April 30, 2021
Water and COVID-19 in Indian Country
On Wednesday, April 21, the Arizona Institutes for Resilience, in partnership with the WRRC and the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, hosted the second episode of the "Water Solutions for Our Warmer World" webinar series. This session, “Water and COVID-19 in Indian Country,” featured a panel of Indigenous leaders and experts to discuss shared issues and concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on Native Nations.
Karletta Chief, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at UArizona, highlighted the work of Indigenous scholars and researchers in mapping COVID-19 infections on Native Nations and its correlation with the lack of indoor plumbing in infected households. Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood of the White Mountain Apache Tribe described the reality of declining water quality in Indian Country, and commented, “It has taken a national pandemic to expose the drinking water crisis in Indian country, but we will keep fighting to secure a clean and reliable water supply for our members.” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez pointed out the fact that specialized medical care is underfunded on the reservation. On a positive note, President Nez noted the success of the Navajo vaccination effort, stating that more than half of the Navajo people have been fully vaccinated. Otakuye Conroy-Ben, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University's School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, shared her work examining COVID-19 in wastewater from Indigenous communities. Beatrice Norton, Board Chair of the Oraibi, AZ Hopi village, reported about the help she received from the CARES Act and the Indian Health Services to fund water tanks and trailers to transport water to houses. Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Principal Hydrologist of the Water Management Branch at the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, emphasized the need for water infrastructure capital development and financial support for system maintenance.
Episode 3 of the webinar series, “The Realities of Adaptation in the Water Sector,” will be held Wednesday, May 19, from 4:00-5:30 pm MST.
Photo: Nikki Tulley (WRRC 2020 Photo Contest Winner)
Water Series Recordings
Recent News
May 06, 2022
LSCRB Climate Change Impact Study Results Available
University of Arizona researchers Kathy Jacobs, Neha Gupta, Chris Castro, and Hsin-I Chang have been key contributors to the first comprehensive assessment of climate change effects on the Lower Santa Cruz River Basin (LSCRB).
April 29, 2022
Egyptian Ambassador Featured in Event on Egyptian-American Relations, Climate, and Water
The Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations and the University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES),
April 29, 2022
Upcoming Special Event: INHABITANTS Panel & Asynchronous Screening
As part of the WRRC’s Indigenous Water Dialogues, we are pleased to announce a special panel discussion of INHABITANTS: Indigenous Perspectives On Restoring Our World, as well as free screening for all event registrants.
April 22, 2022
WRRC Director Megdal Honored at IAH Commission Event
The International Association of Hydrogeologists Commission on Managing Aquifer Recharge (IAH-MAR Commission) held a meeting and plenary session at ISMAR11 on the evening of April 12, 2022. In addition to electing a slate of officers, the session honored individuals who had contributed significantly to the organization’s mission.
April 22, 2022
WRRC Invites Your Support: Sponsor Our 2022 Annual Conference
The 2022 WRRC Conference, Arizona’s Agricultural Outlook: Water, Climate, and Sustainability, is quickly approaching.