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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 - Cupped Hand Catching Stream of Water Outside
June 27, 2022

A Large California Water Utility Prepares for Climate Change

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Woman Is Waiting for Last Drop of Water from a Tap
June 21, 2022

Making Water Affordable for Low-Income Households

Sarah Bardeen

photo - Citrus Trees Growing in the San Joaquin Valley
June 13, 2022

The Challenges of Using Less Water in the Southern San Joaquin Valley

Sarah Bardeen

photo - General Sherman Tree in Sequioa National Park
June 6, 2022

How Active Stewardship Could Protect California’s Forests from Extreme Wildfire

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 - Sherman Island in the Sacramento Delta
May 2022

The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta

Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak, Greg Gartrell

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

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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Public Policy Institute of California