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Reforming Water Rights in California

By Sarah Bardeen

Water rights reform has long been the third rail in California politics—but that might be changing, thanks to an intriguing new report. We speak with two of the report’s authors about why they undertook this effort now.

blog post

What It Means to Store Water for the Environment

By Sarah Bardeen

In times of drought, California’s ecosystems often suffer. CalTrout Ecosystem Fellow Sarah Null is investigating how to better manage scarce water supplies so that the state can protect vulnerable ecosystems—even as the climate changes.

Fact Sheet

Droughts in California

By Jeffrey Mount, Alvar Escriva-Bou, Gokce Sencan

California is highly prone to droughts, and climate change makes them worse. This fact sheet describes key challenges to managing dry times.

Report

The Benefits of Headwater Forest Management

By Henry McCann, Van Butsic, Yufang Jin, Scott Stephens ...

California’s headwater forests have become more vulnerable to drought and wildfire—risks that are increasing with climate change. Increased forest management on a large scale can improve the region’s resilience to these risks, and bring widely shared benefits in air quality, water quality and supply, rural economies, and carbon sequestration. This report assesses the benefits and beneficiaries of improved forest management. This information is key to crafting the financial tools, policies, and other governance solutions needed for long-term stewardship of the state’s headwater forests.

Report

A Path Forward for California’s Freshwater Ecosystems

By Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Karrigan Bork, James Cloern ...

California’s freshwater ecosystems are under pressure and its aquatic biodiversity is in decline. The state needs a new approach to protect the many beneficial uses these ecosystems provide. This report describes a way to manage the state’s freshwater ecosystems—called “ecosystem-based management”—that can improve conditions for native biodiversity and human uses, and increase resilience to climate change.

Fact Sheet

Dams in California

By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Jeffrey Mount, Jelena Jezdimirovic

Dams are central to California’s water system, providing storage, flood control, electricity, and recreation. Climate change is complicating how they are managed.

Fact Sheet

California’s Water Grid

By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount

The statewide network of storage and conveyance facilities provides multiple services, which are sometimes in conflict. Climate change brings new challenges.

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