Since 2017, the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative (SCWC) has been providing forums for partner agencies and organizations to work toward better aligning their approaches to watershed management in the Tucson Basin of the Santa Cruz River watershed. SCWC is working toward the vision of people working together to ensure a healthy urban watershed with flowing rivers and streams.
WRRC - Greater depth, broader perspective for a clear water future
Office Update 1-4-2022
Greater depth,
broader perspective
for a clear water future
We tackle key water policy and management issues, empower informed decision-making, and enrich understanding through engagement, education,
and applied research.
2021 WRRC Photo Contest Winner: James Bowman - Whitewater Draw, AZ (cropped)
Real Impact
Get involved and see the latest ways we are making a difference.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
Be Informed
Subscribe to keep up with our news and events weekly, quarterly or annually.
Arizona Water Map Poster
The Water Resources Research Center Arizona Water Map Poster is the latest in our series of reliable and concise visual representations of Arizona's water resources. This, the fourth edition of the map is the product of a design and review process that engaged stakeholders from across regions and sectors. The new map reflects the current state of water resources in Arizona, as well as a culture of management and planning unique to the state.
Outreach
We transfer water research results and information to other researchers, water managers, policy makers, and the wider public through publications, conferences, lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Director’s Activities
33
ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES
spanning from
Arizona to Israel
ACTIVITIES
spanning from
Arizona to Israel
7
STUDENTS ADVISED
in Arizona, national, and
global water policy
in Arizona, national, and
global water policy
11
PUBLICATIONS
including posted
materials and papers
including posted
materials and papers
12.9k
INDIVIDUALS
REACHED
Through engagement
activities (estimated)
REACHED
Through engagement
activities (estimated)
Brown Bag Seminars
710
ATTENDANCE
in person and via
online webinars
in person and via
online webinars
25 Speakers
including local,
national, and
international
experts
including local,
national, and
international
experts
210
additional
online views
following the
presentations
additional
online views
following the
presentations
Annual Conference
333
PEOPLE REGISTERED
for the 2018 conference
The Business of Water
26 Speakers
and Panelists
and Panelists
Spring 2018
AWR Newsletter
recaps key messages
from the
conference
AWR Newsletter
recaps key messages
from the
conference
18 Conference
sponsors
sponsors
Presentations
available on the
WRRC website
available on the
WRRC website
Programs
Water RAPIDS (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems) helps communities balance a secure water future for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors with the water demands of the natural environment. Planning for people and natural resources together will lead to a more sustainable future.
The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) is a joint effort between Mexico and the United States to evaluate shared aquifers. Under this program, scientists from each country collaborate on producing binational studies on shared waters. The Mexican and U.S. Principal Engineers of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) signed the “Joint Report of the Principal Engineers Regarding the Joint Cooperative Process United States-Mexico” for the TAAP.
Groundwater is increasingly important for meeting water demand across the United States. Forward thinking governance and effective management are necessary for its sustainable use. The U.S. has state governments that are primarily reponsible for groundwater governance (i.e., making laws, policies, and regulations) and management (i.e., implementation of laws, policies, and regulations).
Arizona, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories are arid/semi-arid lands that face similar water challenges. The Water Resources Research Center has been working to facilitate communication and develop partnerships related to water management and policy in the Middle East. The focus has been on the critical water issues of water-stressed regions and transboundary waters.
Additional Programs
Upcoming Events
Featured Event
Nov 18 12:00PM
Brown Bag
WRRC Brown Bag Webinar: Watershed Collaboration in the Tucson Basin: Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative Adopts a Watershed Restoration Plan to Promote Flowing Rivers
Nov 29 11:00AM
Special Event
WRRC Co-Sponsored Event: Water and Agriculture: Chile-Arizon...
The Agricultural Office of the Embassy of Chile in the US and the WRRC are co-hosting the webinar, “Water and Agriculture: Chile-Arizona Experience,” on November 29 from 11 to 1 pm Arizona time and 3 to 5 pm Chile time.
News
Featured News
August 05, 2022
Initial Responses to Projected 2023 Cutbacks from Upper & Lower Colorado River Basins
Following Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Commissioner Camille Touton’s June 14 presentation to the US Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Colorado River Basin states have been working to develop plans to conserve two to four million acre-feet of water in 2023 to maintain critical water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Touton called for states to have a 2023 plan ready by mid-August, promising that if the states do not act to conserve sufficient water in the Colorado River, Reclamation will act to protect the system.
November 04, 2022
APW AmeriCorps Spotlight: Juliana Perez
My name is Juliana, and I am one of four AmeriCorps Water Educators in Tucson working with Arizona Project WET (APW). So much happened in our first few weeks on the job. We all jumped right into the action. As water educators, we are tasked with teaching students from 4th grade all the way through high school through APW’s different programs. During the first month, in addition to learning about water and how to lead the lessons through training and seminars, we also had firsthand teaching experiences.
November 04, 2022
Reclamation Announces New Federal Action on the Colorado River
On Friday, October 28, the US Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced the initiation of an expedited process for developing a “Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)” on proposed revisions to the December 2007 Record of Decision relating to the Colorado River Interim Guidelines. The SEIS will lay out options to address the troubling operating conditions facing the river system now and in the future. Public comments submitted by December 20 will be reflected in the draft SEIS to be released next spring, with the final expected in late summer.
November 04, 2022
WRRC Offers Three Events in November
The WRRC has three great events lined up for this month. Next week, on Thursday, November 10, we will be hosting a Brown Bag webinar featuring two University of Arizona (UArizona) graduate students who will each present on their 104(b) research projects. The presentation from Chandler Noyes will address the paleoclimate and past recharge rates in the Tucson Basin across the Holocene.
October 28, 2022
Divine Kickingbird Receives First Rodney Blaine Lewis Scholars Award
The inaugural recipient of the Rodney Blaine Lewis Scholars Award is Divine Kickingbird, who is enrolled at the University of Arizona as a first-year law student and aims to join the graduate program in Tribal Governance.
Online Tools
Beyond the Mirage
A full feature documentary that tells the story about the future of water in the west. From that documentary, make your own movie from hundreds of quality clips.
Water Use Dashboard™
Get conservation tips, track water savings, and make your drops count! Connecting voluntary water conservation with community action.