blog post Commentary: Four Strategies for Managing California’s Crucial Watershed By Ellen Hanak, Greg Gartrell May 23, 2022 California is not doing a good job of tracking changes to the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and its watershed. In our recent commentary, we argue that’s making it even tougher to manage the water that is available for the benefit of the state’s communities, economy, and environment.
blog post California’s Environment Needs a Water Budget By Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray Dec 14, 2015 Giving the environment its own water budget would help protect species and ecosystems, and foster cooperation over water allocation during droughts.
Report Priorities for California’s Water By Jeffrey Mount, Letitia Grenier, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson ... Nov 1, 2023 California has made great strides in preparing for a drier, hotter future, but it remains a challenge to harness the bounty of wet years while also reducing flood risk. How did California’s water sector manage the unusually wet 2023 water year—and what lessons can we glean for the future?
Report California’s Water: Water for the Environment By Ellen Hanak, Jay Lund, Jeffrey Mount, Peter Moyle ... Nov 12, 2018 River and wetland ecosystems in California—and the many birds, fish, and other species they support—are in serious decline. Major investments and novel approaches are needed to improve the health of our natural environment. This brief explains how water is used for environmental purposes and describes priority approaches that could improve its management.
Report Storing Water for the Environment By Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Kristen Dybala ... Aug 22, 2022 Large reservoirs are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate—but over the years, the construction and operation of these reservoirs have had significant environmental costs. Our new research outlines how reservoir operations could be changed to improve the health of the state’s fragile freshwater ecosystems.
Fact Sheet Water Use in California’s Environment By Jeffrey Mount, Caitlin Peterson, Gokce Sencan Apr 19, 2023 What exactly is “environmental water,” and how much water does California’s environment actually use? This explainer sticks to the facts—and dispels a few myths in the process.
blog post Video: Improving the Health of California’s Freshwater Ecosystems By Lori Pottinger, Ashlyn Perri Mar 1, 2021 California’s freshwater ecosystems are in poor health, and the current approach for managing them is not working. Jeff Mount, senior fellow at the PPIC Water Policy Center, describes a path for improving their condition to protect the benefits they bring.
blog post A State of Water Independence By Brian Gray Jan 4, 2017 California’s authority to protect its water resources will be largely insulated from changes in federal environmental policy.
blog post New Water Laws Address Groundwater, Marijuana By Caitrin Chappelle, Henry McCann Oct 15, 2015 Two recent bill packages took important steps toward improving groundwater management and reducing the negative environmental impacts of marijuana farming.
blog post Video: Managing Water in a Changing Climate By Sarah Bardeen, Ashlyn Perri Oct 18, 2021 Climate change is stressing California’s water system, but strategic investments and improved water management practices could help us adapt.
