APW is so excited to be getting back into the field, with many of its 2023 Water Festivals taking place in February and March. This means there are many opportunities for the public to get involved and contribute to their communities at these fun-filled educational field days. Arizona Water Festivals help 4th graders across the state gain a deeper understanding of water in the Earth System and Arizona's water resources.
September 02, 2022
Recent Extension Conference Featured Engaging Keynote and Panel Discussion
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension System held its annual conference on August 10-12, the recordings of which are now available. The conference is an opportunity for Extension personnel, representing a wide range of programs from throughout the State, to gather to learn about others’ activities and the opportunities and challenges for extension work in Arizona. On the opening day, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal participated in the panel, “Arizona’s Water Resources: Progress, Politics, and Possibilities.” Following an engaging overview of the “Hydroclimate of the Colorado River Basin” from UArizona Climatologist and Extension Specialist Mike Crimmins, Megdal gave a two-part presentation coving the importance of context for understanding the three “Ps” in focus for the panel: progress, politics, and possibilities in Arizona's water resources. Megdal also added another “P” for water policy, further framing her presentation. Tom Davis, general manager of the Yuma County Water Users’ Association, then joined the panel to share some of the real challenges facing Yuma agriculture and the State in light of the developing Colorado River shortage. Following Davis’ comments, Sharon Megdal returned for the second part of her presentation, bringing some optimism to the discussion. She detailed some of the opportunities and pathways to solutions for addressing the water challenges we face and emphasized that we all have a role to play as water stakeholders.
On Day 2 of the conference, Dr. Karletta Chief, director of the UArizona Indigenous Resilience Center, gave an in-depth keynote presentation on “Creating Connections in Indigenous Communities through Extension.” Chief described the work and mission of the Indigenous Resilience Center and how efforts to support the resilience of Tribal communities are facing different types of environmental challenges. She illustrated Indigenous frameworks that “decolonize research methods,” centered on Tribal data sovereignty, collaboration, and training. Chief noted that the “Indigenous process of research is more than producing new knowledge, it’s also about community, healing, and capacity building.” The recordings of Dr. Chief’s keynote presentation and the water resources panel are available online.
Pictured above: Karletta Chief and Sharon B. Megdal
Water Resources Panel
Karletta Chief Keynote
Recent News
January 13, 2023
USGS Coordination Grant Awarded for Measuring River Flooding Events
As Arizona’s federally authorized Water Resources Research Institute, the WRRC helps administer USGS-funded Coordination Grants under the Water Resources Research Act. Dr.
December 16, 2022
Water on Mars
To investigate connections between landforms on Mars to landforms on Earth, APW travels far into water education topics. Through a partnership with Flagstaff’s STEM City Full STEAM Ahead (FSA) program, APW is engaged in a year-long initiative with FUSD’s Shauna Cooper of Knoles Elementary to deepen science instruction in her fifth-grade classroom.
December 09, 2022
Rep. Jim Kolbe Remembered for His Service to Southeastern Arizona
On Saturday, December 3, former congressional representative for Southern Arizona, Jim Kolbe, died at age 80. He had served in Congress for 22 years, from 1984 to 2006, for 20 years as a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee.
December 02, 2022
Two New Publications from WRRC Staff
Two new publications have recently been released, featuring work from WRRC staff. Transboundary Aquifers – Challenges and the way forward, was published by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
November 18, 2022
First Citizen Initiated AMA Approved by Voters
On November 8, 2022, residents in two southeastern Arizona groundwater basins voted on whether to put limits on groundwater use.