The year 2024 marked the 60th anniversary of US President Lyndon B. Johnson’s signing of the 1964 Water Resources Research Act (WRRA). In celebration of the momentous occasion, UCOWR released a special issue earlier this year (April 2025) of the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (JCWRE), which was dedicated to the rich history and wide-ranging impacts of the work of NIWR centers and institutes.

Soon after serving in the role of Graduate Outreach Assistant at the WRRC from August 2013 to June 2014, alongside working toward her PhD, Lucero Radonic joined the faculty at Michigan State University. In 2023, Radonic returned to Arizona, where she now works as an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and the School of Earth and Sustainability at NAU, and leads the Water, Society, and Policy Lab.

October 1, 2025, marked the first day of the new water year.  In hydrology, a “water year” refers to the 12-month period in which precipitation totals are measured. The new water year starts in October because much of the precipitation that falls in late autumn and winter accumulates as snow and does not melt until the following spring or summer.

Water data producers from different agencies often use inconsistent formats, terminology, and standards, making the data fragmented and incommensurable. Fortunately, the Internet of Water provides a connection for water-related data to increase its interoperability.

This fall semester, the WRRC is hosting a series of webinars that offer water enthusiasts the opportunity to connect virtually with water experts, to ask questions, and to learn about various topics. Visit WRRC's website for detailed info on upcoming events, including co-sponsored events, and remember to save the date for our 2026 Annual Conference, which is set for April 14–15.

Arizona Project WET (APW) is excited to be back in classrooms bringing hands-on groundwater presentations to students! With refreshed and updated materials, we’re helping kids dive into the science of water through interactive activities that spark curiosity and build real-world connections.

The WRRC Annual Photo Contest is well underway, and we’ve already received lots of fantastic photos from Arizona and beyond. If you haven’t submitted photos yet, there’s still time. Show us what this year’s theme, A World of Water, means to you!

Consider what life would look like without water, even for one day. The Value of Water Campaign challenges ALL to participate in the annual Imagine a Day Without Water awareness event, which will take place this year on October 16, 2025. The WRRC would like to encourage interested groups and individuals to begin preparing now for the event by taking advantage of the many resources provided by the campaign.

Last week, WRRC staff and Designated Campus Colleagues (DCCs) gathered to welcome current WRRC students to the Fall 2025 semester and to catch up on what everyone has been working on. Thank you for all you do, students— keep up the good work!

WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Associate Director Jamie McEvoy attended the 2025 Agribusiness and Water Council (ABWC) Conference last Friday, September 19. Attendees heard compelling insights into the intersection of water, agriculture, economics, energy, and policy shaping Arizona’s future.