Ellen M. Bruno

Ellen M Bruno

CE Specialist in Quantitative Policy Analysis

Agricultural economics, water resource economics

Ellen Bruno is an Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension in quantitative policy analysis. Dr. Bruno received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis and her B.S. degree (summa cum laude) in Management Science from UC San Diego. Bruno's extension program focuses on policy issues relevant to California’s agriculture and natural resources. Her research considers the potential and effectiveness of water-related policies, which includes understanding how farmers respond to changes in water prices. As an extension economist, she works with state and local government agencies, as well as nonprofits and practitioners, to improve the management of California's water supplies.

Peer reviewed

  • Herrera, Axel; Bruno, Ellen M.; Steenwerth, Kerri; Everson, Alexandra; Lazcano, Cristina (2026). Evaluating the Economic Viability of Regenerative Viticulture in Sonoma County, California. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 77, 0770002.
  • Hadachek, Jeffrey; Bruno, Ellen M.; Hagerty, Nick; Jessoe, Katrina (2026). Externalities of Climate Adaptation in Common-Pool Groundwater Resources. Journal of Public Economics. 256, 105602.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Hagerty, Nick (2025). Anticipatory Effects of Regulating the Commons. Journal of Environmental Economics & Management. 133, 103183.
  • Owen, Dave; Dahlke, Helen E.; Bruno, Ellen; Fisher, Andrew T.; Kiparsky, Michael (2025). Navigating the Growing Prospects and Growing Pains of Managed Aquifer Recharge. Groundwater. 63:6, 819-827.
  • Jaeger, William K.; Bruno, Ellen M.; Fisher-Vanden, Karen; Harter, Thomas (2025). The Essential but Often Misunderstood Role of Economics in Groundwater Sustainability Research. Environmental Research Letters. 20, 084046.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina (2024). Designing Water Markets for Climate Change Adaptation. Nature Climate Change. 14, 331-339.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina; Hanemann, W. Michael (2024). The Dynamic Impacts of Pricing Groundwater. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. 11:5, 1201 - 1227.
  • Bruce, Molly; Sherman, Luke; Bruno, Ellen; Fisher, Andrew T.; Kiparsky, Michael (2023). Recharge Net Metering (ReNeM) is a Novel, Cost-effective Management Strategy to Incentivize Groundwater Recharge. Nature Water. 1, 855–863.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Hagerty, Nick; R., Wardle Arthur (2023). The Political Economy of Groundwater Management: Descriptive Evidence from California. American Agriculture, Water Resources, and Climate Change. Dinar, Ariel; Libecap, Gary. University of Chicago Press.
  • Rupiper, Amanda; Weill, Joaquim; Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina; Loge, Frank (2022). Untapped Potential: Leak Reduction is the Most Cost-Effective Urban Water Management Tool. Environmental Research Letters. 17:3, 4021.
  • Goodrich, Brittney; Kiesel, Kristin; Bruno, Ellen M. (2021). Differential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on California's Produce and Nut Industries. Western Economics Forum. 19:1, 58-74.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina (2021). Missing Markets: Evidence on Agricultural Water Demand from Volumetric Pricing. Journal of Public Economics. 196, 104374.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina (2021). Using Price Elasticities of Water Demand to Inform Policy. Annual Review of Resource Economics. 13, 427-441.
  • Mishra, Ashok; Bruno, Ellen M.; Zilberman, David (2020). Compound Natural and Human Disasters: Managing Drought and COVID-19 to Sustain Global Agriculture and Food Sectors. Science of the Total Environment. 754, 142210.
  • Saitone, Tina L.; Bruno, Ellen M. (2020). Cost Effectiveness of Livestock Guardian Dogs for Predator Control. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 44:1, 101-109.
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Sexton, Richard J. (2020). The Gains from Agricultural Groundwater Trade and the Potential for Market Power: Theory and Application. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 102:3, 884-910.
  • DeVincentis, Alyssa J.; Sandoval Solis, Sam; Bruno, Ellen M.; Leavitt, Amber; Gomes, Anna; Rice, Sloane; Zaccaria, Daniele (2020). Using Cost-Benefit Analysis to Understand Adoption of Winter Cover Cropping in California's Specialty Crop Systems. Journal of Environmental Management. 261, 110205.
  • Maples, Stephen; Bruno, Ellen; Kraus-Polk, Alejo; Roberts, Stacy; Foster, Lauren (2018). Leveraging Hydrologic Accounting and Water Markets for Improved Water Management: The Case for a Central Clearinghouse. Water. 10:12, 1720. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/10/12/1720/htm
  • Polasek, Nicolas; Bruno, Ellen; Stackhouse, Jeffery; Valachovic, Yana; Quinn-Davidson, Lenya (In Press). The Economic and Social Value of Maintaining Oak Woodlands in the Presence of Conifer Encroachment. California Agriculture.

