Report Improving California’s Water Market By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak, Brian Gray, Gokce Sencan ... Sep 14, 2021 Water trading and banking will prove important tools to help California bring its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A broad range of policy changes could help improve and expand California’s water market while protecting communities from harm.
Report Advancing Ecosystem Restoration with Smarter Permitting By Letitia Grenier, Stephanie Panlasigui, Crissy Pickett, Gokce Sencan Aug 16, 2021 California’s ecosystems are vital to the state’s economy and wellbeing, yet they’re in dire health. Large-scale restoration is needed, and implementing smarter permitting can help.
blog post New Laws Ease Funding and Improve Accounting for Water By Henry McCann, Caitrin Chappelle Oct 18, 2017 It was a busy year for water policy in the California Legislature. Here’s a summary of newly signed bills.
blog post The Search for Sustainability in the Colorado River Basin By Lori Pottinger Jul 13, 2017 The Colorado River is a crucial water source for seven states and Mexico. We talked to an expert about how to balance priorities in managing the river.
blog post The Myth of Water Wasted to the Sea By Lori Pottinger May 17, 2017 Rivers that flow to the sea bring a host of benefits to people and ecosystems. A scientist explains.
blog post A Water Sector Energy Hog By Alvar Escriva-Bou Dec 20, 2016 When we use water, we’re also using energy—sometimes a lot. Where does it all go, and how can we best save both water and energy?
blog post How Green Is My Water? By Lori Pottinger Aug 2, 2016 Harmful plumes of algae are polluting our waterways with growing frequency. An expert interview about this pressing water quality issue.
blog post Water Management’s High-Tech Future By Lori Pottinger Sep 3, 2015 California’s urban water managers face some daunting challenges. We explore cutting edge advances to improve how cities manage water in an interview with Newsha Ajami.
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 Managing Tough Trade-offs in the Delta By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Apr 15, 2015 New data illustrate the tough trade-offs California faces in managing water in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
