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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 - Orange Orchard in the San Joaquin Valley, California
February 15, 2022

Testimony: Implementing SGMA at Ground Zero—Challenges and Opportunities for the San Joaquin Valley

Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou

photo - Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge with Mt. Shasta in the Distance
February 8, 2022

Standing at the Cusp: The Klamath River Edges Closer to Dam Removals

Sarah Bardeen

Solar Field in Kern County, California
February 4, 2022

Could Solar Development Advance Groundwater Sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley?

Andrew Ayres, Curtis Seymour

Scenic Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona
January 24, 2022

A Shrinking River Inspires Growing Collaboration

Sarah Bardeen

photo - A Wild Salmon Jumping Out of Water
January 18, 2022

A Freezer Full of Eyeballs (and Other Oddities) Animate the Quest to Save California’s Salmon

Sarah Bardeen

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 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 Blog Post · January 3, 2022

Water in 2021: Looking Back on a Year of Extremes

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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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