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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
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PPIC Water Policy Center

The PPIC Water Policy Center spurs innovative water management solutions that support a healthy economy, environment, and society—now and for future generations.

photo - Lake Oroville Aerial with Boats
Report · November 2021

Priorities for California’s Water

photo - Downtown Skyline Fresno, California
Report · September 2021

Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley

photo - California Aqueduct Glistens at Dawn
Report · September 2021

Improving California’s Water Market

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Blog Posts

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photo - Smith River Flows Through the Redwood Forests in California
November 22, 2021

Video: Seizing the Drought

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Family Washing Their Hands Together at Kitchen Sink
November 15, 2021

Consolidating Small Water Systems Is a Springboard to Water Justice

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Shasta Lake with Low Water Level
November 8, 2021

The Current Drought: Time to Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak

photo - Wind Turbines and Green Field
November 3, 2021

Most Support California’s Leadership in Climate Change Policy

Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

photo - Raindrops on a Window and Trees in Background
November 1, 2021

Last Week’s Storm: the Good, the Bad, and the Inconclusive

Jeffrey Mount

Events

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Seizing the Drought: Water Priorities for Our Changing Climate

November 15, 16, and 17

Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley

September 30, 2021

Improving California’s Water Market

September 23, 2021

Fact Sheets

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photo - Irrigation Canal and Agricultural Land
August 2021

California’s Water Market

Ellen Hanak, Gokce Sencan, Andrew Ayres

photo - Recharge Pond
August 2021

Groundwater Recharge

Alvar Escriva-Bou, Gokce Sencan, Ellen Hanak

photo - Subsidence Repair on Aqueduct in Kern County, California - Pixel CA DWR AI_Subsidence_0000_03_09_0243
May 2021

Paying for California’s Water System

Caitrin Chappelle, Ellen Hanak, Annabelle Rosser

Featured Blog Post · October 18, 2021

Video: Managing Water in a Changing Climate

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Key Areas

Fact Cards

Who uses water in California?
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240+ The number of endangered or vulnerable California freshwater species.
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Most California water systems that fail to meet safety standards are in rural, low-income communities of color.
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California added more than 10 million people since 1990, yet urban water use changed little.
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The past 20 years have been the warmest in California history, making droughts more intense.
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Two-thirds of dams in California are more than 50 years old.
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1 in 5 Californians are vulnerable to flooding.
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