As part of a three-year study on groundwater from coast to coast, University of Arizona Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Associate Professor Laura Condon and researchers from Princeton University created a simulation of groundwater paths.

This month, the WRRC welcomes two new members to its team: Anna Msigwa and Luna Falk. Dr. Anna Msigwa, who is an accomplished visiting scholar, joins us from Tanzania through the PEER2PEER fellowship program and will be spending the next month working on a transboundary water security project.

A decade ago, I moved to Tucson after living in the lush “Nature Coast” of Central Florida. I was apprehensive about moving into the dustbowl of a desert that I had imagined. One of the first hiking areas I explored after arriving was Lower Tanque Verde Falls—and I will never forget my first visit.

The dissertation research of Simone Williams continues to enrich the scientific landscape. The journal Land has recently published a research article by Williams and others, including WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal.

On December 19, 2024, after a year-long effort of conducting informational meetings and forums, public comments, and evidence, the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) initiated proceedings to designate the Willcox Groundwater Basin as a subsequent active management area (AMA).

In Arizona, many rural communities rely heavily on well water as their primary water source. While urban areas benefit from large-scale water infrastructure, countless families in more remote regions depend on private wells to meet their daily needs.

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a group of unpaid advisors, was appointed by the federal government to recommend potential actions that would address groundwater depletion in the US. Because each aquifer is unique, with different sizes, weather conditions, water uses, and populations drawing from it, effective groundwater management calls for thoughtful engagement from local stakeholders.

WRRC’s Instagram profile is up and running again after our previous account was deleted for an unknown reason. Follow us (@uofawrrc) to get updates on WRRC events, webinars, photo contest submissions, and more.

On November 21, 2024, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal gave a presentation at The Water Think Town Hall: An Evening with the Experts. This community event was held in Tubac, AZ and attracted over 100 people interested in learning more about water resources in Santa Cruz County.

The Colorado River Water Users Association hosted its 2024 conference, Piecing the Puzzle Together: Post-2026 Operations, on December 4–6, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference was attended by water managers, researchers, and agricultural producers, among others.