Our Work

Climate Change and Flooding in Central Appalachia 

Communities in rural Appalachia face multiple water challenges that climate change is already impacting. These include extreme flooding events, lack of household water access, poor water quality, and lack of wastewater services.

Corporate Water Stewardship in the Colorado River Basin

Russia and Israel Lead Global Surge in Attacks on Civilian Water Supplies

Violence over Water Increases Globally According to New Data from Pacific Institute Water Conflict Chronology

Oakland, California, November 15, 2023 – The Pacific Institute, a global water think tank, today released a major update to its Water Conflict Chronology, adding over 350 new instances of conflicts associated with water resources and water systems identified from news reports, eyewitness accounts, and other conflict databases.

A Look Back at United Nations General Assembly Week in New York, a Key Moment to Mobilize the Private Sector on Water-Climate Resilience

The Pacific Institute, at its core, works towards creating and advancing solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. The urgency need for this work was prominently underscored during the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week in New York City in September.

Pathways and Barriers to Corporate Water Stewardship in the Colorado River Basin

October 2023 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis. This month's newsletter features UNGA highlights, a new Salton Sea library, and more.

Water Resilience Coalition and WaterAid Joined by Gap Inc., Cargill, and GSK to Improve Access to Water in India as Part of the Coalition’s 2030 100-Basin Plan

New York, New York, October 17, 2023 –The Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), an industry-driven, CEO-led initiative convening global companies to address the global water crisis, today announced the launch of the Women + Water Collaborative, a flagship corporate collective action program to improve access to clean water and sanitation in India.

California’s Private Sector Leaders Convene to Launch the California Water Resilience Initiative

Sacramento, California - Aligned with Gov. Newsom’s 2022 Water Supply Strategy, key public and private sector leaders convened today in Sacramento to launch the California Water Resilience Initiative, a private sector initiative to accelerate coordinated, collective action to achieve a water-resilient future for California, in alignment with public sector goals.

La Ciencia y el Salton Sea

El Estado de California está trabajando para mejorar las condiciones alrededor del Salton Sea, con el objetivo de construir 30,000 acres de proyectos para suprimir el polvo del lecho expuesto del lago y crear un hábitat para peces y aves y desarrollar un plan a largo plazo para el lago. Este seminario web explorará el papel de la ciencia en los esfuerzos de planificación y gestión de la restauración del Salton Sea del estado, respondiendo preguntas sobre cómo la ciencia informa el Programa de Gestión del Salton Sea y cómo se aplica la ciencia para construir y gestionar proyectos de restauración mientras se cumplen los hitos regulatorios. El seminario web incluirá una presentación de Utah sobre cómo la ciencia está informando los esfuerzos de manejo de la vida silvestre en el Great Salt Lake y lo que California podría aprender de su experiencia.

Science and the Salton Sea

The State of California is working to improve conditions around the Salton Sea, with the goal of constructing 30,000 acres of projects to suppress dust from exposed lakebed and create habitat for fish and birds and developing a long-term plan for the Sea. This webinar will explore the role of science in the state’s Salton Sea restoration planning and management efforts, answering questions of how science informs the Salton Sea Management Program and how science is applied to build and manage restoration projects while meeting regulatory milestones. The webinar will include a presentation from Utah on how science is informing wildlife management efforts at the Great Salt Lake and what California might learn from their experience.

Co-Funding Water Stewardship Projects in the Colorado River Basin

An insightful webinar on corporate water stewardship and innovative co-funding strategies in the Colorado River Basin. This webinar provided a comprehensive overview of a recent report highlighting the role corporations can play, through co-funding, in addressing the acute water supply limitations in the basin and this crisis. A distinguished panel of experts from corporations, NGOs, and project implementers discussed the opportunities and challenges around corporate investment in impactful water projects. Panelists shared valuable insights and practical ways to increase the effectiveness and scalability of corporate water stewardship efforts, and explore collaborative solutions for sustainable water management in one of the most critical river basins.

Water Resilience Coalition Accelerates Private Sector Progress Toward 2030 100-Basin Ambition

New York, New York, September 19, 2023 – The Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), an industry-driven, CEO-led initiative that aims to put water stress at the top of corporate agendas, today announced new progress on its 2030 strategy to convene the private sector to build global water resilience.

September 2023 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis. This month’s newsletter features new impact report, events, and more.

Ancient Flood Myths Were a Warning: Heed the Power of Water

California Lawmakers Move to Ban Irrigation of Some Decorative Lawns

Pacific Institute 2022 Impact Report

Reflecting on our 35th year, the Pacific Institute continued its dedication to addressing pressing water issues through rigorous, science-based research and policy analysis. In the face of environmental and geopolitical crises, including extreme droughts, increasing water scarcity, and unprecedented flooding events, our mission became even more vital. Highlights of the year included the launch of numerous research reports & tools, lauding a US$250 million commitment for both the Colorado River Basin and the Salton Sea, and the initiation of a national Water and Climate Equity strategy. Our global impact was underscored by our significant participation in events such as the Stockholm World Water Week, the World Economic Forum annual meeting, and COP27. With the CEO Water Mandate welcoming 38 new endorsing companies, we continued to amplify corporate water stewardship when it's needed the most.

Lithium Extraction in the Salton Sea

The opportunity to extract large quantities of lithium from brines deep beneath California’s Salton Sea has attracted considerable attention, especially for its potential to help meet California’s renewable energy targets and support economic development in the region, but also because of concerns about potential public health and environmental impacts.

August 2023 Newsletter

The monthly newsletter features the Pacific Institute’s research, publications, news about past and upcoming Institute staff outreach efforts, and media coverage of its work and analysis. This month’s newsletter features new impact reports, events, and more.

Benefit Accounting of Nature-Based Solutions for Watersheds Guide Version 2

This guide helps users account for and measure the stacked water,1 carbon, biodiversity and socio-economic benefits of an NBS project. Accounting for these benefits will improve a company’s impact reporting and help build the business case for green solutions, thereby supporting widespread investment, implementation and upscaling of NBS. This work will increase awareness of the value of NBS, not only for ecosystem health and community development, but also for companies directly.

La Salud Pública en la Región de Salton Sea

El Salton Sea de California, el lago más grande del estado, se está reduciendo como resultado de la disminución de las entradas. El lecho del lago expuesto emite polvo, lo que perjudica la salud de las personas que viven en el área y exacerba los desafíos de salud pública existentes de estas comunidades en riesgo.

Public Health in the Salton Sea Region

Join a distinguished panel of experts for a robust 90-minute conversation about public health in the Salton Sea region. Dr. Ryan Sinclair of Loma Linda University will moderate an expert panel including Dr. Ann Cheney of UC Riverside, Alejandro Espinoza of the Desert Healthcare District, Dr. Shohreh Farzan of USC, and Sandra Ramirez of Coachella Valley Parents.

Getting Colorado River Water From California Farms Will Take More Than Just Money – Just Ask the Farmers

As the Salton Sea Shrinks, Agriculture’s Legacy Turns to Dust

Freeing up Colorado River Water From California Farms Will Take More Than Just Money. Just Ask the Farmers