The Confluence

The Confluence is the blog of the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) within University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. We cover timely topics of water management in California, highlight innovative research and voices.

CIWR's mission is to integrate California's research, extension, and education programs to develop research-based solutions to water resource challenges. We do this by facilitating collaborative research and outreach on water issues across California's academic institutions and with international, federal, state, regional, nonprofit, and campus communities.

Visit us at: ciwr.ucanr.edu | follow us on Bluesky @ucanrwater.bsky.social, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X @ucanrwater

Join us for season 2 of Water Talk, new episodes weekly starting April 2, 2021, watertalkpodcast.com [image: abstracted topographic lines in various shades of blue and yellow with the words Water Talk in a square with a yellow background]

The Confluence: Article

The Water Talk podcast is back for a second season

April 5, 2021

The podcast Water Talk launched its second season on Friday, April 2. This season focuses in part on drought, a water issue at the top of many minds during this relatively dry rainy season.

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Michael Mendez at the Port of Long Beach. Photo by Keith Carlsen.

The Confluence: Article

From the Ground Up: Climate Change and Environmental Justice in California

March 15, 2021

by Faith Kearns. Michael Mendez is an assistant professor in the School of Social Ecology at UC Irvine, and has spent time doing public policy work as an advisor, senior legislative consultant, lobbyist, and as a gubernatorial appointee during the passage of California's internationally acclaimed climate…

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New research gives California date growers the data they need to apply a more precise amount of irrigation water to meet the trees' needs to produce a healthy crop. Photo by Ali Montazar.

The Confluence: Article

Growers and researchers refine date palm irrigation

February 18, 2021

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

California's $86 million date industry produces more than half of the nation's dates. Most of the fruit is grown in the arid Coachella Valley.

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The same almond orchard as above, but at harvest time. Photo by Katherine Jarvis-Shean.

The Confluence: Article

Growing the right tree in the right place with the right amount of water

December 15, 2020

By Faith Kearns. Finding a tree that produces the right amount of tasty fruit or nuts under the unique growing conditions of a given orchard takes a lot of science and a little bit of art.

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Water fountain. Photo by Daniel Hooper on Unsplash.

The Confluence: Article

Improving drinking water safety, access, and consumption in the U.S.

November 2, 2020

By Christina E Hecht

Tap water stands at the intersection of multiple issue areas including water resources, the environmental impacts of beverage choices, and infrastructure needs. Tap water is also a public health issue.

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