On Wednesday, September 28, Central Arizona Project (CAP) representatives hosted a roundtable for state water users to discuss the proposed CAP conservation incentive program. Earlier this year, the CAP board said they would “work with stakeholders to develop a conservation incentive program that is consistent with [CAP] legal authority.” This roundtable provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share ideas and provide information so CAP can develop an effective program.
February 18, 2022
Recently Published White Paper Addresses US-Mexico Cooperation on Water
The white paper, “Water Management on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Achieving Water Sustainability and Resilience Through Cross-Border Cooperation” is posted on our updated Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program website.
The United States International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) invited a group of researchers to write a white paper to help strengthen its “ability to respond to the challenges of US-Mexico border water management in the 21st century." The paper, “Water Management on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Achieving Water Sustainability and Resilience Through Cross-Border Cooperation,” is organized into three main sections: 1) institutional context; 2) US-Mexico border water management challenges and opportunities in the 21st century, and 3) institutional and policy needs. The paper notes that population and economic growth require a steady water supply, which border cities will likely struggle to secure, and that it is critical to incorporate future climate scenarios in future agreements while also considering environmental justice concerns.
The white paper makes recommendations for actions that USIBWC might take, including 1) sustaining its technical advisory bodies on the treaty rivers in partnership with domestic water agencies; 2) developing aquifer storage and recharge programs; 3) working to build a framework agreement on transboundary groundwater; 4) addressing the conjunctive uses of aquifers and surface flows. Expanding the USIBWC's current scope to get in front of, versus only reacting to, border water challenges could address issues before they become a crisis. The authors emphasize that USIBWC should continue its efforts to find solutions to binational water management through an optimally diverse range of stakeholders and adequate levels of participation.
Moreover, the paper highlights that in combination with conventional infrastructure, green infrastructure can help improve transboundary water management in a decentralized but integrated manner while improving the resilience of border communities. Connectivity and an integrative approach should guide management of basins in the US-Mexico border region. Finally, it is proposed to establish a science advisory group that would develop specific, actionable ideas into a framework deployed in different binational watersheds along the US-Mexico border.
Leading authors:
Irasema Coronado (Arizona State University), Francisco Lara-Valencia (Arizona State University), and Stephen Mumme (Colorado State University)
Contributing Authors:
Christopher Brown (New Mexico State University), Paul Ganster (San Diego State University), Hilda García (El Colegio de la Frontera Norte), Donna Lybecker (Idaho State University), Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona), Rosario Sanchez (Texas A&M University), Alan Sweedler (San Diego State University), Robert G. Varady (University of Arizona), Adriana Zuñiga (University of Arizona)
Image: Morelos Dam, Sharon B. Megdal
White Paper
TAAP Website
Recent News
September 30, 2022
CAP Water Users Roundtable on Proposed Conservation Incentive Program
September 23, 2022
Dr. Valerisa Gaddy Named 2022 MIT Solve Fellow
WRRC post-doctoral researcher Valerisa Gaddy has been selected as an MIT Solve Fellow for 2022-2023. Her tech-based solution, "IRRIGaTE: Irrigation Resources Reaching Indigenous Growers and Tribal Entities” addresses the difficulties of science and policy communication between Tribal farmers and non-tribal policymakers through a multimedia platform.
September 16, 2022
Thousands in Phoenix Living without Running Water
The Arizona Republic newspaper last Sunday drew on a recent report about plumbing poverty for a feature article on the subject. The report, co-authored by Kings College London professor and UArizona alum Katie Meehan, looked in depth at urban plumbing poverty in the United States. Meehan received her PhD from the UArizona Department of Geography and Development in 2010 and began her study of plumbing poverty while in Arizona.
September 16, 2022
Photo Journal: A Visit to the Upper Colorado River Basin
Last week, WRRC staff member Jessie Hampton visited family in rural southwestern Colorado. She stayed along Cebolla Creek, which flows down to meet the Gunnison River in Blue Mesa Reservoir, one of three reservoirs that make up the Curecanti Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. Local ranchers use their water rights on Cebolla Creek to irrigate hay meadows. Jessie took photos of places she visited on her trip to showcase different types of water usage and management in the area.
September 08, 2022
Colorado River Days Flagstaff Launches September 2nd - 12th
Northern Arizona is celebrating Colorado River Days! Colorado River Days Flagstaff is a series of educational events to remind Flagstaff and surrounding communities about the importance of the Colorado River and all it has to offer