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Understanding the New Federal Water Law

By Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Caitrin Chappelle

A new law alters federal water policy in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The likely effects on both future water supply and environmental stewardship are largely unknown.

Report

What If California’s Drought Continues?

By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ...

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

New Strategy, New Challenges for the Delta

By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray

Governor Brown’s new approach to managing the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta brings new challenges.

blog post

Managing Tough Trade-offs in the Delta

By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount

New data illustrate the tough trade-offs California faces in managing water in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

blog post

Drought Watch: Water Not Wasted to the Sea

By Jeffrey Mount

The water from the latest storm that is moving down the Sacramento River, out through the Delta, and into the Bay benefits a broad range of users.

blog post

Drought Watch: Water for the Environment

By Jeffrey Mount, Emma Freeman

This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought.

Most of what we call "environmental" water is simply too remote for people to use—or is actually reused for irrigation, drinking water, or other human benefits.

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