IN THIS ISSUE: Factsheet Release, Conference Recap | | |
WRRC Releases Coconino County Factsheet | |
|
The Coconino County Water Factsheet is now available! As the 12th addition to the WRRC’s Arizona Water Factsheet series, this resource showcases the county's diverse natural and cultural landscapes and the impact of varied land ownership on the management of groundwater, surface water, and reclaimed water supplies. Highlighting the region's significant contribution to the state's economy through recreation and tourism, the factsheet emphasizes local initiatives and collaborative efforts to manage water supply amid population growth, increased urbanization, and climate change. It also underscores the importance of tailored groundwater management, resolving Tribal water rights, and fostering partnerships to address growing water demands.
Engagement with local stakeholders is essential to the development of the Arizona Water Factsheets, ensuring the content reflects the specific water resources management challenges and strategies of each county. For the Coconino County Water Factsheet, significant input was received from the City of Flagstaff, the Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council & Watershed Partnership, Northern Arizona University, and the United States Geological Society (USGS). Additional stakeholders provided feedback reflective of their deep local knowledge about the county’s water resources and management.
Coconino County Water Factsheet
Arizona Water Factsheets
| |
|
WRRC Water Webinar: World Water Day Reflections
Date: Friday, March 22, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Arizona Time
Location: Webinar Only
Speaker: Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
Moderator: Jamie McEvoy, Incoming Associate Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona
March 22, 2024, is World Water Day. This year, UN-Water has designated “Leveraging Water for Peace” as World Water Day’s theme. In recognition of the potential for water to bring us together rather than divide us, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal will offer some reflections. She will draw from her February 29, 2024, “Salty Reflections” keynote address to the Multi-state Salinity Coalition, her soon-to-be-published case study, “Factors that Contribute to Successful Diplomatic Outcomes: Case Study of the Colorado River Basin Cross-boundary Institution,” the WRRC’s 2024 Annual Conference, Implementing Water Solutions Through Partnerships, and other activities, including the Women in Water Diplomacy Network and the global “Football for Peace” initiative’s connection to water. After about 30 minutes of prepared remarks, Megdal would like to engage in interactive discussion (rather than formal Q&A) and will be joined by incoming WRRC Associate Director Dr. Jamie McEvoy and other special guests.
Register Here
More Info
| |
|
WRRC Special Event: Water Resources Planning for the Future: Local Strategies for Sustainable Management in the Prescott AMA
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm Arizona Time
Location: Adult Center of Prescott (Front Ballroom)
11280 E. Rosser Street, Prescott, AZ
The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), in partnership with Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, The Nature Conservancy, and APS, is pleased to host an in-person event in Prescott, titled Water Resources Planning for the Future: Local Strategies for Sustainable Management in the Prescott AMA. This free event will feature speakers from the Prescott AMA, with presentations from the City of Prescott, Town of Prescott Valley, Town of Chino Valley, and Yavapai County, highlighting innovative management approaches to stormwater, wastewater, effluent reuse, and recharge, focusing on collaboration for regional water solutions. Come discover how local governments are working towards a sustainable water future through diverse supply management, water augmentation projects, and watershed protection. We warmly invite the public to engage in this conversation and learn more about collective efforts to address water challenges in the Prescott AMA.
Image: Sargun Bhatia – WRRC 2023 Photo Contest
| |
|
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, Santa Fe, NM
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
| |
|
Upcoming WRRC Co-sponsored Events
External Events
| |
|
Dialogue, Collaboration Matter Most to Arizona's Water Future
The WRRC's 2024 Annual Conference was a success! We will soon be posting presentation recordings and slides on our conference webpage. Thank you to everyone who attended in person or on Zoom. Please don’t forget to fill out our participant survey to provide feedback, including topic suggestions for next year's conference!
The following story was written by guest author Brad Poole, from UArizona Cooperative Extension, and was published on UA News.
Representatives from virtually every area of water research and management gathered this week at the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center's annual conference to explore how collaboration can help solve water problems on many levels.
The conference, which featured more than 50 panelists and speakers, brought together people from academia, government, environment groups and business to discuss and seek partnerships in water research and management. More than 700 people registered, attending either in person or via Zoom.
These gatherings and associated partnerships are vital to solving water problems, which transcend disciplines, sectors of society and even generations, said Sharon Megdal, director of the WRRC and a professor in the UArizona Department of Environmental Science. "Dialogue is really important, and developing a common understanding of the problems and solutions is important, and networking is important," Megdal said. "These are things that take continuing efforts of broadly diverse groups over time." The WRRC, which is part of the university's Cooperative Extension System, serves an important role in connecting the academic world to the non-academic, and the annual conference is a part of that, she said.
Image: Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks with WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal. Photo by Brad Poole.
Read More
| |
|
WRRC Invites Research Proposals for 104(b) & 104(g) Programs
Faculty and research personnel at any of Arizona's three public universities are invited to submit research proposals to the WRRC for federal 104(b) grants of up to $10,000 or competitive 104(g) grants of up to $310,000. Grant funds are provided by the Water Resources Research Act through the US Geological Survey (USGS). For more information, visit the web pages below or email Jessie Hampton (jessiehampton@arizona.edu).
104(b) Grant Info Proposal EXTENDED Deadline: March 27, 2024
104(g) Grant Info Proposal Deadline: March 27, 2024
| |
Please visit WRRC's website for a complete listing of water jobs and opportunities. | |
NOTICES, PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA | |
|
From the WRRC
Q&A: Water Resources Research Center Collaborates Globally
From Arizona to the Middle East, WRRC partnerships help farmers, ranchers, government agencies and many others manage a vital natural resource in the face of changing climate. UArizona Cooperative Extension’s Brad Poole interviewed WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal about collaborations. Read Here
Other Sources
Water Conservation Field Services Program Funding Opportunity
The US Bureau of Reclamation's Water Conservation Field Services Program funding opportunity for the Lower Colorado Basin Region for fiscal year 2024 is posted on the grants.gov website (Funding Opportunity R24AS00252). Through this opportunity, entities may be awarded up to $100,000 in federal funding. A minimum of 50% non-federal cost share is required. Applications are accepted through June 3, 2024, at 4:00 PM (PDT).
Report: Groundwater Protection in the Valley of the Sun
A new report from ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy discusses the future of groundwater in the Phoenix Area. A webinar about the report will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Register for the Webinar or Read the Report.
| |
Do you have a story idea, water job announcement, or event to share?
| | | | |
