A project of the Center for Investigative Reporting launched in summer 2009, supported by grants from the James Irvine Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the California Endowment and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, California Watch [2] "pursues in-depth, high-impact reporting" on topics including environment, health, money and politics, education, and public safety.

The website provides resources such as story ideas and reporting tips, a blog, recommended bookmarks, and databases to download.

Environment databases include California wildfire history, top greenhouse gas polluters, beach closings, and more.