blog post Video: Policy Priorities for California’s Water By Lori Pottinger Oct 24, 2016 Expert panels discuss four key water challenges: urban drought resilience, groundwater, declining ecosystem health, and safe drinking water in disadvantaged communities.
event Policy Priorities for California’s Water Oct 18, 2016 About the ProgramAlthough 2016 was somewhat wetter than the previous four years, a fifth year of drought keeps water at the top of the state's policy agenda. This conference looks at what's on tap in key areas, including strengthening urban drought resilience, managing groundwater in rural areas, addressing declining ecosystem health, and ensuring safe drinking water in disadvantaged communities. Join PPIC Water Policy Center researchers and a diverse group of federal, state, and local experts for a thought-provoking discussion about policy priorities for the coming water year. This event made possible with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
blog post Troubled Waters for California Farmers By Lori Pottinger May 17, 2016 The effect of water uncertainties on farming—an expert interview with Dave Puglia of Western Growers.
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 Video: Farming Solutions to Weather Drought By Lori Pottinger Nov 12, 2015 What are California farmers doing to improve water management in dry times? Watch an expert panel in the event video from "Weathering Drought: Farming Solutions for a Thriving California.”
blog post The Great Nutrient Pollution Challenge By Caitrin Chappelle Nov 10, 2015 In excess, "nutrients” can harm the environment and our drinking water supplies. Nutrient-polluted runoff poses a major water treatment challenge for the Bay-Delta.
blog post Three California Leaders Join PPIC Board By Mark Baldassare Sep 17, 2015 California leaders A. Marisa Chun, Gerald Parsky, and Gaddi Vasquez join PPIC’s board of directors.
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