IN THIS ISSUE: WRRA 60th Anniversary, Prescott AMA, ADWR WAM Festival, Extension Listening Sessions, Rio Grande Water Case, Valerisa Gaddy | | |
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WRRC Celebrates 60th Anniversary
and USGS "Outstanding Institute" Recognition
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The WRRC is celebrating 60 years of service as Arizona’s designated water resources research institute since the enactment of the Water Resources Research Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 17, 1964. Links to information about the WRRC’s history, past leadership, and progress toward goals can be found below. As the state’s water resources research institute, the WRRC is responsible for distributing WRRA section 104(b) program funds for water research focused on state and regional issues, and administers 104(g) grants awarded for research on multi-state or national issues. Institutes receive these federal grant funds through the US Geological Survey (USGS), which evaluates the use of these funds by each institute every five years. The success of the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program, dedication to the 104(b) grant review system, and continued commitment to public outreach over the fiscal years 2016–2020 earned the WRRC recognition as an "outstanding institute" from USGS.
Interestingly, 2024 also commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR), the National Institute for Water Resources (NIWR), and the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). The three organizations are hosting a joint conference from September 30–October 2 in St. Louis, MO, to celebrate this milestone and collectively engage the water community in networking and learning opportunities. Details about the 2024 Annual Conference, including the call for abstracts, are provided at the link below. Conference abstracts will be accepted until April 29.
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NVIS Spring 2024 Seminar: Unraveling Ecosystem Challenges: Investigating Pinyon Decline and Big Sagebrush Resiliency
Co-sponsored by the WRRC
Date: Tuesday, Apr 2, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Arizona Time
Location: Webinar Only
Speaker: Demetra Skaltsas, Assistant Professor, School of STEM, Diné College
Dr. Demetra N. Skaltsas is an Assistant Professor at the School of STEM, Diné College,
specializing in ecosystem health at the microbiome level. With a background in systematics, taxonomy, and fungi research, she actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in field and lab settings. Holding a PhD from the University of Maryland, she focuses on fungal evolution and ecology, contributing significantly to ongoing projects, including research on pinyon decline and big sagebrush resiliency. More recently, Dr. Skaltsas and her team have initiated research in fungal remediation for uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation. This work aims to explore innovative fungal solutions to address uranium contamination, highlighting her dedication to environmental health and community well-being. In addition to her research
endeavors, Dr. Skaltsas serves as a mentor for the Bridge to STEAM program at Diné College and has played a key role in establishing the Land Grant Office Research Lab at the Tsaile Campus. Her comprehensive background includes coordinating international sampling efforts, managing large teams of technicians and students, and contributing to various areas such as postharvest physiology, food safety, and genetics.
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College of Engineering Seminar: Indian Water Rights Settlements – A Nexus of Law, Policy, and Engineering – Co-sponsored by the WRRC
Date: Wednesday, Apr 3, 2024
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Arizona Time
Location: Zoom
Speaker: Gary Gold, Esq., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, US Department of Interior
Gary Gold serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the US Department of the Interior, where he provides leadership and oversight to the Bureau of Reclamation. In this role, Gold develops and implements policy initiatives to address drought in the West. His work focuses on water rights settlements, access to water for disadvantaged communities, and water infrastructure projects. Gold previously worked in the US Senate, where he led successful initiatives to enact water rights settlements, improve drinking water access for Tribal communities, and advance ecosystem restoration. Prior to his experience in water policy, Gold worked in Texas and Arizona for water agencies as an engineer and attorney. He served as the lead engineer for a 100-year drought contingency plan while working at a water utility in Texas. In Arizona, Gold provided leadership and legal advice on water infrastructure projects aimed at building resilience to drought and climate change. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona, a law degree from Arizona State University, and a master’s degree in environmental and water resources engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. During graduate school, Gary published research on the Water-Energy Nexus and received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Event Flyer
Zoom Link
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Law of the Rio Grande Annual Conference: Water Management Perspectives from the Basin States
Dates: Apr 11–12, 2024
Location: La Fonda on the Plaza 100 E. San Francisco St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
Join over 100 of your colleagues in Santa Fe!
Hear all points of view from New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado on managing and conserving the Rio Grande, with a featured presentation discussing issues from the Mexico border by United States Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner. Participants can Earn up to 12 Hours of MCLE Credit, Including One Hour of Ethics, or up to 12 Hours of Engineering Credit.
Register Here
More Info
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Upcoming WRRC Co-sponsored Events
Upcoming External Events
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Engaging WRRC Water Event Held
in Prescott
In partnership with Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, The Nature Conservancy, and APS, the WRRC co-hosted a well-attended information-sharing event in Prescott, titled Water Resources Planning for the Future: Local Strategies for Sustainable Management in the Prescott AMA. The Yavapai County Cooperative Extension director, Matt Halldorson, moderated the event. To start, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal shed light on the complexities of water management in the state and WRRC Graduate Outreach Assistant Taylor Simmons provided an overview of the Arizona Water Factsheet Initiative with a focus on Yavapai County water. Following them, Kim Shonek, representing The Nature Conservancy, shared insight on how locals can contribute to water conversations and improve watershed resilience. Speakers from the municipalities of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Yavapai County discussed ongoing strategies to mitigate water quantity and quality challenges in the Prescott AMA, including education and outreach and One Water approaches to water management. They also discussed the merits and challenges of establishing new water authorities and sources of new funding. Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized the critical role of partnerships in addressing future economic, environmental, and public health needs. The presentation recordings and slides will be posted to the event page soon!
