blog post Make California’s Water Grid Climate-Ready By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak Sep 6, 2018 Climate pressures are seriously stressing the state’s water system. California must prepare its water grid for greater extremes and growing water scarcity.
blog post How Much Water Is Available for Groundwater Recharge? By Alvar Escriva-Bou Jun 14, 2018 Knowing how much water can be used for recharge in the San Joaquin Valley is key to filling the state’s biggest groundwater gap.
Report Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley By Ellen Hanak, Jelena Jezdimirovic, Sarge Green, Alvar Escriva-Bou Apr 17, 2018 This report reviews groundwater recharge efforts in the San Joaquin Valley, and proposes actions to increase recharge and reduce the valley’s groundwater deficit.
blog post How California’s Water Bond Is Being Spent By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Ellen Hanak Dec 13, 2017 Looking at how the 2014 water bond is being spent gives insights into how bonds are turned into projects on the ground.
Report Building Drought Resilience in California’s Cities and Suburbs By David Mitchell, Ellen Hanak, Ken Baerenklau, Alvar Escriva-Bou ... Jun 12, 2017 California’s urban water suppliers have become increasingly adept at drought management thanks to investments in diverse supplies, cooperative efforts with neighbors, and programs to manage water demand. But in the face of extreme hot and dry conditions, questions arose over preparedness for ongoing drought, and the state took the unprecedented step of ordering mandatory water conservation in 2015. This report looks at evolving state and local roles in managing urban water supply during drought, and lessons to help us better prepare for droughts of the future. This research was supported with funding from California Water Service, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
blog post Banking on Groundwater By Lori Pottinger Mar 21, 2017 An expert interview on efforts to recharge California’s depleted groundwater basins to help bring them back into balance.
blog post Implementing California’s Groundwater Law By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Stephen Maples Jul 12, 2016 What will it take to successfully manage groundwater in California’s Central Valley? Key takeaways from a joint workshop by UC Water and the PPIC Water Policy Center.
blog post Safeguarding Groundwater for a Drier Future By Ellen Hanak Mar 21, 2016 Groundwater overuse is causing water tables to fall in many parts of the globe, including California. Ten experts weigh in on how to address it.
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.
blog post Experts Weigh In on Drought Solutions By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund Apr 27, 2015 The Los Angeles Times published nine bite-sized opinion pieces on solutions to help California better manage droughts. Ellen Hanak and Jay Lund focused on strategic investments in water storage and water accounting systems.
