blog post Testimony: Implementing SGMA at Ground Zero—Challenges and Opportunities for the San Joaquin Valley By Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou Feb 15, 2022 PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak testified before an informational hearing on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in Sacramento today (February 15, 2022). Read her prepared remarks.
blog post A Shrinking River Inspires Growing Collaboration By Sarah Bardeen Jan 24, 2022 The Colorado River’s water level is dwindling. Water users are rallying to make cutbacks in a nearly unprecedented show of collaboration. But with major negotiations on the future of the river looming, will it be enough?
blog post Water in 2021: Looking Back on a Year of Extremes By Ellen Hanak Jan 3, 2022 In California, 2021 was the year that climate change hit home. We look back at this year of extremes—and examine how our nonpartisan data and analysis informed conversations about how to address the tough water issues facing the state.
blog post Are California’s Cities Conserving Enough Water? By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Kurt Schwabe, Annabelle Rosser Dec 13, 2021 As Californians eye the possibility of a third year of drought, there’s been some concern that urban residents are backsliding around water conservation, especially compared with the last major drought. We examine what cities are doing well—and where they could improve.
blog post What’s Really Important? Putting Recent Water News into Perspective By Sarah Bardeen Dec 8, 2021 Last week, three major stories about California’s water supply dominated the news. We asked PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak and senior fellow Jeff Mount to share their perspectives on what’s really important about these stories.
blog post Consolidating Small Water Systems Is a Springboard to Water Justice By Sarah Bardeen Nov 15, 2021 California’s State Water Board has embarked on an ambitious program to encourage struggling small water systems to join forces with larger, neighboring water systems. We spoke with two experts to find out how it’s going.
blog post Last Week’s Storm: the Good, the Bad, and the Inconclusive By Jeffrey Mount Nov 1, 2021 The storm of October 24th broke one-day precipitation records throughout Northern California, but did this unusually intense atmospheric river lead to significant changes in our drought picture? PPIC Water Policy Center senior fellow Jeffrey Mount explains what the storm did—and didn’t—do for the state.
blog post Creating Collaborative Recharge Partnerships in the San Joaquin Valley By Sarah Bardeen Oct 11, 2021 Bringing the San Joaquin Valley’s groundwater basins into balance by the early 2040s is going to be challenging, but two neighboring groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in Madera County are collaborating to move the process forward. Learn about their successes—and how things could be improved.
blog post Video: Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley By Sarah Bardeen Oct 5, 2021 As the San Joaquin Valley addresses groundwater overdraft, its urban utilities face unique challenges. We convened a panel of experts to discuss how to ensure a smooth transition to groundwater sustainability for the region’s residents. Missed it? Watch the event video.
blog post Commentary: Ensuring Water Supplies for the San Joaquin Valley’s Cities Requires Cooperation By Andrew Ayres, Ellen Hanak Oct 4, 2021 The San Joaquin Valley’s urban areas are staring down a potential water shortage, but creative partnerships and good planning could help them avoid it. Read our commentary on the issue for the Fresno Bee.