More Info
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ADWR Hosting Water Awareness Month Festival in Phoenix
April is Water Awareness Month (WAM) in Arizona. Arizona WAM is an annual outreach campaign that aims to educate and engage the public on water conservation. On April 6, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), along with other partners, will host the annual WAM Festival from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix. The event will have water-related games, activities, and exhibits, and will feature around 36 booths including the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, the Kyl Center, Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and USGS, as well as a merry-go-round and mini petting zoo! Additionally, the festival will host speakers from ADWR and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). You can also catch Arizona Project Wet (APW) and the WRRC at this year's event, and we invite you to stop by the WRRC table to say hi to our new associate director, Jamie McEvoy! This event is free and open to the public. ADWR is also promoting its water fact resources so you can learn about our state’s most precious resource all month long.
More Info
ADWR Water Facts
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Invitation to Participate in Cooperative Extension Listening Sessions
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension needs your help! Extension is seeking public input to help guide future work throughout the state. Eight listening sessions will be held across the state, with food provided. Dates and locations are listed on the Extension website, with the first coming up on April 10. Six sessions will be open to the public and two are reserved for UArizona campus collaborators. These are regional events, and we hope that you will attend to share your thoughts and hear the perspectives of others. You will have an opportunity to share ideas about Extension’s current work, but also about challenges, opportunities, and aspirations for the future. This forum will be highly interactive and fun, culminating with facilitators synthesizing responses, so that you can immediately learn how your ideas compare and combine with those of your fellow participants. Your input will be instrumental in informing our future and ensuring that Extension’s efforts align with the needs and expectations of statewide community members. We hope you will attend and also help spread the word by sharing this message with your community and contacts.
Register Here
More Info
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SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments in Rio Grande Dispute
On March 20, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a decade-long dispute over the allocation of water from the Rio. The case began in 2014 when Texas sued New Mexico, alleging that excessive groundwater pumping in New Mexico was depriving Texas of its share of Rio Grande water. Under the 1938 Rio Grande Compact, New Mexico receives 57% and Texas receives 43% of the river’s flow. The federal government asserted its interest in the management of the river, and in 2018, the Supreme Court allowed the federal government to join the case. Since then, however, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado (which is also part of the compact) have come to an agreement they maintain resolves the issue. In 2023, the states unveiled a new proposal aimed at ensuring Texas receives enough Rio Grande water, but the Biden Administration has raised questions about the deal. The administration has argued that the agreement violates the Rio Grande Compact, does not address excessive groundwater pumping, and ultimately affects the government without obtaining its consent. In court, attorneys for Texas and New Mexico defended the proposed deal. A decision on the case is expected this summer.
E&E News Story
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WRRC Bids Farewell to Valerisa Gaddy
This month, we bid a fond farewell to Post-Doctoral Researcher Valerisa Gaddy. After two years at the WRRC, Gaddy is embarking on a new adventure as the new Community Conservation Director at Watershed Management Group. This role presents a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the heart of conservation efforts, working closely with communities to enact meaningful change. While at the WRRC, Gaddy coauthored research on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in water dialogues, was selected as an MIT Solve Fellow for 2022–2023, and participated in countless WRRC events and outreach efforts. Her hard work and dedication were instrumental to the success of our 2024 Annual Conference, and her sense of humor will be greatly missed. We wish Val all the best in this new endeavor!
Watershed Management Group
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WATER JOBS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES | |
Please visit WRRC's website for a complete listing of water jobs and opportunities. | |
NOTICES, PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA | |
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Student Travel Awards for UCOWR/NIWR/AWRA Conference
The National Institutes of Water Resources (NIWR) is again sponsoring travel awards for students (undergraduate or graduate) to attend the joint Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR)/NIWR/AWRA conference from September 30–October 2, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri. To qualify for the travel award, students must submit an abstract (either poster or presentation) for the conference. Two awardees per NIWR region will be chosen at random, with awards ranging from $1,200 to $2,500. For more information and to enter the drawing, visit the submission form. The deadline to submit the form is Friday, May 3, at 4:00 pm. Please contact Mike Dietz (michael.dietz@uconn.edu) with any questions.
UN World Water Development Report 2024
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024: Water for Prosperity and Peace highlights the wider significance of water for our lives and livelihoods. It explores water’s capacity to unite people and serve as a tool for peace, sustainable development, climate action, and regional integration. Read the Report
Kasser Joint Institute Call for Pre-Proposals
The Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security (KJI), a partnership of Jewish National Fund-USA, the University of Arizona, and the Arava Valley in Israel, is committed to leveraging knowledge and research to empower communities in their pursuit of sustainable solutions. KJI is inviting collaborative ideas for solutions for food, water, and energy issues that can be implemented in developing countries and rely on the knowledge and experience of its partner institutions in the Arava region and the University of Arizona. The preproposal document linked here explains more about the process and includes a link to the submission form.
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