December 13, 2019 / Volume 7, Issue 32
The Water Resource Research Center - a research unit of the  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and an Extension unit in  UA Cooperative Extension  within the Division of   Agriculture,  Life & Veterinary Sciences & Cooperative Extension
In this issue:   Sabbatical /  Water Series / APW / / One Water
WRRC 2020 Annual Conference -
Agenda Posted
The agenda for the WRRC March 27, 2020, Annual Conference,  Water at the Crossroads: The Next 40 Years, has been posted on our website and registration opens next week! With most of the speakers confirmed, we invite you to join us for an engaging and thought-provoking day to talk and think about water. Following Bruce Babbitt's opening keynote presentation, we feature a discussion session with several past Directors of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Later in the morning, a broad-ranging set of panelists will present on a variety of topics, including water management, groundwater, technology, agriculture, climate, and more.   In the afternoon, we will foster discussion with legislators and several of our state's thought leaders to get at core issues such as how to manage Arizona's groundwater to ensure reliability and do we need to modify our concepts of water management as we move forward? Please consider sponsoring to help us keep registration rates affordable and continue to offer special student opportunities.
WRRC EVENTS 
Water-Energy Interface in the Context of Air Conditioning and Some History of Electricity Generation

January 22, 2020
 
Speaker: Henry Johnstone, PE,  President of GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc.
 

The dynamic relationship between water and energy has become a national topic in recent years and is of particular interest to those in Arizona, where projections of water scarcity and changes in electrical generation are frequently reported in the media. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the sources and sinks of energy and water in Arizona and then focus on their interaction at campus or municipal district scale.

WRRC NEWS
sabbaticalWRRC Director to Take Spring Semester Sabbatical
 

WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal will be on sabbatical for the first half of 2020. During that time, she will lecture on Arizona-connected water topics, as listed in the linked flyer. Though she is still working on the details of her schedule, she expects to offer multiple lectures in Singapore, Israel, Australia, California, and elsewhere. When not lecturing or attending water-related meetings, she plans to spend time in Tucson writing. "It is often hard to find time for writing. I am hopeful that during my sabbatical I can write some informative pieces on water issues in our region." Due to her sabbatical, she will next offer her graduate course "Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions" in the Spring 2021 semester. WRRC Associate Director Claire Zucker will serve as Acting Director during the sabbatical period.

azrunsArizona Runs on Water Series Continues in January
 
On January 30, 2020, part two of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Education Series "Arizona Runs on Water" will be held in Phoenix. The series aims to provide the public with information on water supply, use, and conservation. Part one, which was held in October, focused on water supply, answering questions such as "Where does our water come from and how is it used?". Part two, titled "Water Challenges Facing Agriculture in Maricopa County" will address agricultural water use and how growers conserve water and prepare for the Drought Contingency Plan. The panel discussion will be introduced by the WRRC's Claire Zucker and Susanna Eden. A third session will be held on April 30, 2020, on the subject of water for turf and landscaping. The events are FREE and open to the public.

adminWRRC Welcomes New Administrative Associate

We are happy to welcome Jessica Velarde as our new Administrative Associate at the WRRC. Jessica will be part of our small but high-powered administrative team. In addition to providing invaluable assistance to Director Sharon B. Megdal, she will be supporting many of our outreach efforts including the Weekly Wave, the Brown Bag Seminars, and our upcoming 2020 Annual Conference. Jessica is a life-long Arizonan and comes to us from CEO Concierge Offices, Inc., where she served as their business administrator.   Welcome, Jessica! 
one-planOne Water, One Plan: City of Tucson Updates Comprehensive Water Plan
Tucson's comprehensive water plan is getting an upgrade for the first time since 2004. Tucson Water is working to release a new long-term plan based on the nationally recognized integrated approach to water resource management known as "One Water". The One Water concept integrates planning for water supply, wastewater, and stormwater/rainwater. Facing evolving constraints on water resources due to population growth, climate change, economic development, conservation practices, and water quality, Tucson's One Water 2100 Master Plan will address a wide range of future scenarios to develop a robust approach to managing all the city's water resources. The new long-range master plan differs from the city's previous plan in that it emphasizes  factors such as environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic vitality that historically were not major factors in water planning.

Learn how you can help shape the plan here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS