page COVID-19 Mar 1, 2020 The coronavirus outbreak poses a tremendous challenge to California, the nation, and the global community. PPIC’s analyses examine the impacts of COVID-19 and how policy choices and other actions can help address them.
blog post Fighting Sea Level Rise the Natural Way By Lori Pottinger Feb 3, 2020 How will rising seas affect freshwater ecosystems, and what role do these systems play in managing the problem? We talked to scientist Letitia Grenier about this issue.
blog post Governor’s Budget Seeks to Build Water Resilience By Ellen Hanak, Gokce Sencan Jan 21, 2020 A look at the water and climate priorities laid out in two new documents: the state’s draft Water Resilience Portfolio and the governor’s proposed budget.
blog post California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Hampers Shasta Reservoir Project By Brian Gray, Jeffrey Mount Jan 6, 2020 A proposal to raise Shasta Dam to increase storage capacity is unlikely to go forward, given the protected status of a tributary that the project would inundate.
blog post Commentary: California Must Stop Relying on the Endangered Species Act to Manage the Environment By Jeffrey Mount Dec 5, 2019 California’s freshwater ecosystems are under pressure and aquatic biodiversity is in decline. The state needs a new approach to protect the many beneficial uses these ecosystems provide.
Report A Path Forward for California’s Freshwater Ecosystems By Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Karrigan Bork, James Cloern ... Dec 4, 2019 California’s freshwater ecosystems are under pressure and its aquatic biodiversity is in decline. The state needs a new approach to protect the many beneficial uses these ecosystems provide. This report describes a way to manage the state’s freshwater ecosystems—called “ecosystem-based management”—that can improve conditions for native biodiversity and human uses, and increase resilience to climate change.
blog post Reducing Flood Risk in the Central Valley By Lori Pottinger Nov 19, 2019 The Central Valley has some of the highest risk of flooding in the state—and that risk is growing as the climate changes. We talked to Tim Ramirez of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board about what’s being done to manage this risk, now and into the future.
blog post Video: Preparing California’s Water System for Climate Extremes By Lori Pottinger Nov 7, 2019 Climate change brings multiple pressures to the state’s water management. Panels of experts discussed ways to prepare for greater climate volatility.
event Preparing California’s Water System for Climate Extremes Nov 5, 2019 California’s climate is changing. Warmer temperatures, a shrinking snowpack, shorter and more intense wet seasons, more volatile precipitation, and rising seas are stressing water management in the Golden State. Leaders across the state are working to address the challenges these climate pressures bring, and the Newsom administration is developing a water resilience portfolio to address these issues in a comprehensive way. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and a diverse group of state and local experts for a thought-provoking discussion about preparing California’s water system for climate extremes.
Fact Sheet California’s Water Grid By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Sep 4, 2019 The statewide network of storage and conveyance facilities provides multiple services, which are sometimes in conflict. Climate change brings new challenges.
