California Drought Impacts: Case Studies on Water Use

Dr. Peter GleickPacific Institute, Oakland, California

August 2015

Conclusions

• The severe drought in California is having widespread impacts

• We are just beginning to understand the full nature of these impacts.

• California’s water system is especially vulnerable, and we also see an influence of climate change.

• Some research is now available for effects on energy and agriculture.

California Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies (1895-2014) (36-month periods)

Source: Mann and Gleick, 2015, PNAS. NOAA/NCDC ClimDiv data

Drought and California Hydroelectricity

Decreased hydro-generation; increased GHG emissions

Source: Gleick 2015

Agricultural revenues are at an all-time high

Source: Cooley et al. 2015

Farm employment is at an all-time high

Agricultural impacts have been buffered by unsustainable practices, strong markets, and improvements in

water-use efficiency.

This cannot continue indefinitely.

Groundwater depletion in the Central Valley is severe and ongoing

Dr. Peter H. Gleickpgleick@pacinst.org

Pacific Institute, Oakland, California

@petergleick

www.pacinst.org

www.worldwater.org