blog post Drought Watch: Rethinking Urban Water Pricing By Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle Sep 3, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. Mandatory water use restrictions can be more effective than voluntary ones. Most Californians say they strongly favor mandatory cutbacks. So why aren’t more water agencies enacting them?
blog post Drought Watch: Trends in Urban Water Use By Caitrin Chappelle, Emma Freeman Aug 20, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. As water agencies look beyond the current emergency for ways to adapt to future droughts, it is instructive to examine urban use in two relatively normal water years, 2000 and 2010.
blog post Drought Watch: Our Thirsty Lawns By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Caitrin Chappelle Jul 18, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. The unprecedented restrictions on outdoor water use that the state enacted this week send a message that Californians need to conserve more water. But we can do more to move toward sustainable consumption.
press release Likely Voters Would Rather Pay Down Debt than Restore Funding for Services May 21, 2014
press release As Budget Angst Grows, Californians Take Stock of Fiscal Options and Take Aim at Elected Leaders Mar 26, 2008
California Economic Policy, Report Lawns and Water Demand in California By Ellen Hanak, Matthew Davis Jul 12, 2006 Over the next 25 years, outdoor water use will be a major factor in escalating water demand in California. The demand will be aggravated by the dominant land-use pattern in inland areas: single-family homes with lush lawns. Without efforts aimed specifically at reducing outdoor urban water use, the demand will pose significant financial and environmental challenges for California. In this issue of CEP, the authors analyze population growth and housing trends in the state’s major climactic regions, estimate residential lot and yard sizes, and examine the water needs of cool-season turf grass lawns. They also evaluate several outdoor water conservation programs.
press release Parched Future? California’s Population Growth A Challenge For Water Supply — But Variety Of New Options Could Keep State Afloat Jul 27, 2005