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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 - Drought Barrier in the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Policy Brief · May 2022

Policy Brief: Tracking Where Water Goes in a Changing Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

photo - Plowed Fields with Mt. Diablo in Background
Policy Brief · April 2022

Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture

photo - Lake Oroville Aerial with Boats
Report · November 2021

Priorities for California’s Water

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Blog Posts

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photo - Deer by River in Yosemite National Park
May 16, 2022

America’s Public Lands: A Bipartisan Political Success Story

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Solar Farm in Bakersfield, California
May 9, 2022

Maximizing Benefits of Solar Development in the San Joaquin Valley

Annabelle Rosser, Mitchelle De Leon

photo - Geese Flying at Sunset over San Joaquin Valley Delta
May 2, 2022

A Life Written in Water: Susan Tatayon Reflects on Her 40-year Career

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Sunrise with Morning Mist over Vineyard in Lake County, California
April 26, 2022

Video: Farming in a State of Extremes

Sarah Bardeen

Events

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Farming in a State of Extremes

April 21, 2022

Seizing the Drought: Water Priorities for Our Changing Climate

November 15, 16, and 17

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 in California

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 Fact Sheet · May 2019

Water Use in California

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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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