Non-peer reviewed

  • Herrera, Axel; Bruno, Ellen M.; Steenwerth, Kerri; Everson, Alexandra; Lazcano, Cristina (2026). Comparing the Economic Viability of Regenerative vs. Conventional Viticulture. National Grape Research Alliance Newsletter.
  • Bruno, Ellen (2025). Addressing the needs of small farmers under SGMA groundwater market development. The Confluence Blog of the California Institute for Water Resources.
  • Bruno, Ellen; Hagerty, Nick (2025). California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: What Are Its Early Impacts? ARE Update. 28:4, 2-4.
  • Bruno, Ellen; Hagerty, Nick (2025). How is SGMA affecting growers' planting and drilling decisions? The Confluence Blog of the California Institute for Water Resources.
  • Grenier, Letitia; Mount, Jeffrey; Peterson, Caitlin; Franklin, Bradley; Bardeen, Sarah; Blum, Annalise; Cole, Spencer; Greenspan, Kyle; Gray, Brian; Ayres, Andrew; Schwabe, Kurt; Bruno, Ellen; Escriva-Bou, Alvar; Fisher, Andrew; Safeeq, Khan; Viers, Joshua (2025). Priorities for California’s Water: Advancing Research During Uncertain Times. Public Policy Institute of California Report.
  • Saunders, Liz; Bruno, Ellen M. (2025). Stuck in the Mud: Groundwater Markets Struggle to Gain Traction Under SGMA. ARE Update. 29:1, 1-4.
  • Herrera, Axel; Bruno, Ellen M.; Lazcano, Cristina (2025). The Profitability of Regenerative Viticulture in Sonoma County, California. ARE Update. 28:5, 5-8.
  • Owen, Dave; Dahlke, Helen E.; Bruno, Ellen; Fisher, Andrew T.; Kiparsky, Michael (2025). The Promise and Growing Pains of Managed Aquifer Recharge. Legal Planet blog.
  • Borum, Jeff; Bruno, Ellen; Castle, Sarah; Chiartas, Jessica; Crowley, Rory; Decock, Charlotte; Delgado, Charles; DeVincentis, Alyssa; Dufour, Rex; Edwards, Annie; Rlaherty, Ryan; Flynn, Margot; Grimm, Robyn; Hale, Lauren; Light, Sarah; Little, Cayle; Lowell, Karen; Hudson, Minshew; Nocco, Mallika; Peterson, Caitlin; Roby, Matthew; Roseman, Jesse; Roth, Allegra; Sandoval, Samuel; Silva, Stacie Ann; Smet, Emily; Smither-Kopperl, Margaret; Suvocarev, Kosana; Waterhouse, Hannah; Wauters, Vivian; Williams, Sam; Zaccaria, Daniele (2024). Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era: A Comprehensive Overview of Water Impacts, Policy Implications, and Recommendations for California's Water Managers. The Soil-Water Interface Expert Convening Series: Cover Crop Impacts on Water Budgets, California.
  • Bruno, Ellen (2024). Drought and Groundwater Regulation: Impacts for Irrigated Agriculture in California. 2024 California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium Proceedings.
  • Bruce, Molly; Green Nylen, Nell; Kiparsky, Michael (2024). Fair and Effective Water Markets Require Adequate Measurement and Reporting of Water Diversion and Use. Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, UC Berkeley School of Law.
  • Bruno, Ellen; Bruce, Molly; Jessoe, Katrina (2024). How to Incentivize Better Groundwater Use. The California Water Blog.
  • Schlauch, Garrison; Bruno, Ellen; Dobbin, Kristin (2023). Advancing a Collaborative Agenda to Meet California's Emergent Groundwater Management Needs. The Confluence Blog of the California Institute for Water Resources. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57210
  • Wardle, Arthur R.; Bruno, Ellen (2023). Database of Demand Management Actions Under SGMA Goes Live. The Confluence Blog of the California Institute for Water Resources. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57634
  • Bruno, Ellen M. (2023). From Drought to Deluge: Designing Groundwater Pricing Policies to Cope with California's Water Woes. ARE Update. 26:4, 1-3. https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1682629680/20669/
  • Friberg, Astrid B.; Wardle, Arthur R.; Bruno, Ellen M. (2023). How is Demand Management Developing in SGMA Groundwater Sustainability Plans? ARE Update. 26:5, 5-8. https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1688422541/20721/
  • Bruce, Molly; Sherman, Luke; Bruno, Ellen; Fisher, Andrew; Kiparsky, Michael (2023). The Cost-Effectiveness of Using Rebates to Incentivize Groundwater Recharge. ARE Update. 27:2, 1-4.
  • Light, Sarah; Bruno, Ellen; Lloyd, Margaret (2023). UCCE Resources on the Economics of Cover Cropping in Annual Rotations. Sacramento Valley Field Crops Newsletter. 14. July. https://cesutter.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Agronomy_Notes98395.pdf
  • Rupiper, Amanda; Weill, Joaquim; Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina; Loge, Frank (2022). Could Fixing Leaky Pipes Help Solve California's Water Problems? ARE Update. 25:4, 1-4. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/pub/2022/04/25/v25n4_1.pdf
