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 Dangers Lurk in the San Joaquin Valley’s Dust By Sarah Bardeen Jan 10, 2022 In the San Joaquin Valley, concerns about airborne dust—and its health impacts—are growing. We speak with two experts who say people are right to be concerned.
press release Wide Gaps In Achievement For Central Valley Students: Sacramento A Standout, San Joaquin Falls Behind Sep 4, 2002
Report The Central Valley at a Crossroads: Migration and Its Implications By Joseph Hayes, Hans Johnson Nov 16, 2004 Tremendous population growth, much of it fueled by domestic and international migration, has already begun to transform large parts of the Central Valley. Although this influx of migrants is posing new environmental, economic, social, and political challenges, little is known about it or its effects on the region. In The Central Valley at a Crossroads: Migration and Its Implications, Hans Johnson and Joseph Hayes find that the valley’s migration patterns are remarkably complex and vary over time, by subregion, and according to the type of migration. They also find that each subregion has pursued policy strategies to address its specific challenges. Finally, they predict that migration patterns will continue to alter the entire valley’s character and profile for the foreseeable future.
blog post Could Rangeland Return to the Central Valley? By Caitlin Peterson Mar 28, 2022 As Central Valley farmers confront the need to fallow some farmland to comply with SGMA, we interview two experts about a possible alternative to fallowing: converting formerly irrigated farmland into rangeland. It would keep the land economically productive—and might bring other benefits.
blog post A Regional Look at the Availability of Well-Paying Jobs after COVID By Rachel Lawler, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Sarah Bohn Dec 1, 2022 The nature of job loss and recovery during the pandemic varies across California’s regions. And these differences are reflected in residents’ views on employment opportunities in their part of the state.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey of the Central Valley By Mark Baldassare Apr 1, 2002 This survey of the 18-county Central Valley region is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Great Valley Center. This is the third PPIC survey of the Central Valley. The first was conducted in 1999, the second in 2001. The purpose of the surveys is to provide comprehensive, advocacy-free information on the opinions and public policy preferences of Central Valley residents. Some findings of the current survey: Central Valley residents generally appear satisfied with their communities: 76 percent. rate their community as an excellent (29%) or good (47%) place to live. Most residents continue to give excellent or good ratings to local services and amenities, including police (72%), parks and recreation facilities (68%), public schools (58%), and streets and roads (52%). Growth-related issues appear to lie at the heart of most of the region's problems. Since 1999, an increasing number of residents have rated as a big problem in their part of the valley: the loss of farmland (increasing from 23% in 1999 to 38% today), traffic congestion (23% to 33%), population growth and urban development (21% to 29%), and air pollution (28% to 35%). Seventy-five percent of Central Valley residents use computers at home, at work, or at school, compared to 78 percent of all Californians. However, a large digital divide still exists in the region between non-Hispanic whites and Latinos in Internet use (71% to 54%) and computer ownership (77% to 55%).
blog post Fellow to Explore Central Valley Groundwater Problems By Ellen Hanak Sep 12, 2017 The new Steyer-Taylor Fellow at the PPIC Water Policy Center will explore solutions to some of California’s toughest groundwater policy challenges.
blog post Video: Counting the Central Valley By Mary Severance Nov 20, 2019 An expert panel discusses key challenges the Central Valley faces in ensuring a complete count in the 2020 Census and highlights how local government, community organizations, and philanthropy are working to address them.
