The California Institute for Water Resources is a hub for water research, extension, and education programs in California. Our mission is to bring knowledge into practice through collaborations that address water resource challenges.
What We Do
CIWR collaborates with researchers, agencies, and communities to support applied research projects that address water management challenges in California. Through our projects, we focus on systems approaches to identify ways to adapt California's existing water policies and infrastructure for 21st Century needs. We value working across disciplines and institutions through communities of practice, which foster a future generation of water researchers in California.
UC ANR partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to provide technical assistance in applying for and implementing programs for Climate Smart Agriculture that build resiliency to climate change, increase water use efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program is hosted by the California Institute for Water Resources. Find a Technical Assistance Provider and learn about our UC ANR-CDFA Climate-Smart Agriculture program by exploring our website and Storymap.
CIWR has a decade of experience in research and education for nitrogen management. We developed series of science-based nitrogen management publications and related training materials to help growers to develop efficient nitrogen management practices. We also work with experts throughout the UC Cooperative Extension to provide education and training workshops throughout California.
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The Water Talk podcast covers all things California water. Water Talk brings communities across California together to talk about water issues, including climate change, equity, and access. In its fourth season, the award-winning podcast is co-hosted and produced by Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Samuel Sandoval.
New on Our Blog: The Confluence
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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 achieve groundwater sustainability under California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A...
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Advancing a Collaborative Agenda to Meet California’s Emergent Groundwater Management Needs
Among the most significant challenges related to California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) are emergent social and economic questions regarding implementation. Despite passing almost ten years ago, there's still a long road to...
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New research: Climate impacts widespread across California, fueling worries over water supply
As water system managers across California devise strategies to help secure their water supply, they often face a major obstacle to implementing those measures: a lack of interest or will to act among community members. “One of the things that...
Review of Water Supply Reliability Estimation Related to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Delta Independent Science Board
A report (June 2022) summarizing existing methods, systems modeling approaches, and emerging best practices to estimate water supply reliability within complex management systems such as California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
"A reliable supply of water for drinking, growing food and sustaining our natural resources remains one of California's greatest challenges. UC's California Institute for Water Resources is vital to integrating California's research, extension, and education programs to help mitigate current water-related issues and develop practical long-term solutions."
- Secretary Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture
The Institute is the California hub for the national network of water research institutes supported by the federal Water Resources Research Act of 1964.
