face greater regulatory constraints. State leadership is needed to resolve some threats, including the risk of catastrophic failure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This report was prepared as part of the Preparing California for a Changing Climate project.
Report Priorities for California’s Water By Jeffrey Mount, Letitia Grenier, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson ... Nov 1, 2023 California has made great strides in preparing for a drier, hotter future, but it remains a challenge to harness the bounty of wet years while also reducing flood risk. How did California’s water sector manage the unusually wet 2023 water year—and what lessons can we glean for the future?
blog post The High Cost of Fixing Levees By Jeffrey Mount Feb 23, 2017 The state’s levees are in poor shape. Upgrading them to avoid damaging floods will be very costly and will involve difficult trade-offs.
blog post Hurricanes Are Getting Worse. California Should Take Note By Jeffrey Mount Sep 17, 2018 California is no stranger to extreme floods that rival hurricanes in terms of damages. These actions could help reduce risks.
blog post Video: Making the Most of a Wet Year By Sarah Bardeen May 1, 2023 Last week, we hosted an expert panel to discuss how we’re handling the sudden deluge of precipitation after years of drought. While the rain and snow has helped transform what was a grim water supply situation, it’s clear that we need to do a better job of preparing for floods—and storing some of that excess water for the dry times that will return.
Fact Sheet Sea Level Rise in California By Letitia Grenier, Gokce Sencan Feb 28, 2024 Sea levels are rising, and Californians are already feeling the impact. Adaptation will require new forms of collaboration and coordination—as well as working with nature—to find solutions.
blog post Heightened Concerns about Heat Waves and Flooding Due to Climate Change By Rachel Lawler Jul 26, 2023 Record-high numbers of Californians are registering strong concerns about heat waves and flooding, while an overwhelming majority believe climate change is contributing to extreme weather events.
