In the Southwest, famous for its dry climate, riparian areas—ecosystems supported by rivers and streams—occupy only a small fraction of the landscape but serve as lifelines, supporting most of the region’s biodiversity.

A study by researchers at Skidmore College and the University of Arizona, published in August 2026 in the Journal of Health Psychology, revealed long-lasting mental health harms from chronic environmental contamination across generations in affected communities and impacts on their collective identity.

The University of Arizona is among only 14 institutions to receive the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability in 2026, the inaugural year of the sustainability classification.

The WRRC 2027 Annual Conference is in development, with a working title of Water Conservation and Innovation for a Resilient Arizona. Mark your calendars — the event will be held April 26–27 at the University of Arizona Student Union in Tucson, Arizona. The program will explore conservation in the face of Colorado River shortages and declining groundwater levels. We will highlight innovative case studies, policies, planning processes, demand management, technological approaches, and other strategies across all sectors for adapting to Arizona’s evolving water realities. In addition to in-person attendance, a non-interactive free Zoom livestream will be available.

Wells draw water from aquifers, which are underground layers of rock and sediment, saturated with water. The line between the ground’s unsaturated and saturated zones is called the water table. The water table can rise and fall naturally over time due to fluctuations in weather and climate, but human activity, including pumping water from wells, can also influence the water level.

On September 28, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Associate in Extension Elia Tapia presented on shared aquifers in the Arizona–Sonora border region as part of the University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science Fall 2026 Colloquium Series.

The WRRC is now accepting proposals for this year’s federal WRRA 104(g) General grant. The US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Research Act Program released the FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 104(g) General on September 30, 2026. The NOFO is now posted on Grants.gov. The deadline for submitting proposals through the WRRC is Tuesday, October 27, 5 pm MST.

A big part of the WRRC’s mission is to connect Arizonans with educational materials about the state’s water resources. Our website’s new Water & Sustainability Resources page has been redesigned to do just that, with new sections, streamlined resources, and an updated format.

La Sección mexicana y la Sección estadounidense de la Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA/IBWC) han publicado el Estudio Binacional del Acuífero Transfronterizo Río Santa Cruz, una importante contribución a la caracterización de las aguas subterráneas compartidas por Arizona y Sonora.