Fact Sheet The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak, Greg Gartrell May 18, 2022 The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is California’s largest estuary and a vital hub in the state’s water supply system. Three interlinked issues currently face the Delta: an increasingly unreliable water supply, a decline in ecosystem health, and a fragile system of levees. Learn more about this key watershed in our new fact sheet.
Fact Sheet Floods in California By Jeffrey Mount, Gokce Sencan, Letitia Grenier Feb 28, 2024 More than seven million Californians—one in five residents—live in areas at risk of flooding, and risks are growing. Improved land use planning, insurance, and innovative flood management can help.
Report California’s Water: Climate Change and Water By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Robert Wilkinson ... Nov 12, 2018 California’s climate is warming and becoming more variable. While the state is a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, its water system was designed for a 20th century climate. All facets of water management must be updated to adapt to changing conditions. This brief summarizes strategies to help the state prepare for a changing climate and rising sea level.
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 Climate Change in California: Scenarios for Adaptation By Amy Luers, Michael D. Mastrandrea Nov 17, 2008 This report reviews the most recent assessments of the potential impacts of climate change in California, including sea level rise, higher air and water temperatures, reduced Sierra Nevada snowpack and changes in runoff patterns, and an increase in the frequency of extreme events such as droughts and floods. Resource managers, regional planners, and government agencies need to consider climate change in their planning, both to respond to long-term changes in the climate and to the occurrence of extreme events. This report was prepared as part of the Preparing California for a Changing Climate project.
Report Conservation and Management of Ecological Systems in a Changing California By Elisa Barbour, Lara Kueppers Nov 17, 2008 As the climate changes, responding to the new threats to species and ecosystems is one of California’s most urgent tasks. Air and temperature increases and sea level rise are all expected to compromise habitat, putting many more native species at risk of extinction. Recommendations include developing more forward-looking conservation planning processes to protect future habitat and improving the coordination of existing conservation efforts. This report was prepared as part of the Preparing California for a Changing Climate project.
press release Preparing for the Inevitable: State Global Warming Strategy Needs To Plan for Climate Change Nov 17, 2008
blog post Addressing Water Affordability in Urban California By Caitrin Chappelle Nov 30, 2020 In the midst of the pandemic and recession, the cost of delivering safe drinking water continues to rise across California. We talked to Robert Shaver of the California Urban Water Agencies about this issue.