Publications

Drought and Equity in the San Francisco Bay Area

The most severe drought in California on the instrumental record stretched from 2012-2016. The drought was highly publicized, with particular attention paid towards impacts on agriculture, urban areas, and ecosystems. Little attention, however, was paid to the drought’s impacts on California’s low-income communities.

Where We Agree: Building Consensus on Solutions to California’s Urban Water Challenges

California has a long list of unresolved and difficult water challenges, made more urgent by periods of severe drought that are exacerbated by climate change.

Managing Drought: Learning from Australia

A new report released today shows that strategies developed and mistakes made during Australia’s decade-long Millennium Drought provide a powerful resource for California, as the state enters its fifth year of severe drought.

Impacts of California’s Ongoing Drought: Hydroelectricity Generation 2015 Update

Hydropower and natural gas are the principal sources of electricity for California’s millions of users.

Impacts of California’s Ongoing Drought: Agriculture

In 2015, California was in the midst of the most severe drought in nearly 120 years of instrumental record, with far-reaching effects in the state. This report examines the impacts of the drought on California’s agricultural sector through 2014.

California Agricultural Water Use: Key Background Information

California is a key producer of agricultural goods that are consumed all over the world.

Impacts of California’s Ongoing Drought: Hydroelectricity Generation

California’s hottest and driest drought in recorded history, from 2012 to 2016, shifted the sources of energy for electricity with adverse economic and environmental consequences. This report focuses on the period of drought from 2011 to 2014.

California Urban Water Suppliers Water Use Map

This web app from the Pacific Institute shows how different California cities are responding to the ongoing drought. This web feature brings to life newly-released data on residential and system-wide water use, and allows users to explore trends and patterns in that use.

Insights into Proposition 1: The 2014 California Water Bond

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, which was approved by California voters in November 2014.

Metering in California – Need to Know Fact sheet

This fact sheet examines the effectiveness of water metering as a tool to reduce excessive or wasteful water use by both utility companies and customers.

The Multiple Benefits of Water Conservation and Efficiency for California Agriculture – Need to Know

California farmers have made progress in updating and modernizing irrigation practices, but great untapped potential remains to use water more efficiently.

Urban Water Conservation and Efficiency Potential in California – Issue Brief

California’s water supply is taxed by challenges such as drought, unsustainable groundwater use, and tensions over limited resources for a growing population.

Stormwater Capture Potential in Urban and Suburban California – Issue Brief

Drought in California poses a serious threat to water resources in communities across the state. The continued effects of climate change will likely exacerbate periods of drought, rendering California’s current urban and suburban water supplies unreliable and insufficient.

Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency Potential in California – Issue Brief

California’s agricultural production is the largest in the United States, and uses about 80 percent of the state’s developed water supply.

What to Do About California’s Drought