The California Institute for Water Resources is a hub for research, extension, and education programs in California that address water resource challenges. As part of the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, our mission is to help bring knowledge into practice.
What We Do
CIWR collaborates with researchers and water agencies 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 Climate Smart Agriculture Incentives Programs 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.
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, scarcity, and access. In its fourth season, the highly-rated podcast is co-hosted and produced by Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval.
UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment
A recent report (April 2023) describing the legal framework for managing water rights in California during drought, including historical practices and actions California to improve curtailment options for future drought.
New on Our Blog: The Confluence
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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...
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Addressing the emotional toll of drought
Preparing the American West for prolonged drought is the focus of a double issue of Water Resources IMPACT magazine. The California Water Commission staff are guest editors for this special open-access edition of the magazine, which is published...
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Porse named director of California Institute for Water Resources
Erik Porse joined the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) on Jan. 11 as director of the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR). Porse has built an outstanding career in water as a research engineer with the...
"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.
