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IN THIS ISSUE: Transboundary Groundwater Article, Patagonia Drought Planning Workshop, WAM, Factsheet, LC Conservation Program, CAGRD Article | |
New Article on Transboundary Groundwater from WRRC Director | |
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WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal's opinion paper, “Increasing the visibility of transboundary groundwater,” was published on March 21 in PLOS Water. In her introduction, Megdal references the 2022 United Nations World Water Development Report, Groundwater: Making the invisible visible, noting that unlike lakes, rivers, and other surface waters, groundwater is easy to overlook and transboundary aquifers, which cross jurisdictional borders, “can be particularly challenging” to characterize. Using US-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment and management as an example, Megdal explores the successes and challenges of binational cooperation. She observes that “A critical condition for groundwater management in the transboundary setting is a functioning mechanism for cooperation, one that is built upon trust and mutual respect.” Megdal concludes by stating, “Reliance on groundwater is increasing. Careful management of this vital but invisible resource is essential to the water security of regions throughout the world. The work can be particularly challenging in transboundary settings, but water professionals must lead the way so that communities can benefit from their efforts to make the invisible visible.” The article is open access and available to read at the link below.
Image: Map from Transboundary Aquifers: "Challenges and the Way Forward" published in 2022 in UNESCO
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NVIS Seminar Series: Tribal Hoop House Project in Northern NV
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Arizona Time
Location: Webinar Only
Speaker:
Reginald Premo, Community Outreach Specialist, University of Nevada
Reggie Premo is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley reservation that encompasses northeastern NV and southern ID, he is a descendant of the Tosawihi (White Knife) band of Western Shoshone. Reggie was raised on a cattle ranch and currently grows alfalfa hay and assists local producers on the reservation with cropland
development. Reggie has been employed with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Native Programs as the Community Outreach Specialist based on the Duck Valley Reservation in Owyhee, NV since yr. 2010. He is responsible for coordinating and
scheduling educational activities regarding nutrition, organizational development, natural resources, and agriculture for constituents. Constructing hoop houses and providing education and outreach assistance for Nevada tribes & communities have been a major part of his work.
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WRRC Seminar Series: Severe Sustained Drought in the Colorado Basin Revisited
Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Arizona Time
Location: Webinar Only
Moderator:
George Frisvold, Professor & Extension Specialist, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UArizona
Speakers:
- Bonnie G. Colby, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UArizona
- Dari Duval, Economic Impact Analyst, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UArizona Cooperative Extension
- Kathy Jacobs, Director, Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions, Arizona Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies; Professor, Environmental Science, UArizona
- Pamela Nagler, Research Physical Scientist, US Geological Survey
- Connie Woodhouse, Regents Professor, School of Geography, Development, and Environment and Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, UArizona
Image: Adobe Stock, Sunken boat on mud bed in Lake Mead
The JAWRA Featured Collection, Severe Sustained Drought Revisited: Managing the Colorado River System in Times of Water Shortage 25 Years Later, follows up on a series published more than 25 years ago to present collaborative research studies supported by the Powell Consortium. That original special issue, “Severe Sustained Drought: Managing the Colorado River System in Times of Water Shortage,” and the publications that arose from it have “shaped thought and encouraged multi-disciplinary research on drought and water scarcity in the United States Southwest.” The 2022 JAWRA Featured Collection was published in two issues and highlights the work of researchers throughout the region. This WRRC webinar will feature presentations from a panel of authors who contributed papers to the Collection.
Register Here
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WRRC Getting Out in Arizona – Drought Planning in Patagonia
On March 22 and 24, CLIMAS and the WRRC’s Water RAPIDS team partnered with the Town of Patagonia to hold a Drought Planning Workshop and field trip in one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse areas of southern Arizona. Both events were convened in Patagonia as part of an ongoing collaborative project with CLIMAS to develop drought planning response options specific to the Town’s unique context. The workshop brought together local stakeholders including representatives from the Town of Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Friends of Sonoita Creek, Tucson Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Borderlands Restoration Network, and highly engaged community members. Opening remarks from Vice-Mayor Michael Stabile and Town Manager Ron Robinson put ongoing community work into perspective, highlighting the exceptional partnerships that drive watershed health efforts in the region. WRRC staff shared the results of our data collection, drought policy review, and drought indicators development to inform productive discussions focused on drought response options.
Read More
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April is Arizona Water Awareness Month!
Arizona Water Awareness Month (WAM) is kicking off with the first-ever Water Awareness Month Festival, to be held Saturday, April 1 from 10 am to 2 pm at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix. The event, hosted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), will feature “fun activities, giveaways, food, music, and useful information from over 25 organizations throughout the State,” including Arizona Project Wet. The goals of WAM are to raise awareness about our state’s most precious resource and provide opportunities for Arizona residents to learn about water conservation. ADWR will hold additional WAM events throughout the month to educate and engage the community. Their website also offers Tips & Resources for water conservation. Now is the perfect time to learn more about water!
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Did You Know?
Despite growing by 6 million people, Arizona uses less water than it did in 1957 – thanks in large part to the 1980 Groundwater Management Code. Areas that were heavily reliant upon groundwater were designated as Active Management Areas (AMAs), and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs) were also created to prohibit the expansion of new irrigated acreage within established boundaries. After decades of maintaining the same established AMAs and INAs, the Douglas AMA and Hualapai Valley INA were newly designated within the last few months, reflecting growing concern about groundwater overdraft in rural parts of the state. Check out the WRRC’s updated map showing all of Arizona’s AMAs and INAs, including the new additions!
