“EPA’s support will enable us to build on lessons from the current drought that can make California and other western states more resilient in a changing climate,” Director of PPIC Water Policy Center Ellen Hanak said.
Specifically, the grant funding will go toward studying how the current drought in California arose and the ways in which it is affecting the state’s environment and water-dependent industries like agriculture and hydropower. It will also review previous responses to determine suitable management systems.
PPIC will conduct its research with team members pulled from UC Davis and other California universities, and will engage policymakers and water quality experts through workshops.
“We’re already seeing the harmful effects of droughts and extreme weather on the environment and economy," EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Jared Blumenfeld said. "Our goal in investing in this research is to gain innovative solutions that reduce the risks associated with inadequate drought preparedness.”
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