blog post Understanding the New Federal Water Law By Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Caitrin Chappelle Jan 17, 2017 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.
blog post Commentary: A Grand Compromise for the Delta By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray Dec 5, 2016 A proposal to reduce conflict and meet the co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem health in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
blog post Water Marketing That Helps Nature By Ellen Hanak, Jelena Jezdimirovic Sep 13, 2016 Unleashing the potential of water trading could improve conditions California’s struggling rivers and wetlands.
blog post A Pragmatic Reason to Protect Freshwater Fish By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle Dec 15, 2015 When species make the endangered species list, we’ve not only failed them, we’ve made it harder to manage water during drought.
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 New Strategy, New Challenges for the Delta By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray May 8, 2015 Governor Brown’s new approach to managing the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta brings new challenges.
blog post Caring About Delta Levees During a Drought By Jeffrey Mount Mar 26, 2015 When the sun is shining and our rivers are low, we tend to forget about the levees. This video—a simulation of what would happen if a severe earthquake hit the western Delta—is a reminder.
Report Policy Priorities for Managing Drought By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Mar 16, 2015 State, federal, and local water managers have worked diligently to reduce the economic, social, and environmental harm from the current drought. But as the drought continues, the challenges will grow more acute. California can learn from experiences to date—and from Australia’s response to its Millennium Drought—to better prepare both for the year ahead and for future droughts. State leaders should address weaknesses in four areas of drought preparation and response, by: 1) improving water use information, 2) setting clear goals and priorities for public health and the environment, 3) promoting water conservation and more resilient water supplies, and 4) strengthening environmental management.
