Data for Lunch: Developing Drought Early Warning Systems in California

How do we effectively identify drought conditions in California's complex water systems and translate that data into meaningful action? With extensive infrastructure, diverse user and partners, and intricate regulations, traditional approaches often fall short.

Dr. Alvar Escriva-Bou will share an innovative, collaborative approach to drought early warning systems that connect water data with real-world impacts across multiple sectors.

You'll discover how this project:

• Developed sector-specific drought indicators tailored to California's unique water infrastructure
• Co-created meaningful responses through engagement with diverse stakeholder advisory groups (science, agriculture, cities, small communities, and environment)
• Addressed key challenges including data gaps and the collaborative development process
• Advances toward real-time impact estimation and accessible web-based tools

This research has been funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

Why This Matters

This work has significant implications for California's drought resilience. By linking water data directly to sector-specific impacts, we can better anticipate vulnerabilities and coordinate more effective responses as climate change intensifies drought conditions across the state.

Whether you work in water management, environmental protection, agriculture, or community resilience, don't miss this opportunity to explore how data-driven approaches can transform California's drought response capabilities. Register now to secure your spot for this timely discussion.

About the Speaker

Dr. Alvar Escriva-Bou is an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis where he applies systems approaches to water, energy, and environmental resource management. His research bridges engineering and economics to assess drought impacts, improve urban and agricultural resilience, and analyze policy tradeoffs—with particular focus on integrating human dimensions into these complex systems.

Before joining UC Davis, Dr. Escriva-Bou served as an assistant professor at UCLA and as a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he led research on water policy. His background includes professional experience managing large infrastructure projects in Spain, bringing valuable practical perspective to his academic work. He holds a PhD in Water and Environmental Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and an MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis.

Thank You To Our Sponsor

About Data for Lunch

Data for Lunch is a free and dynamic virtual event series for water professionals, researchers, policymakers, and other partners to explore and discuss the latest water-related datasets, technologies, and governance innovations.

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Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from the Budget Act of 2022 and through an agreement with the State.