Water Quality, Quantity and Security
Our Strategic Initiatives (SI) help unify, communicate and advocate for the work we do.
Initiative Themes
Water is the life blood of California's economy and the underpinning of its diverse ecosystems. As such, water supply and quality are critical issues facing the state's agricultural, urban, and environmental settings now and in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the initiative works in the key areas of:
- Safe & secure drinking water
- Safe & secure surface water
- Safe & sustainable groundwater
- Holistic water management
Grand Challenges
The Water SI supports a broad spectrum of expertise and uses a systems approach to identify and address emerging issues including:
- Conservation and enhancement strategies to bolster water resources and meet increasing agricultural, urban, and ecosystem water demands
- Sustainable farm, urban, and natural resource management practices to protect soil and water quality from salinity, sediment, pathogens, excess nutrients, trace elements, and other contaminants
- Quantifying the impacts of climate change on California’s precious water resources and consequent impacts on agriculture, urban, and ecosystems, while seeking ways to make these sectors more resilient to climate related risks
Impact
See UC Delivers for examples of impact in the Water SI.
UC ANR members can share the impact of their work - it's easy. Click here to find out how.
Funding
See funding opportunities listed with UC ANR Contracts & Grants
See Opportunity & Matching grants (small grants to help with urgent time-sensitive needs)
Water Topics
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Patterns and drivers of water-wise landscaping for urban water conservation
Front yard with water-wise landscaping. Photo Credit: Cadenasso Lab, UC Davis California's urban water agencies have long relied on conservation...
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Fifty Years of Water Research Projects in California
For decades, California has supported research to improve water resources management. Within our archives at the California Institute for Water...
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Database of Demand Management Actions Under SGMA Goes Live
Demand management – policies that alter the incentives of water users in ways that encourage conservation – will be necessary to...