News

On a recent field trip hosted by Tucson Water, Arizona Project WET (APW) had the opportunity to explore some of the most impactful and forward-thinking water initiatives in the Southwest. The day began at the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, a shining example of how reclaimed water can revitalize ecosystems and reconnect communities to flowing rivers in the desert.

The WRRC would like to introduce Pintu Kumar Mahla, who recently joined us as a Designated Campus Colleague. In addition to supporting the WRRC’s upcoming annual conference and other engagement efforts, Dr. Mahla will be working on research focused on water diplomacy and cooperation in South Asia associated with transboundary water challenges and opportunities.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the US Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Southeast Arizona Citizens Forum board convened a public meeting at the WRRC. Citizens Forum meetings, which are held in various location in southeast Arizona, facilitate the exchange of information between the USIBWC and members of the public about Commission activities throughout the southern border region.

With less than a month remaining until the WRRC 2025 Annual Conference, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Working Together in Times of Scarcity, registered attendees can look forward to a rich lineup of water experts speaking about the challenges and successes in cross-border collaborations of shared waters.

On May 20, 2025, at the close of the Day 1 program of the WRRC 2025 Annual Conference, Amelia Flores, Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribal Council, will receive special recognition for her contributions to her community, state, and region, and in particular for her role as a defender and protector of the Colorado River. As a speaker on the “Sharing the Colorado River” panel earlier on Day 1, she will share her perspective on effective Tribal consultation in Colorado River matters.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Jim Butler, a senior scientist with the Geohydrology Section of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), a research and service unit of the University of Kansas, was the featured speaker for a WRRC Water Webinar, Charting Paths Forward for the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas, in which he discussed the water-level declines that the region has faced.

On Friday, April 11, 2025, the WRRC hosted a Water Webinar titled Advanced Water Purification in Arizona that featured a panel of leaders from Arizona’s three largest water providers. Each spoke about their city’s development of advanced water purification (AWP) systems to address ongoing water challenges in the state. AWP is an innovative approach to ensuring clean, safe, and sustainable water for Arizona communities by turning used water from homes into purified, potable water.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each of our generous 2025 conference sponsors. Such events offer valuable opportunities to bring water experts and enthusiasts together, and hosting our annual conference is only possible with the support of our wonderful sponsors.

The WRRC 2025 Conference agenda offers a strong lineup of informative panels. With a program full of knowledgeable keynote speakers and panelists, the WRRC conference, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Working Together in Times of Scarcity, promises to be a rich mine of information about the sharing of scarce waters across borders. 

The "Green Desert," an hour-long documentary featuring Southern California’s Imperial Valley, a highly productive agricultural area that depends on the Colorado River, discusses drought and other water issues affecting Imperial Valley agriculture and will air on multiple PBS affiliate stations on April 23, 2025, at 11:00 pm MST.