  • Ayres, Andrew; Babbitt, Christina; Bruno, Ellen M.; Wardle, Arthur R. (2022). Designing Groundwater Markets in Practice: Lessons from Three California Groundwater Basins. The Future of Water Markets: Obstacles and Opportunities. Regan, Shawn; Edwards, Eric. Property & Environment Research Center.
  • Bruno, Ellen M. (2022). Pricing Groundwater will Help Solve California's Water Problems. Knowable Magazine. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/food-environment/2022/pricing-groundwater-will-help-solve-california-water-problems?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=originals&utm_content=US
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Schweizer, Heidi (2022). The Futures Market for California Water: Challenges and Policy Recommendations. The Future of Water Markets: Obstacles and Opportunities. Regan, Shawn; Edwards, Eric. Property & Environment Research Center.
  • Wardle, Arthur R.; Griggs, Paige; Bruno, Ellen M. (2021). A Progress Report on California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. ARE Update. 24:3, 1-4. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/pub/2021/02/18/v24n3_1.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M. (2021). Identifying Policies to Mitigate the Costs of Drought. ARE Update. 25:1, 13-15. https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1635376344/20255/
  • Ayres, Andrew; Hanak, Ellen; Gray, Brian; Sencan, Gokce; Bruno, Ellen; Escriva-Bou, Alvar; Gartrell, Greg (2021). Improving California's Water Market:
    How Water Trading and Banking Can Support Groundwater Management.     Public Policy Institute of California. https://www.ppic.org/publication/improving-californias-water-market/?utm_source=ppic&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=epub
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Goodrich, Brittney; Sexton, Richard J. (2021). The Outlook for California's Almond Market. ARE Update. 24:6, 9-11. https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1629132674/20135/
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Schweizer, Heidi (2021). Why Wall Street Investors' Trading California Water Futures is Nothing to Fear-- and Unlikely to Work Anyway. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-wall-street-investors-trading-california-water-futures-is-nothing-to-fear-and-unlikely-to-work-anyway-155620
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; DeVincentis, Alyssa J.; Sandoval Solis, Sam; Zaccaria, Daniele (2020). Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Winter Cover Cropping in California. ARE Update. 23:6, 9-11. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/87/c0/87c06bec-e996-4498-a437-40f74e2f2819/v23n6_3.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Sexton, Richard J.; Sumner, Daniel A. (2020). The Coronavirus and the Food Supply Chain. ARE Update. 23:4, 1-4. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/e0/01/e001c612-bdbe-47e6-83f8-7ce53cbce93f/v23n4_1.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Saitone, Tina L. (2019). Livestock Guardian Dogs: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs for Sheep Producers? ARE Update. 22:6, 9-11. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/b3/b5/b3b5c714-7d44-4b3b-97ce-df13a5febf7f/v22n6_3.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Ayres, Andrew; Asinas, Emmanuel (2019). Managing Flood Water for Aquifer Recharge: Economic Considerations for Policy. Global Water Forum. http://www.globalwaterforum.org/2019/11/19/managing-flood-water-for-aquifer-recharge-economic-considerations-for-policy/
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Zilberman, David (2019). What Does the 2018 Farm Bill Mean for California and the Environment? Spotlight on the Conservation Programs. ARE Update. 22:3, 6-8. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/22/6b/226b1fe1-ad11-4c38-9a58-2565325dce1f/v22n3_3.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M.; Jessoe, Katrina (2018). Climate Change and California's Water Supply: How Can We Adapt? ARE Update. 22:1, 1-3. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/49/a0/49a0c144-5d82-41e9-af7e-fe979f1773a9/v22n1_1.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M. (2018). The Economic Impacts of Agricultural Groundwater Markets. ARE Update. 21:6, 9-11. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/e7/f4/e7f4a689-2923-4969-a6ad-df8495e9bfe4/v21n6_3.pdf
  • Bruno, Ellen M. (2017). California's New Groundwater Law and the Implications for Groundwater Markets. ARE Update. 20:4, 1-4. https://s.giannini.ucop.edu/uploads/giannini_public/5a/0e/5a0e56bd-b6dd-4aa3-ac2d-135ccff6513c/v20n4_1.pdf