More Info
Arizona Water Factsheets
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Reclamation Requests Input for Lower Colorado River Conservation Program
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is requesting input from Colorado River stakeholders for the development of the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program (LC Conservation Program). The program aims to “establish longer-term durable system efficiency improvements that result in water conservation benefitting the lower Colorado River System and its water users.” This LC Conservation Program is part of the Department of the Interior’s August 16, 2022 commitment to address the drought crisis with “prompt and responsive actions and investments.” Reclamation is seeking input for the next phase of the program, which will solicit project proposals from water delivery contract or entitlement holders, specifically regarding eligibility and evaluation criteria for those projects. Input will be accepted until Thursday, April 6, 2023, and should be sent via email to LCBEfficiency@usbr.gov. Any questions should be directed to the same address.
Image: Karletta Chief, WRRC 2022 Photo Contest
More Info
LC Conservation Program
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New Article on CAGRD Published
A newly published article by former WRRC graduate student Rebecca Bernat and others at UArizona, Stakeholder Opinions on the Issues of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District and Policy Alternatives, reports on research to understand stakeholder opinions on the agency that allows new residential growth and development by replenishing the resulting groundwater use. Several issues with the operation of this agency, the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD), have been raised in recent years. Bernat and co-authors Sharon B. Megdal, Susanna Eden, and Laura A. Bakkensen describe the results of a stakeholder survey and expert interviews aimed at revealing the CAGRD issues considered top priority problems and their potential solutions. The research found that a majority of stakeholders saw a problem where CAGRD replenishment is disconnected from the groundwater pumping it is offsetting, but disparities between the opinions of different stakeholder categories could make implementation of potential solutions politically difficult.
Image: Adobe Stock, Phoenix, AZ
Read the Article
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WRRC TAAP Research Analyst
The WRRC is currently hiring for the position of Research Analyst for its Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP). This newly created position will involve project research focused on investigating the socio-economic dimensions of transboundary aquifers in the US and Mexico and the impact of contrasting modes of governance in shared groundwater resources, writing journal articles and reports, giving presentations, and identifying opportunities for collaboration and organizing meetings with partners in the US and Mexico. More Info
WRRC Student Communications and Outreach Assistant (Hourly)
The WRRC is seeking a student employee with interest and experience in writing about water and/or environmental topics to assist with outreach communication. Applicants are encouraged to visit the WRRC website for more information on WRRC programs and activities. Accepting applications until the position is filled. More Info
Please visit WRRC's website for a complete listing of water jobs & opportunities.
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Guayule Cultivation and Irrigation Methods for the Southwestern United States
As water becomes scarce in Arizona there is a desire by growers to grow crops that use less water. With hundreds of acres already planted across the state and the plan to scale to 10,000 acres over the course of three years, guayule has become a more water wise crop than traditional desert row crops like silage corn, alfalfa, and cotton. In this guide, cultivation and irrigation methods will be discussed to increase area under guayule across the state. More Info
Three New Publications from WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal
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Bernat, Rebecca F. A., Sharon B. Megdal, Susanna Eden, and Laura A. Bakkensen. 2023. "Stakeholder Opinions on the Issues of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District and Policy Alternatives" Water 15, no. 6: 1166. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061166
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Matherne, Anne-Marie, and Sharon B. Megdal. 2023. "Advances in Transboundary Aquifer Assessment" Water 15, no. 6: 1208. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061208
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Megdal, Sharon B. 2023. “Increasing the visibility of transboundary groundwater” PLOS Water 2, no. 3: e0000113. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000113
Western Water Article: “Testing at the Source: California Readies a Groundbreaking Hunt to Check for Microplastics in Drinking Water”
Tiny pieces of plastic shed from food wrappers, grocery bags, clothing, cigarette butts, tires and paint are invading the environment and every facet of daily life. Researchers know the plastic particles have even made it into municipal water supplies, but very little data exists about the scope of microplastic contamination in drinking water. After years of planning, California this year is embarking on a first-of-its-kind data-gathering mission to illuminate how prevalent microplastics are in the state’s largest drinking water sources and help regulators determine whether they are a public health threat. More Info
UArizona Cooperative Extension Publication: Water Irrigation Efficiency Program
Ethan Orr, Robert Masson, and Stephanie Brennan More Info
2023 World Water Development Report
Annual report from the United Nations, produced by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. This year’s report focuses on partnerships and cooperation in water management and development and their role in achieving progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6. More Info
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Arizona Gives Day 2023
Water touches the life of every person in Arizona and WRRC is the go-to organization for key water issues. Donors have a big impact on our ability to conduct in-depth research, top-level education, and purposeful engagement. On this Arizona Gives Day, please support our efforts with your tax-deductible donation. Donate Here
US Water Prize 2023
Awarded on an annual basis, the US Water Prize celebrates outstanding achievement in the advancement of sustainable, integrated, and inclusive solutions to our nation's water challenges. It is the preeminent national recognition program for exemplary efforts to secure a sustainable water future for all. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 31 at 8:00 pm ET. More Info
Water Awareness Month Festival 2023
Join ADWR for a fun day of celebrating the importance of water in our daily lives! Featuring fun activities, giveaways, food, music, and useful information from over 25 organizations throughout the State! Date & Time: Saturday, April 1, from 10 am–2 pm; Location: Wesley Bolin Plaza, Downtown Phoenix. This event is FREE and open to all! Feel free to reach out to Némesis Ortiz-Declet (nortizdeclet@azwater.gov)
with any questions. More Info
Haury Program Spring 2023 Graduate Student Native Pathway Awards
The Haury Program invites applications for its Spring 2023 Native Pathway Awards, supporting UArizona graduate student research in the areas of Tribal water sustainability and Native American and Indigenous resilience. Successful proposals may receive up to $20,000 per student and will be evaluated until funds are exhausted. More Info
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